Dwarf Rats Question...

Is this trait genetic?? And to what point i mean if you breed just dwqrf all of them are dwarf or You getting normal size as well ??

How small/big they get??

It is a recessive mutation.
If you breed a dwarf to a normal sized rat, you will get all normal rats that carry the gene. Dwarf to Dwarf will be all dwarf.
Adults get to about small regular rat size.

http://everwildrattery.webs.com/Bree...ts%20Chart.jpg

[QUOTE=satomi325;2236504]It is a recessive mutation.

Adults get to about small regular rat size.

[QUOTE]

What you mean by Small regular size rat ?? lol

[QUOTE=Aes_Sidhe;2236522][QUOTE=satomi325;2236504]It is a recessive mutation.

Adults get to about small regular rat size.

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What you mean by Small regular size rat ?? lol

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Meaning even full grown a dwarf can be eaten by an adult ball python, unlike regular full grown rats that get too large.

Well i will like more data Like weigh size and such... I just wondering Should I go with mice or dwarf rats...

I know Jerry Robertson has dwarves. He's on of the rat breeder groups I'm on. Going off his avatar (matches one I've seen on this site with a caterpillar drinking soda or something) I'm sure he's on here too. MrLang also has some.

I think I need some dwarves :D

I assume that the litter size compares to the litter size of regular size rats?

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Originally Posted by Aes_Sidhe

What you mean by Small regular size rat ?? lol

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Meaning dwarf rats grow to the size we usually consider a 'small rat'.
Around 70-125g average give or take. They're typically about 1/3 the size of a standard rat.

Not my picture:
http://image.hotdog.hu/user/rattiera...comparason.jpg

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I think I need some dwarves :D

I assume that the litter size compares to the litter size of regular size rats?

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No. They have smaller litters compared to the standard sized rats.
Maybe half the size or less.

so about the size of a soft fur?

I have Dwarfs in my Burmese/Black Eyed Siamese line. They top out at 120-150 grams. I've seen some people with "monster" dwarfs (180 grams), but that's rare (or they are obese).

Dwarfism is a recessive trait in rats. You can breed a dwarf to a standard and all offspring will heterozygous for dwarfism.

It's hard to tell dwarf from standard until they are 2-3 weeks. Sometimes longer, depending on the line. More experienced breeders can weigh them and take a guess, but it's still very hard to say until they essentially stop growing. Their litter mates will continue to shoot up in size past three weeks and they will just remain the same size for weeks at a time.

Dwarfs usually have decent temperaments but require more living space than standard rats because they are more active.

Some lines of standard sized rats can become bullies or aggressive towards dwarfs. That's what I've been told, but my standards all get along with my dwarfies.

Dwarfs have small litters, usually 3-4 babies.

Dwarfs take longer to mature and reach adult size.

Hmmmm, that's all I can think of.

More space and less babies doesn't make it worth it IMO. Solution? More snakes to eat the babies before they grow too large. ;)

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Originally Posted by Marrissa

More space and less babies doesn't make it worth it IMO. Solution? More snakes to eat the babies before they grow too large. ;)

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Well not a solution if You leaving Ball pythons world and going Colubrids all the way...

Well looks like Fancy mice breeding Group it is....

I breed dwarves and was all excited to regurgitate my knowledge and experience... then Michelle beat me to it. I would say for food only for colubrids you are better off with mice - but they stink as you know. Another way to do it is to breed dwarf males to full sized het dwarf females. This will give you full sized litters with 50% dwarf, so basically you'd have ~6 non dwarf pups that would need to be fed or euthanized small and ~6 dwarf pups which will stay mouse sized for their first 3-4 months or so.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yo! If you ever make it down to MD or VA then we've got plenty of good mice for you to start up with. :D

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Originally Posted by Rhasputin

Yo! If you ever make it down to MD or VA then we've got plenty of good mice for you to start up with. :D

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Does that mean you have extras now? :o I could start planning a trip. I'd love to get started with some show mice and stop breeding these pet store mice.