Life span: Average 4-6 years.
Size: 20cm body with 25cm tail.
Origin: Asia; several strains of domestic rats now exist.
Status: Tame; through thousands of generations of selective breeding.
Diet: Omnivore. Commercial gerbil or hamster mix containing seeds, nuts and pellets. Supplement with hay, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Pros: Easily tamed, if handled regularly. Seldom bite. Intelligent, curious and adventuresome both day and night. Very clean.
Cons: Require a habitat that allows for a lot of daily exercise. Small, fast moving animals can be difficult to handle. Tend to nibble on fingers. Can be easily hurt if squeezed or dropped. Easy to lose if they escape from habitat.
Info: Best kept in pairs of same sex from birth. Must have items to chew to wear down constantly growing teeth. Habitat requires plenty of room and nest building material. Require warm, dry environment with a temperature range of 18-20oC.
