| This contest is fueled by the following news: |
| | Rat is a type of mammal of mouse family. Length of the body is 8—30 cm, tail is also having same length and weight generally does not exceed 500 grams. There are totally about 70 types living in forests of tropical and sub tropical countries. Gray (R. norvegicus) and black (Rattus rattus) rats after human being have settled widely. Rats harm the human being by eating and damaging the food items. Rats are also carriers of helminthic and other lot of infection diseases..
At present there are so many rat lovers (rat-farmers), which hold domestic cats at their houses.
Domestic rats are generally descendants of domesticated gray (stepsons) or rarely black rats. Average life is 2-4 years; maximum-recorded life is 7 years 4 months. Male rats generally weigh in average 400 to 800 grams and female rats – 250 to 450 grams. Female rats are generally calm and affectionate, female rats are more active and sportive.
Domestic rats are classified to several types, sections and grades. Part of names of wool covering and coloring of rats are borrowed from cats and dogs.
Houses of rats
Special beautiful cage or multi level cages are very much suitable for polecats or chinchillas. Generally, cages for polecats are very small and wheels with small dimensions are very dangerous for rats and may damage their tails. Such may be the cage for rats.
It is necessary to fence the rats from droughts and direct solar rays.
As feeders, it is better to use cellulose, corn or cellulose-mineral fillers. Hay badly absorbs the smell, and saw dust may serve as tick source. Feeders from coniferous wood are negatively effect on rats, as their resins are extremely harmful for respiratory system.
Rats are social and it is better to keep them as single gender pairs. In this case, rats generally interact with human being and go for walk.
Mating of rats: Basic rule during introduction of old and new rats is that it should take place in neutral territory. Before keeping the animals in single cage, it is necessary to clean thoroughly to remove the existing smell. Mating of adult male rats time taking and difficult process. Adult male rats are generally loyal to young generation, where they do not anticipate competitors.
Co-existence of rats and other domestic animals
* Dogs and cats may co-exist with rats under the condition of observance due precautionary conditions, and in the absence of clearly expressed hunting sources of later ones.
* Rats and birds are not compatible. Big birds are harmful for rats, and small – serve as food for them. And also, it is not recommended to allow joint strolls of tortoises and rats.
* Rabbits and sea pigs — there are examples of successful handling of rats with these animals, but for preventing any unfortunate case, better to keep them in different cages, and allow joint strolls under supervision.
* Mice, hamsters and other small rodents — keeping of rats with mice and hamsters is dangerous for later ones.
Dangers, lie in wait for rats during walking in living areas
Many rats like the wires very much, especially in soft shell. That’s why, it is extremely not recommended to keep them in freely accessible places. Boxes and crimps generally help with this problem. Rats also may bite any objects of furniture and household items. Specific weaknesses entirely depend on individuality of rat and may vary from complete harmless to total destruction.
For rat, always there is a danger of getting accidental injury by human being, that’s why while stepping or sitting, it is necessary to take care to avoid injury of rats. Some individuals may be very curious and may try to go out of the quarter, in to walls or underground.
Behavior of rats in darkness is almost same as in illuminated conditions as sight plays secondary role for rats.
Capability to get in to shelter and cheating of rats, hiding in difficult to access places
Rats not trained for being in cages may find other housing within the quarter. Trained – generally comes back to their cages on their own any time. You can cheat the rat by offering the delicacy. If the shelter is known, then you can try to spray non-toxic spray or water from spray gun.
Jumps and climbing
Rats may jump to enough height and enough length. It is necessary to consider, that rats may climb on curtains, jump to one-meter length and down. Generally rats like to climb on human being and to avoid scratches, it is better to carry the dress with full hands while handling them.
Diet
Normal diet of rats may contain the cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, boiled meat and eggs. Though rats may consume less water in case of balanced diet, it is necessary to keep water in cage desirably in nipple bottles.
The following products give side effects to the rats: gaseous drinks, газированные напитки, bean stuff, chocolate, raw potato, raw red and Brussels cabbage, raw artichoke, green banana and spinach.
Breeding
In average, one female rat may give birth up to 20 rats in each 1.5 months. In connection with this, it is not desirable to hold the rats of different sex in one place. Sterilization is possible, but it may result in different consequences and that’s why it is used predominately as per medical check up results and for controlling the aggressiveness of male rats.
Duration of pregnancy for rats is 20 to 25 days. After giving birth, small rats should be with their mother for 4 to 5 weeks, as during this period, immunity will be formed and training takes place. After this, it is necessary to divide the male rats from their mother and sisters to avoid unplanned descendants. In zoo-shops, very frequently this is not considered, which results in purchasing of already pregnant rats.
Mating of domestic with wild rats:
Mating of domestic rats, which are held in Russia, with wild gray color rats and getting descendants is possible. Mating with black rats is not possible. In case of artificial fertilization, pregnancy ends with abortion. Character and habits of descendants of domestic and wild rats are less predictable. There is a requirement of high alertness and aggressiveness in relation to the human being. And also, equally take care to improve the health and heredity.
Diseases and oldness
Average duration of life of decorative rat is about 2 years. Some rats in rare cases live up to 3.5 years. So many factors effect the life duration, including heredity, care, balanced diet and preventive health care. Among rat-farmers, there is a opinion, that decorative rat may live up to 5-7 years under respective care. But experience accumulated in many years by rat-farmers show that, this is incorrect. |
|
| | 19 Contest Pictures Page 1 2 - View All
|
|
