?Hairless Rats?

[FatBoy]

To all the rat experts. I breed rats to feed my ball pythons. I am not a rat expert, I know how to feed, water, and breed them. Lately we have had 3 hairless rats born out of 3 different breeding groups. What makes a hairless rat? Is it a fluke or genetic? If genetic, is it like recessive or codom in the balls?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It is genetic, recessive gene.

[rebeccabecca]

Is it a true hairless or just a double rex? Double rexes are from crossing 2 rexes some can be quite bald.

[FatBoy]

No clue. I will try and get some pics up.

[Michelle.C]

Hairless Rats can be made multiple ways. There is a Recessive Hairless and dominant Rex (Rex x Rex).

Recessive Hairless will appear to be a standard (smooth) coated rat. While Rexes have a fluffy, curly coat with curly whiskers.

A Patchwork Hairless molting. See how curly her fur is?


Post pictures of the buck, doe, and offspring.

[FatBoy]

Mine looks nothing like that.

[Michelle.C]

Mine looks nothing like that.

You likely have a few stray Recessive Hairless genes then. About two weeks after that picture, she had lost 95% of her hair. I'd love to see pictures though.

[rebeccabecca]

My normal female's rexes are fully haired no pachwork but curly( mine are female so they are less curly) but this is my double rex



another double but less effected



the first girls offsprig:



look at the parents wiskers if they are curly they are rexs.

[FatBoy]

I have pulled the babies to weaner tubs and are not sure who the two parents are, although all my breeders look perfectly normal. I mix up my breeding groups every week and do not track breedings or birthing. The older hairless seems to have a real long nose. I will definately post some pics tomorrow. Thanks

[FatBoy]

OK here they are.
The white one is 4 weeks old and the dark ones 2.




And while taking pics of rats a babysitter is a must!!!!


All my breeders are perfectly normal looking rats.