How to Breed Hairless Rats

Hairless rats, sometimes referred to as Sphynx rats or dumbo rats, can be difficult to breed. Female hairless rats tend to lack a maternal nature and do not lactate sufficiently to support the healthy growth of young. They are most safely bred from a haired Rex female that carries the hairless gene, and a hairless male, or two haired parents who carry the hairless gene. This will render a mixture of haired and hairless babies, but will insure a healthier litter with a higher survival rate.

Things You'll Need

  • Rat pair
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Acquire breeding stock. The female should be between 6 and 10 months old. Younger than this she is less likely to care for her young and birthing may inhibit her own growth. Older than this her hips will have started to fuse together, and live birth rates may drop. Select a male over the age of 3 who has proven his longevity and health, this will limit genetic health failings in the offspring.

    • 2

      Watch your female for signs that she is going into heat. This can occur any time of year, but is most frequent in the late spring and early summer. Symptoms include raising her back haunches up into the hair, arching her back when petted, acting jumpy or squeaking when touched and tackling other rats in the same enclosure.

    • 3

      Move the female to a nesting tank. The 10-gallon aquarium should have standard rodent bedding, a water bottle, and a feed dish. In addition, add strips of shredded newspaper and narrow strips of polar fleece for the mother rat to make a nest in. This will help insulate the little rats when they are born. It is harder for hairless babies to maintain their body temperature because of their lack of fur.

    • 4

      Put the male rat in with the female and watch for breeding to occur. Leave the male in the female's enclosure for 24 to 48 hours to insure the female is successfully inseminated.

    • 5

      Supplement the pregnant rat's diet with hard-boiled eggs. This will increase her protein intake and help to ensure strong offspring. It will also ensure that her body has the nutrients necessary to lactate.

    • 6

      Weigh your female daily. There should a consistent trend of gaining beginning 24 to 48 hours after mating. The amount she gains daily will be determined by her health and the number of babies she is carrying.

    • 7

      Watch for litter delivery between the 21st and 24th day of gestation. Delivery from the first baby to the last generally takes between one and two hours. If the rat shows signs of distress and labor has continued past the three-hour mark, contact your veterinarian.