Top 26 How Much Does A Hairless Rat Cost The 24 Top Answers

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Hairless rats generally sell for about $25 to $100. They can be found through pet stores that sell small animals, as well as through specialty rat fancy breeders.However, hairless rats aren’t as low-maintenance as their furry counterparts. You’d need to keep a hairless rat with at least one other rat, preferably of the haired variety, so that he has someone to snuggle up to in order to keep warm. A hairless rat can’t live in just any cage.The best way to breed furless (because of lactation and health issues) is to breed a furry mother (carrier) to a furless male. The litter will result in up to 75% furless with the remaining being a mix of sloppy rex and standard. If you really want to add genetic diversity, you can also breed two unrelated carriers.

Contents

Are hairless rats high maintenance?

However, hairless rats aren’t as low-maintenance as their furry counterparts. You’d need to keep a hairless rat with at least one other rat, preferably of the haired variety, so that he has someone to snuggle up to in order to keep warm. A hairless rat can’t live in just any cage.

How do you get a hairless rat?

The best way to breed furless (because of lactation and health issues) is to breed a furry mother (carrier) to a furless male. The litter will result in up to 75% furless with the remaining being a mix of sloppy rex and standard. If you really want to add genetic diversity, you can also breed two unrelated carriers.

Can I give my hairless rat a bath?

Hairless rats are prone to dry skin, so whilst occasional baths are a good idea, be careful not to over-bathe them. Use a mild moisturizing shampoo, such as a pet shampoo containing oatmeal, and dry the pet well afterward.

Do pet rats poop everywhere?

Your rats will naturally go potty in a corner. And since you have a box in every corner, they’re always going to get it right.

Can hairless rats wear clothes?

They can do well with paper bedding like Carefresh if you change it daily, as it can irritate their skin once soiled with urine. Other good options for hairless rat bedding are shredded pieces of fleece, ripped up T-shirts, or cotton products like towels.

Can I put lotion on my hairless rat?

Hairless rats require more care than rats that have fur, but lotion isn’t advised for either kind. Lotion can actually be dangerous to your pet’s health.

Can hairless rats get mites?

Rats can have mites without any symptoms for a long period of time and then suddenly start itching. Maybe they don’t itch until their immune system is suppressed by stress.

Are hairless rats natural?

Truly hairless rats are rarely seen as a domesticated pet. These rats, bred for science experiments, do not have a single hair on their body — not even whiskers.

What is a Rex rat?

Also referred to as “Sphinx” or “nude” rats, these bald cuties come in a variety of breeds, including the Double Rex rat. The Double Rex is the most common type of hairless rat. Completely hairless, these adorable critters have short, curly whiskers and may come with small patches of fur on their ankles or face.

How long do rats live as a pet?

Rats live, on average, 2 to 3 years. Children should be informed of this so that the ‘sudden death’ of their 2 to 3-year-old pet does not come unexpectedly.

Do rats know who their owners are?

Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners Ask any rat owner, and he or she will tell you: Rats recognize their owners and respond to their sight and voice. They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples’ shoulders or in their laps.

What should I name my rat?

Cute Rat Names

Plato.
Asterix.
Bilbo.
Nacho.
Elmer.
Finn.
Dorito.
Poe.

Do rats need a wheel?

Wheels are not necessary for rats, but they can provide a good source of exercise during the long hours they are confined to their cage. Yet pet owners are divided – some believe that wheels are perfectly healthy for rats, while others insist that they will damage their spines and tails.

Do rats like swimming?

They can stay underwater for up to three minutes! However, even though rats are capable of swimming, not all of them enjoy it. Remember that forced swimming can stress your rat, and a stressed rat can easily drown.

Do you have to oil hairless rats?

Hairless rats require more care than rats that have fur, but lotion isn’t advised for either kind. Lotion can actually be dangerous to your pet’s health. But in your pantry is likely a natural skin moisturizer suited to keeping your hairless rat’s skin soft and smooth.

Are hairless rats natural?

Truly hairless rats are rarely seen as a domesticated pet. These rats, bred for science experiments, do not have a single hair on their body — not even whiskers.

Woman adopted hairless rat that other rats found ‘disgusting’

Hairless Pet Rat Facts, Lifespan and Care Guide | LoveToKnow

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Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Hairless Pet Rat Facts, Lifespan and Care Guide | LoveToKnow Updating A hairless rat can make a wonderful companion. Learn more about these adorable bald rodents, from facts to food to detailed care instructions.
Table of Contents:

Types of the Hairless Rat

Hairless Rat Personality

Hairless Rat Care

Getting a Hairless Rat

Hairless Rats Can Make Great Pets

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Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for The Hairless Rat – A Complete Guide by Squeaks and Nibbles Updating Welcome To Your Complete Guide To The Hairless Rat. Sometimes referred to as the “bald rat,” “nude rat,” or the “Sphynx rat”! Everything you need to know.
Table of Contents:

What is a hairless rat

Why are hairless rats hairless

Hairless rats as pets

Cages for hairless rats

Hairless rat bedding

Hairless rat food

Hairless baby rat care

Pet hairless rat health issues

Hairless rat lifespan

Hairless rat price

Should I buy hairless rats

References

The Hairless Rat - A Complete Guide by Squeaks and Nibbles — The Hairless Rat – A Complete Guide by Squeaks and Nibbles

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Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Breed Healthy Hairless Rats (Sphynx Rats) – PetHelpful Updating Hairless rats make for wonderful pets, but breeding them is difficult. This is not a hobby to enter lightly! Read more on the proper husbandry and breeding of hairless rats.Rodents,Basic,Rats
Table of Contents:

Should I Try Breeding Hairless Rats

Furless Genetics 101

Picking Out Breeding Stock

Hairless Pet Rat Facts, Lifespan and Care Guide

Pet rat lovers may not be as familiar with the hairless rat as they are with their furry counterparts. These rats share many of the same wonderful characteristics as other fancy rats, though they do need some additional care and maintenance. Discover how you can help your hairless rat live a long, healthy life.

Double Rex Hairless Rats Double Rex rats have two rex genes, which result in a hairless rat rather than one with a curly rex coat. These rats do have eyebrows and short, crimped, or curly whiskers. You may see small patches of peach fuzz-like hair on their head or feet. These rats can also come in different colors, though the coloring will show up on their skin, much like a hairless cat’s coat color. Double Rex rats can come in just about every color and ear type and may have black or red eyes.

Patchwork Hairless Rats The patchwork hairless rat also is the result of having two rex genes. These rats get their name from the curly or fuzzy hair that appears either all over their body or in a small patch or patches. These rats tend to shed hair as they grow older, but it does grow back, sometimes in the same spots and other times in new ones. Patchwork hairless rats also can be found in every color, ear type, and eye color.

Sphynx or Truly Hairless Rats Much less commonly found in the pet fancy is the Sphynx rat, which gets their name from the hairless cat breed. These rats are bred to have no hair at all, which includes having no whiskers or eyebrows. Usually, these rats are bred specifically to be used in labs for research, and not as pets. Hairless Sphynx rats tend to live about half the lifespan of a normal rat. They can suffer from respiratory, bacterial, kidney, and liver diseases due to their genetic makeup, which involves congenital deficiencies in their immune system.

Hairless Rat Personality Temperament-wise, hairless rats tend to have the same personality traits as regular rats. They are highly intelligent creatures who can be very affectionate with people. They also do best with another rat companion, and hairless rats often appreciate being paired with a regular furry rat they can cuddle with for warmth.

Hairless Rat Care Hairless rats require a bit more care than a fancy rat with fur. This means not only more maintenance as far as grooming, but you will also need to make sure they eat an appropriate diet.

Best Cage for a Hairless Rat When considering a cage for a hairless rat, the only real difference that’s important compared to a rat with fur is the need to keep your hairless rat warm. Because they lack a coat, hairless rats are more susceptible to drafts as well as injuries to their skin. Therefore, you should: Make sure any cage you buy does not have any possible sharp edges that your rat can brush against and hurt themselves.

Place the cage somewhere where they will not be at risk of being exposed to cold air, such as by the front door or garage.

Maintain an ambient temperature between 64 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.

Just as with any rat breed, you should pick an enclosure that is a minimum size of 24 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches tall for your hairless rat. Because of their fragile skin and temperature issues, some hairless rat owners choose to use glass aquariums instead of open wire cages, though this can be a much more expensive solution.

Hairless Rat Bedding Hairless rats also require bedding that is soft and will keep them warm. Bedding made up of wood shavings and chips will be uncomfortable for them and can damage their skin. They can do well with paper bedding like Carefresh if you change it daily, as it can irritate their skin once soiled with urine. Other good options for hairless rat bedding are shredded pieces of fleece, ripped up T-shirts, or cotton products like towels. You will need to be diligent about cleaning their bedding daily, as their skin can get quickly irritated from urine and feces in the cage.

Feeding a Hairless Rat Hairless rats eat basically the same diet as regular rats, but they require more of it. This is because they burn more calories and have a higher metabolism to keep their bodies warm compared to a rat with fur. They should be fed rat pellets and their diet should be supplemented with fruits and vegetables at a ratio of about 80 percent pellets to 20 percent fresh foods. Some common fresh foods that rats enjoy are bananas, broccoli, carrots, grapes, kale, kiwi, pears, plums, spinach, sweet potatoes, and watermelon. Keep in mind: Any fruits or vegetables that you give them should be cut up into tiny pieces, and uneaten fresh food should be removed if not eaten within a day.

Another supplement that can be added to their food is a few drops of olive oil, which can help keep their skin from getting dry, among other benefits.

Fresh, clean water should also be provided at all times, and hairless rats tend to drink a bit more than other rats.

Hairless Rat Enrichment and Exercise Like all rats, hairless rats need daily enrichment to keep them happy and healthy. You should provide them with a variety of toys. Just make sure you clean them regularly and avoid any toys that might have sharp edges. They also will need daily time out of the cage; aim for at least one hour of supervised play time. This will give your rat a chance to spend time with you and bond while getting exercise.

Hairless Rat Health The hairless rat lifespan is a bit shorter than that of other rats because they are more susceptible to health problems. Hairless rats can live 1 to 3 years like other rats, but about a year is a common lifespan for them. Their skin can become irritated and infected easily, and this can be a serious problem and even fatal. If you notice any skin irritations on your hairless rat, take them to a veterinarian immediately. It’s important when handling your hairless rat to always wash your hands first and even use hand disinfectant in order to keep their skin free of any allergens and bacteria.

Hairless Rat Grooming In order to keep your pet healthy, you will need to provide extra care for their skin. This means giving them a bath weekly or biweekly using special shampoos designed for sensitive skin. Baby shampoos that are nontoxic and tear-free can be used as well as pet shampoos designed to be mild, such as Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo. Care tips include: Make sure your rat is dried completely after a bath and kept in a warm area as it’s very easy for them to catch a cold while damp.

If your rat’s skin appears to be dry, you can use olive oil to soothe their skin, but avoid using any type of commercial lotion or moisturizing cream, as the rat will most likely lick these off and ingest them, which can be harmful.

You can also use a warm — not cool — mist humidifier in your rat’s room if you find their skin getting too dry.

Getting a Hairless Rat Hairless rats generally sell for about $25 to $100. They can be found through pet stores that sell small animals, as well as through specialty rat fancy breeders. The American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association website lists local rat clubs and indicates where you can find breeders of specialty rats. You can also check the Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet websites to see if shelters near you have hairless rats available for adoption.

A Complete Guide by Squeaks and Nibbles

Have you ever thought about getting a hairless rat as a pet? If so, then you’re in the right place! Welcome to your complete guide to the hairless rat, sometimes referred to as the “bald rat,” “nude rat,” or the “Sphynx rat”!

Hairless rats are unique animals that require essentially the same care as their haired counterparts.

But with a few extra steps to ensure that they stay warm and that their sensitive skin stays healthy.

However they have some worrying health issues that you will need to consider before you decide to buy one.

In this article, we’ll address everything you’ve ever wanted to know about hairless pet rats.

Including why hairless rats are hairless. Looking at special considerations for hairless rat care and whether or not a hairless rat would be a good pet for you.

What is a hairless rat?

A hairless rat is just what it sounds like – a rat without fur!

Hairless rats are basically a variation of the fancy rat (e.g., a hairless dumbo rat or a hairless rex rat).

They are easily identified by their pink and smooth skin, but otherwise normal rat appearance.

Albino hairless rats have red eyes, but the majority of hairless rats have “normal” black eyes.

Black hairless rats aren’t true hairless rats, as rat skin does not contain pigment. So any perceived coloring is probably just very short dark hair.

And this means that the rat is not a truly hairless rat, but most likely a homozygous Rex rat who is exhibiting only partial hair loss.

Check out the American Fancy Rat Association’s description of homozygous Rex a.k.a. “Patwork” rats here!

So now that we know what hairless rats are, let’s talk about why they are hairless.

Why are hairless rats hairless?

According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, hairless rats the result of a genetic mutation that prevents the thymus gland from developing.

The lack of thymus gland causes hairless rats to be severely immune-deficient.

Per the Laboratory Animal Science Journal, hairless rats are born haired, but due to their compromised immune system, their birth hair will completely fall out within a few weeks or months.

The offspring of hairless rats may either become hairless or stay haired, depending on whether or not the hairless parent was bred with another hairless rat or a haired rat.

If one parent is haired, their genes may recess the hairless gene, and so the babies could be born with their thymus glands intact.

Let’s talk about how caring for a hairless rat differs from a haired rat!

Hairless rats as pets

You may already be familiar with caring for a pet rat, but caring for hairless rats requires a bit more know-how.

Refer to the following hairless rat facts for our recommendations on keeping a hairless rat happy and healthy:

Cages for hairless rats

Like other rats, hairless rats required a cage that’s at least one foot tall and two feet wide, without a wire bottom.

Regardless of the type of rat that you purchase, please house them in a cage with no sharp edges or sharp objects. This is important for hairless rats, especially, what with their lack of protection from all things pointy!

Additionally, you’ll need to ensure that your hairless rat’s cage stays warm.

Haired rats are already susceptible to cold, so hairless rats are especially intolerant of cold temperatures.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, rats thrive in temperatures of 64-79 degrees Fahrenheit, so hairless rats may be more comfortable in slightly warmer conditions than their haired friends.

Therefore, it may be best to keep a hairless rat in a converted aquariam – the solid walls will ensure that he doesn’t catch a cold draft! However, it can be very hard (and expensive!) to find an aquarium large enough.

Alternatively a giant cage kept in a warm room in your home should suffice as long as he has lots of bedding.

This one on Amazon is perfect for two or three rats to live in.

Hairless rat bedding

While rats generally enjoy bedding that’s made of strips of paper, you’ll need to be extra careful about what you bed a hairless rat’s cage with.

This is so because hairless rats do not have hair to protect their delicate skin, so some types of bedding may be drying or otherwise irritating to their skin.

Try to use something soft and absorbent. Check your rat’s skin frequently and experiment as needed.

Additionally, you’ll need to be extra diligent about keeping a hairless rat’s cage clean, since urine and feces can scald their skin if they’re nesting in soiled bedding.

If you have rat hammocks and other rat toys, you will need to rotate and wash them at least every other day.

Hairless rat food

Hairless rats eat the same food as other types of rats.

And, as with any other rat breed, a cute hairless rat can quickly become a fat hairless rat if he’s fed too much.

Reserve the rich foods and treats for special occasions or for training purposes.

Hairless baby rat care

If you have a female hairless rat that you plan to breed or who has had an accidental tryst with a male friend, then you’ll want to pay special attention to this section!

To be brutally honest, breeding hairless rats can take you down a bit of a rocky road.

Female hairless rats typically aren’t the best parents. They have been known to eat their young or to refuse to care for them…yikes!

According to a 1984 study, it’s common for bald female rats to fail at lactation. If they do lactate, then they generally do not produce enough milk to sustain their babies.

This is due to their subpar immune system – they are barely able to sustain themselves, let alone others!

If you end up with a litter of baby hairless rats, they may require bottle feeding with milk replacement formula for a few weeks (and careful observation to ensure that Mom doesn’t do something that she shouldn’t).

If you’re unable to attend to baby mice around the clock, as many of us aren’t, then you may consider keeping a haired mama rat around who could adopt and nurse the babies, should their hairless mother indeed be unable to care for them.

Other than that, hairless rat babies just require the same general care that their haired friends do.

Additionally, all rat babies need extra warmth, so it may be in your hairless babies’ best interest to give them extra baby blankies, bedding, hairless rat sweaters, and/or furry baby friends to snuggle up with.

Pet hairless rat health issues

As we mentioned earlier, since hairless rats aren’t protected by a nice layer of fur, you’ll need to ensure that the temperature where their cage is stays nice and warm (but not too warm), as they get cold quite easily.

Another disadvantage of hairless rats having no hair is the lack of a barrier between their sensitive skin and their surroundings.

This makes them especially prone to getting cuts and scratches, even from things like textured bedding, which wouldn’t normally irritate rats’ skin.

So, you’ll need to bed a hairless rat’s cage with very soft, preferably non-textured bedding.

Also, just because hairless rats don’t have visible hair, doesn’t mean that they don’t have hair follicles!

Their hair essentially breaks off from the follicle when they are babies, but sometimes, the remaining follicle plug can get clogged, creating a pimple-like bump.

These bumps can rupture and become infected, which, for a hairless rat, can become a life or death situation.

Due to their lack of a thymus and subsequent suppressed immune system, hairless rats can get sick or contract bacterial infections pretty easily. If you bring a lot of rats into and out of your colony, it’s likely that your hairless fur babies will fall ill before the others.

You should really disinfect your hands before playing with any rat, but this is especially important if you own hairless rats!

Hairless rat lifespan

So, how long do hairless rats live?

Unfortunately, not very long.

According to the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association, hairless rats rarely live beyond a year, thanks to their inability or decreased ability to fight off infection.

You may be able to extend their life span if you keep them in a near-perfect housing situation.

Hairless rat price

Hairless rats generally cost a bit more than haired rats.

This could possibly be attributed to the added work that it takes to successfully raise hairless babies to adulthood (recall what we said about hairless rat mommies).

You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $50 for a hairless from a breeder, perhaps a bit more if the rat comes from highly valued stock and/or if the breeder participates in health testing or any other precautions.

Should I buy hairless rats?

A rat, hairless or not, can make a lovely pet.

After all, what could be cuter than a dumbo hairless rat, with adorably huge ears? And, how fun would it be to come up with hairless rat names? (We can think of Dobby, ET, and Pinky, to name a few.)

However, hairless rats aren’t as low-maintenance as their furry counterparts.

You’d need to keep a hairless rat with at least one other rat, preferably of the haired variety, so that he has someone to snuggle up to in order to keep warm.

A hairless rat can’t live in just any cage. Rather, he should live in a cage with solid walls that will prevent him from feeling a draft.

Bedding for hairless rats may take some trial and error, as their sensitive skin has no barrier from objects that might be just a little too pointy (such as textured or wood bedding). You’ll definitely want to aim for something soft and extra cushiony.

Keeping a hairless rat’s cage clean would be something that you couldn’t take lightly (not that you should for any other type of rat), as their sensitive skin can actually get scalded if they burrow in feces- and urine-soaked bedding for too long.

Furthermore, hairless rats tend to have compromised immune systems that make breeding and generally keeping them around for very long a bit of a challenge, so you won’t want to become too attached to one.

You’ll need to be prepared for a bit of a challenge to keep your new friend nourished, warm, and healthy!

And ultimately, only you can decide how you feel about buying a pet that is bred to be less healthy than his furred counterparts.

References

Asakawa, M., Yoshioka, T., Matsutani, T., Hikita, I., Suzuki, M., Oshima, I., Tsukahara, K., Arimura, A., Horikawa, T., Hirasawa, T., Sakata, T. “Association of a Mutation in TRPV3 with Defective Hair Growth in Rodents,” Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006.

Booth, C. “Mouse with Cuts on Back; Bumps on Hairless Rat’s Stomach” American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association,

Inazu, M., Kasai, K., Sakaquchi, T. “Characteristics of a new hairless mutation (bald) in rats,” Laboratory Animal Science, 1984.

How to Breed Healthy Hairless Rats (Sphynx Rats)

Theophanes is a New-England-based blogger, traveler, writer, photographer, sculptor, and lover of cats.

Sphynx rats are difficult to breed, so they’re recommended for experienced breeders only. If you’re an experienced breeder ready to breed a Sphynx rat, read on to learn more about it. Image by Misja Климов, CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic, via Flickr

Should I Try Breeding Hairless Rats?

Furless—also known as sphynx—rats are one of the hardest types of rats to breed. They often have reproductive issues and, depending on the line, may also be riddled with other health problems.

They take a little more care then their furred counterparts. Because of this, one should really think long and hard about breeding. I highly suggest that you at least master breeding furred varieties before you try furless.

Godiva: A healthy, deformity-free sphynx.

Furless Genetics 101

Before you even start to breed furless rats, you should first have a basic understanding of their genetics. There are at least four genetically unique versions of furless rats out there. This means that, occasionally, you can breed two furless together and get 100% furred babies. If it’s at all possible, you should figure out which of the four types your breeding stock will be. I will be concentrating on rex-based furless, which I am most familiar with.

Rex and Double Rex

The furless gene I worked with, the one linked to the rex gene, is the most common. Rex (curly fur) was originally a spontaneous mutation. It’s a dominant gene, meaning that a rex bred to a straight-haired rat will produce on average 50% more rex. If you breed two very good quality rexes together, you may end up with more rexes, and you also may end up with double rex (or patchwork hairless). These rats almost look like they have mange. They have patches of fur that grows in and falls back out again. Double rexes bred for a few generations will eventually produce hairless.

Because of this common ancestry, breeding furless can also result in breeding rexes without really aiming to. Of course, two furless (of the same genetic type) bred together will result in entirely furless litters. However, it’s generally healthier to cross furless, at least occasionally, with furry rats.

Recessive Genes

Furless is a recessive gene, meaning both parents must either display the gene or carry it in order for it to be produced in a litter. A furless bred to a furry non-carrier will produce a completely furred litter, and in rex-based furless they will also produce roughly 50% “sloppy rexes.” These rexes generally look very curly before weaning, and as they age their curls get less and less dramatic, sometimes disappearing altogether. This entire litter will be born furless carriers as one of their parents was furless.

What’s the Best Way to Breed Furless?

The best way to breed furless (because of lactation and health issues) is to breed a furry mother (carrier) to a furless male. The litter will result in up to 75% furless with the remaining being a mix of sloppy rex and standard. If you really want to add genetic diversity, you can also breed two unrelated carriers. Of course, in this case, the number of furless born will be lower (25–50% of the litter).

Can a Rat Whose Parents Are Both Furry Be a Carrier?

Yes, a rat that has at least one furless ancestor in its pedigree will have a chance of carrying the gene. However, the more distant the ancestor, the less likely it is they’ll be a carrier.

Keep in mind that the above percentages are averages. Sometimes spontaneous litters can be born that break all the rules and come out with drastically different percentages. This is all part of the spontaneity of genetics. We can always give educated guesses, but when it comes right down to it, nature likes to occasionally throw curveballs.

Another portrait of the ever-photogenic Godiva.

Picking Out Breeding Stock

In order to start a line of healthy babies, you have to start with healthy adults. First, you want to pick out the perfect unrelated male and female:

Check to make sure their eyes are clear, properly sized, uninfected, and able to open and close.

Make sure their bodies are not too thin and preferably not too fat, either.

Make certain their lungs sound clear and they show no other signs of illness, ever. You want to try to avoid passing common furless health problems—many of which are genetic—to a new generation.

From there, pick the oldest (healthiest) male you can. It’s very hard to breed for longevity through the female’s line, but since males can breed until they die, this means you can breed for longer-lived babies.

The female should be bred ideally at six months of age. At this point, she’s fully grown, she’s not too old or too young, and she’s mature enough to have a higher likelihood of actually taking care of her litter. Make sure she’s never been sick a day in her life. If she’s never been bred before, make sure she’s under a year of age (at which point a female’s hips will start to fuse together if she’s never been bred).

The easiest way to get healthy stock is to consult your local ratteries and breeders who dedicate their time and energy to creating healthy lines in the first place. If this is not possible, use your utmost discretion (and caution) to search out other possibilities.

Babies are also known as pinkies.

Preparing for the Litter

When breeding furless rats, you should probably set up an aquarium for them. A ten-gallon aquarium is best for first-time mothers for the first week or two of the babies’ lives, at which point they can be put into a bigger aquarium. The ten-gallon aquarium is best because it doesn’t allow too much space (some furless mothers will run off and ignore their babies if they’re given too much space for the first week or so of their babies’ lives). Also, it’s insulated, and the smooth surfaces are safest for guarding against scratches and injury.

Providing Bedding and Food

Use polar fleece, paper-based bedding, or shredded paper in addition to the usual bedding so the mother can make a nice warm nest. From there, make sure to give the mother extra fat and protein in her diet (boiled or scrambled eggs make a fantastic supplement) and just make sure she’s generally comfortable.

Breeding Mothers in Pairs

It’s always advisable if you are breeding a first-time mother to also breed at least one furry or experienced mother at the same time (or ideally a few days before). This can prove to be a lifesaver if at any time you need a foster mother due to lactation problems or abandonment.

Monitoring the Babies

When the babies arrive, let them nurse on their mother for an hour or so, and then check their bellies. Pinkies have translucent skin for the first week or so of their lives, so you should see a white band going across their bellies and sometimes up their sides if they’re really full. Keep checking periodically because furless rats can dry up before they’re supposed to, sometimes very prematurely (within a few days).

Providing Additional Food

To help the mother, make sure that you provide the babies with things they can eat when they start nibbling on food on their own. Scrambled eggs or bread soaked in milk can be great for them. Cooked oatmeal, yogurt, and other soft foods are also great.

Two regular-coated and two sloppy rex babies born to a furless mother.

Keeping an Eye on the Line

After the babies are all grown up and sent to their new homes, it is best to ask their new owners to report back to you if any of them have any health problems at any point during their lives. Also request to know their cause of death (and age) when they die. It sounds morbid, but this sort of data can be crucial to knowing early on if your lines have any problems.

Ailments and Line-Breeding

Generally, one case of any ailment can be spontaneous; however, two or more should be reason to reconsider perpetuating your lines. The more genetically diverse the line, the less likely they are to have genetic ailments. However, breeders do occasionally inbreed (called line breeding) if a line proves 100% healthy and long-lived. These lines have shown to be genetically very efficient, and breeding them together will eliminate the risk of adding problems into the line by outcrossing it with someone else. This all being said, line-breeding is not for the light-hearted; it should be done with utmost caution.

Cautions aside, I hope you all have a wonderful time raising happy, healthy, well-adjusted babies, and remember: Temperament is just as genetic as physical ailments, so make sure everyone is sweet as can be and you’ll never be disappointed.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Cat on August 18, 2020:

Why the f are they hard to breed

Sarah on August 03, 2017:

I own a hairless rat that I got from a pet store about 1.5 years ago. No idea how old she is. She was a breeder that was eating all of her babies and they were going to feed her to a snake until I saved her. Her right eye was blind since I got her but it’s been changing lately. It looks like it has popped out of the socket/ruptured. I don’t know whether it is due to glaucoma or a tumor. The options offered to me are eye removal or an injection that kills the nerve to the eye, making it shrivel up (which I have only heard used in cats and dogs). I don’t know which option is better for me considering we still don’t know what caused this, I don’t know her age, and I make next to no money. Someone please give me advice. Also, the vet is booked for three weeks. I bought pain meds for her (liquid gababpentin) but I cannot get her to take it for the life of me. She doesn’t appear to be in much pain except with rats it’s hard to tell and I’m worried her head may be hurting. Also she has been messing with the eye (I think she may be trying to groom herself and it’s getting in the way or it could be bothering her-I can’t tell). How can I get her to take the meds? I feel like the more I mess with her, the worse she feels. I don’t know what to do.

Chelsea Raisin on March 09, 2016:

I have had one, female Dumbo Hairless which I randomly found at a local small pet store (northern California). She was so cute and sweet that I had to get her and still am so glad that I did. She and I went like everywhere together, I took her shopping, friends homes, exploring both outdoor and urban, I mean literally everywhere I went she was on my shoulder and if need be, hidden away and warm n the collar of a pea coat. I fed her like she was a health food junkie human, fish, veggies, fruits, chicken, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, grains ECT.. She even slept curled up next to me n my bed at night, she started doing so bcause one night she got out of her cage and didn’t runaway, she climbed up my comforter and nudged me n my side waking me up to play ~ I also played with her daily. All rats love to simulate wrestling with ur hand (gently of course), u just make ur hand stand up on fingers on the bed or whatever surface and scurry it about around em and softly place ur hand on top the rats body shaking and even tipping em on their back to gently hold em dwn, also very softly pinch the skin to simulate rat~play bites, they’re gnna do it to u, but dnt be scared cuz nkne of mine ever pressed hard enuff with teeth to even hurt at all.

So, Chelsea Raisin (that was her name) , she lived just to make it 4 yr.s old then passed away

smiller on September 20, 2015:

I recently bought a hairless female abousolty love her. But 2 weeks after I bought her she had a litter of 15 didn’t know she was pregnant an the pet store didn’t tell me. But still love the babies can’t wait to c if there hairless or not going to b surprised.

James Genes on November 26, 2012:

I want a female Hairless rat can someone get me one Please. 909-917-2480

Theophanes Avery (author) from New England on May 21, 2012:

krazykrissy are you talking to me? I bred hairless rats for ten years from my rattery…. back in the early days when we were forging healthier ones. I really miss it but I developed an allergy to the little darlings and had to stop. The photo in the article is of Godiva, one of my first. She was a wonderful little creature.

krazykrissy on May 21, 2012:

Hi i have two hairless one male and one female my female is almost two and no health problems i would. never find breed her my male is six months and just got my dumbo rex pregnant ……not on purpose i have buy hairless cause i love them i do breed but never hairless and to the person who doesn’t like hairless you have obviously never owned one so shut up

Theophanes Avery (author) from New England on April 13, 2012:

Oh well, guess this article has been busy. Sorry I had no idea anyone was commenting. In any event I want to answer a few questions and concerns.

1) Having one baby hairless in a litter is not unusual. It usually happens when one (or more) of its grand parents or great grandparents on both the mother and father’s side were hairless. Or it could be a spontaneous mutation, which is far less likely but can happen.

2)Hairless rats don’t require too much extra care than a normal rat. However if you want an article describing some of the differences and what you can do to keep them happy and healthy check out my other article: https://pethelpful.com/rodents/Common-Furless-Rat-…

3)”Rats don’t have fusing hips” – Tell that to the two breeders I know who lost their does and the whole litter after breeding them too late.

4)For any of the people bashing me for writing an article on breeding, well… there’s a few things I would like you to think about. The first is that ALL pets are here because someone bred them, so if you’ve ever had a pet you can’t technically be ageist breeding. I realize lots of animals of all sorts end up abandoned at pet stores and shelters. Believe it or not good breeders don’t want this to happen and work hard to make sure it doesn’t happen to their animals (even going so far as to say they will take back animals from adopters who can no longer care for them irregardless of reason – this was something I always stipulated and I was not alone.) Also as far as encouraging people to breed things that are too “complex” for them… look, people are going to breed furless rats irregardless if they read this article or not. Would you rather they do it with no knowledge whatsoever or would you like them to be educated so they can help in the effort to make furless a happy healthy available pet to people? I know what I prefer and I will let you in on a little secret… good breeders do pay vivid attention of their lines, all lines, not just hairless. New unpedigreed lines are watched for at least three generations before their offspring are deemed good enough for other breeders to use. I’ve done foundation lines before. I made sure all my adopters knew they were foundation lines and had all of them report back to me on any and all health and temperament issues. Lines that had more than two occurrences of any health or temperament issue were discontinued. This is how I ended up breeding furry rats that lived on average past three years of age and furless who came very close to that. Now I can’t bestow all my knowledge on others but I can give them a little bit and what they learn along the way could make them great future breeders. So please don’t harp on breeders. We are here to make our breed or animal exceptional, healthy, and long-lived. We want to produce animals that are more stable both health and tempramentwise than what you can find at a pet store or feeder breeder.

Dawnage on January 21, 2012:

i love my hairless rat kojack. he is such a stud. and my best friend.

mindy rich on November 19, 2011:

just got my new rat today :), i remember having 1 as a kid and am super excited to have another 1, my last 1 lived for 3 or 4 years we took it to the vet and everything, we evently had to put it down because she got a tumer. excited to have soph… and loved this article.

christinepurr on November 12, 2011:

Newratowner~ Hairless aren’t much different from furry ratties, other than they are more susceptible to extreme temperatures. Make sure they’re not in a place that’s hot or freezing cold. Give them cloth to cuddle up to, although all rats love cloth type stuff. There are plenty of great hubs on proper rat care, nutrition, rat toys, all things rattie! Good luck with your new babies!

newratowner on November 12, 2011:

i am a new hairless rat owner, honestly i went for the cuteness factor at first but i made sure my new addition was heathy and curiouse. i am now reserching how to best take care of her. i am new at this and do not want her to suffer because of my inabilaty to care for her properly. any help or advice would be helpful thank you.

christinepurr on November 10, 2011:

This is an awesome hub! Very informative. I totally agree with you in the sense that most experienced breeders want nothing to do with “newbies”. I definitely think it’s a fear of competition. I’ve bred rats for longevity and health before and had no help from the breeders in the area. :[ Not that I needed it, I’m pretty rat obsessed and pretty much know all haha. Although anytime anyone had questions for me, I was more than eager to help.

Anyway, I ran off on a tangent. Great article!!

RachyLovesRattys on September 27, 2011:

@NCats : THANK YOU!! I’m glad someone feels the same way I do! Confuesed rat owner, I don’t even know why you’d find that type of comment appropriate here.

I’ve been taking care of rats for almost 3 years. In the process I’ve had dumbos, hooded, agoutis, PEWs, and of course hairless and double rexes. The saddest part of everything is that Confuesed rat owner clearly doesn’t even have the desire to care for the little type of rat that I’ve been searching EVERYWHERE for.

Just because rats are cute doesn’t mean they’re happy, healthy, or well-tempered. I had 2 rats that were bred specifically to be “cute” and they both were anxious biters that died at only 8 months old. Both went through severe depressive episodes after experiencing the deaths of a few of their cagemates and eventually lost the will to keep going. The place I got them from obviously had a breeder that was just looking to make a quick buck off of stupid parents who think, “Oh, it’s like a hamster. It’s cute. The kids can practice taking care of it, and when it dies it won’t be expensive.”

My hairless came from a rescue, unwanted. He was party of an all furred litter and was the odd one out. He ended up being one of my most affectionate, loving rats and, despite the fact he required some extra care (like vitamin E on his little naked body for moisture and a blanket on cold nights.) I loved him, and ever since he sadly passed from a pneumonia infection that antibiotics couldn’t treat, I’ve searched for another boy that I could save from people who only want “cute” pets.

Seriously, these animals get abused- by pet stores, by breeders, and sometimes even the people that take them home (you don’t see anyone feeding your pet ferret to a snake do you?)… it seems no one looks at them as a REAL pet and the way most people act towards them just continues this stigma.

The love I feel for these animals is seriously beyond words. And the obvious love they have for my family and me makes them feel as though they are little people, with little personalities, just looking for affection and safety in the world.

People who could call ANY rat ugly…no matter what it looks like…and say that a pet rat’s only value is the cuteness factor—-

well that sounds like a pretty ugly person to me.

Crobin28 from Pelham, Alabama on June 21, 2011:

I find it unwise to promote any type of breeding but ESPECIALLY something so advanced. There are thousands of rats in the world who still need homes and we are going to continue breeding in hopes of creating something different?? And not only are we creating MORE pets that will probably be abandoned by the impulse buyers, but we are also playing with extremely fragile genetics. Hairless rats already have more than their share of health problems. Inexperienced breeders trying to breed them will end up with nothing but disaster! But if you are going to go with this. I would suggest you keep ALL of your babies and watch every single one of them through their entire life. I have had a hairless female for nearly two years now and she has devoloped quite a large mammary tumor and has experienced many terrible eye problems. The breeder probably thought that her silky smooth skin and her perfect color was an indication that she was in good health. Boy was he wrong!

NCats on April 03, 2011:

@Confuesed rat owner [sic]:

Your attitude is “ugly and gross!”.

I know you. I’ve seen you in the pet store oohing and ahhing over the “cute” animals. I’ve seen you pick one out without a second thought to researching its needs or weather it’ll be happy and healthy or not. I watched you carry it around like a fashion accessory for a few months until you grew bored with it, at which point you neglected and even occasionally mistreated it if it got in your way or did something that inconvenienced you. I saw when you either gave it away to some irresponsible kid down the block or you forgot to refill the water for so long, the precious creature died. I’ve watched you then replace it with another “cute” animal.

You should never, EVER be permitted unsupervised contact with an animal and CERTAINLY should never be allowed to own one.

freudianslipper on March 06, 2011:

I loved your article. I have a hairless dumbo odd-eyed female who is probably pregnant since one of my males sneaked into her cage recently. I am a little worried because after reading your article, some things have become clear to me as to why previous litters of hers have not gone very well (her last litter ended up being eaten by her and I was horrified). I don’t want this to happen again and I was wondering if you had any advice on how to possibly prevent this with the coming litter. I am also wondering what might happen since the male that was in her cage is her grandson. What would I need to look out for as far as problems with the babies? BTW your Godiva is so cute!!

Confuesed rat owner on February 22, 2011:

I bought two FURRED girl rats, hat ended up both being pregnant. all of the babies are furred except one! i thought it was the runt (im still sure it is the runt) but it has no hair… I dont understand! why did just ONE rat end up hairless? i dont even like hairless rats they are ugly and gross! furred rats are cute!

Clint S. on May 27, 2010:

I got a baby hairless rat like a month ago from the feed store. It was my first hairless one. The guy told us it was a boy. After a few weeks we just thought he didn’t fully “mature” yet. So when we went back we got him another boy hairless playmate. And it turns out our first one was really a girl. So we will probally be having babies, unexpectenly!

Cyove on April 09, 2010:

I enjoyed this article, thanks. =]
elisabeth on March 27, 2010:

i think hairless rats are so so cute i might be getting one soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kary-Ann on September 19, 2009:

Rats don’t have fusing hips, that’s just guinea pigs and it’s 7 months for them.

Theophanes Avery (author) from New England on September 17, 2009:

Kim, thanks for stopping by. Furless rats are perfectly capable of living long healthy lives, they just have a higher risk of some things than furred rats (much like some breeds of dogs have a higher chance of hip dysplasia or heart murmers.) Happy to see you’re enjoying yours. 🙂

I hope you’re feeding them domestic roaches and crickets (like the kind you buy at the pet store) because wild insects can carry internal parasites and possibly diseases as well. Otherwise a little protein boost can be a good thing. I had one who loooved crickets. I’d put him in a tank so he could find them amongst the bedding. Good mental stimulation!

Kim on September 16, 2009:

Not too important, but I’ll say it anyways:

In addition to my 8 rats, I have 2 guinea pigs, 4 Robo hamsters, 2 fish, and several kitties.

My rats love – and I mean LOVE cockroaches, crickets, oranges, cereal. Feeding them cockroaches is like giving cookies to kids with a hard-core sweet tooth.

Kim on September 16, 2009:

I have two male hairless rats. I know their mother, Wrinkles – she belongs to a friend of mine. However, my friend didn’t know Wrinkles was already preggy when she got her. But, my lil boys are doing great. So far, no problems.

Oh – by the way – I have 8 rats.

nicko guzman from Los Angeles,CA on April 08, 2009:

Anyone know where to get hairless rats around Los Angeles,California.

nicko guzman from Los Angeles,CA on March 28, 2009:

What I did was put the hairless rat kittens with a foster since the mother was not lactating.

Theophanes Avery (author) from New England on November 20, 2007:

I hear a LOT of complaints in the past five years that breeders aren’t mentoring anyone anymore, that it’s impossible to “break in.” I’m not sure if it’s a fear of competition, or more likely a lot of breeders seem to be taking on an unhealthy “I know better then all of you” complex. I help anyone I can because I think the more people doing responsible work the better. It’s better that then people starting out totally alone and learning along the way (that leaves far too much room for really bad mistakes.)

Whitney from Georgia on November 20, 2007:

I think that anyone who is considering breedng rats should find an already established breeder in their area. The established breeder will mentor the new comer until the breeder thinks he is ready. Otherwise, the new comer may not know the ropes properly as to when to breed, how to, etc. Being mentored helps teach the tricks and tips to breeding rats.

On another note, I love hairless rats!

So you have finished reading the how much does a hairless rat cost topic article, if you find this article useful, please share it. Thank you very much. See more: hairless rat for sale near me, hairless rat life expectancy, baby hairless rat, dumbo sphynx rat for sale, patchwork hairless rat, do hairless rats have whiskers, cute hairless rat, Fancy rat

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