Semi-hairless rats?

[slartibartfast]

We've had a few litters recently in which one or two specimens have a very odd hair-coat. It's thin and wispy, to the point that in the darker coloured ones you can see the skin underneath (kinda like a powderpuff Chinese Crested dog). The three we've had so far (from two different litters) have all been male, and two of them are significantly smaller and frailer than their littermates. Where the other baby rats their age show a smooth sleek coat, these guys have soft fuzz with skin showing faintly through.

We've kept the tiniest one alive as a novelty; if he proves to be docile he may wind up as a pet. He's about half the size of his littermates. The others have been fed off. My friend is using two different males as studs, and is unsure which male fathered either of the litters. In any case, all the parents are normal in appearance.

I've looked up the various hairless rat types, and they all seem to specifiy curly whiskers, which these guys don't have.

Any ideas? And no, I don't have pictures...no cam. :-(

[frankykeno]

Not sure what to think Jess. I don't know enough about the hairless gene to comment on whether that's affecting the two males. The fact though that they have poor/sparse coat development and are undersized as well is making me wonder if they are simply runts/fail to thrive type babies that just couldn't compete for the teat. I'd definitely raise that one up and see what happens as he matures. I assume you aren't seeng any signs of the swollen belly of megacolon (there is a late onset form of it though...hope that's not it)?

[slartibartfast]

I think he's still too little for megacolon to show up yet. We don't have any high-white rats either. I wish I could get a picture...the coat is abnormal in both the hair density and texture. It is fine, soft, and sparse, and it has remained so as they've grown.

[frankykeno]

Well hopefully some of our hairless rat experts will chime in. I remember somebody saying some of them start out with spare coats or something like that. Sorry I can't be more help...I like my rats fully coated LOL.

[Flagg]

Well, the 3 known hairless genes as well as double rexes all have curly whiskers, so I don't think it's a hairless.

[Rakshasi]

I have had some like that in the past, and actually have two right now...thing is, mine have all had curly whiskers. The two that I have right now are still very tiny (born maybe 2 weeks ago), but I had two other males that I let grow...they grew out of the exact same coat you're talking about, and they looked just like normal rats with maybe a tiny bit thinner fur. Nobody else noticed this, nobody even remember the texture and look of their coat as babies, they looked so normal and fit in so well with the bigger boys. They were snake food, and are long gone, now, or else I would gladly take a better look at them.

If you're going to let yours grow, please do keep us all updated as to how it comes along. If I remember, I'll also let you know what goes on with my two as they get older. I am keeping both, because they are solid blacks and I don't get many solids in my litters (i do, however, get a bunch of other black combos), so I'll get to see them progress through their whole lives.

[SatanicIntention]

Could be a Harley, but if you didn't get the rat from a breeder(and not many of us have them anyway), then I doubt it. My Harley has the thin, whispy hairs, which is thinning on his body. Makes him really soft though. Let me see if I can find a picture when I get home.