Funny thing, I never knew much about Hairless genetics before a couple of weeks ago. To be honest, they are one of the few rats that never really interested me.

However, quite recently, I had the cutest self black rat pop in a litter bred from my Cinnamon male to a Berkshire Russian Blue female. Cutest little bugger you have ever seen. I was proud too, she is my first black self after all of the rats I have rescued, purchased from breeders and bred myself.

To my dismay, she has started balding (lol). I found out that both parents are recessive hairless, so I have started researching hairless rats. I never intended to acquire one, but I am too attached to her and her brother to let them go.

I knew their was something weird about her having wavy (rex like) hair, I just never messed with hairless genetics.

I'm thinking one of those sites I listed says this, but just in case, I'll go ahead and go off memory. Hairless rats have several genetic problems, abnormal hearts, kidney failure, etc. However, rats from a Hairless x Hairless are most at risk for genetic problems. One that is bred from Hairless x Furred Recessive Hairless is even less at risk, they generally live pretty close to the same as a normal rat. Of course, Furred Recessive Hairless x Furred Recessive Hairless is the ideal breeding you want when producing a Hairless.

Some URLs you might find useful.

http://ratguide.com/health/figures/c...a_figure_3.php Care sheet from one of the most reliable rat care sites out there.

http://ratguide.com/health/figures/c...a_figure_2.php A bit on their genetics.

http://www.curiosityrats.com/mine.html Nice little blurb about Hairless Rats.

http://www.ratbehavior.org/CoatTypes.htm Wonderful site on Genetics and Health Concerns.

I hope this helps!