Exotic pets recently enjoy great popularity. This tendency and rodents, which are very often bred as decorative pets, has not bypassed. The bald rat today is actively grown by many breeders, so the fans of Sphinx can be found worldwide.
Description
HAIRless rodent breed or simply Sphinx was obtained by an artificial way by American scientists. Initially, such animals were needed for conducting various experiences and research, but over time, the colonic bald rats were interested in man as decorative pets. This served as the impetus to the exit of individuals beyond the limits of scientific offices and laboratories.
There are three breed varieties of Sphinxes.
- Standard. Rodents with long mustes and small sections with wool on the skull, limbs and sides. Some breeders due to their external features refer to individuals with dickerys.
- Rex. Rats with swirling vibrations and rather rare wavy coarse on the head, in the groin area, on the paws.
- Double Rex. Features of this species on the caller is rare wool.
Since the genelessness gene is recessive, it is transmitted not every animal. This caused the birth of rodents with partial hair on the body. Such distinctive features in appearance suggest the classification of animals into several subspecies. Today you can select the following:
- hairless;
- naked;
- fluffy;
- balding;
- naked;
- Strong.
Immediately after birth, it is possible to observe how rodents wool grows and covers their caller, but in the future it falls, as a result of which rare hairs remain on the rats. Therefore, based on the hair coating, Related the animal to someten or other pleases will be able not earlier than a month and a half after its appearance.
The size of the Sphynx may vary within 15-25 centimeters, while the mass of adults is 400-700 grams. In the lack of lack of bleeding and wool itself, animals have a rather elegant body shape.
As for the color of the skin of bald ornamental rats, then Ideally, it should be pink, without defects and inclusions. At the same time, the presence of folds is allowed, on the touch, the animal shoulder will be similar to the velvet. As a rule, boys stand out more dense skin compared to girls. Now the selection of animals, the skin of which will not be pink, and smoky, black, cream and even chocolate, were removed.
Rodents have a mustache (vibrassa), which are located near the eyes. The mustache is slightly twisted, in the light of which will be visually less in length than the usual decorative rats.
Some of the Vibrisians may not be absent, however, such a feature will indicate the deviation from the established standards of the appearance inherent in sphinxes.
It can be noted among the bald individuals some difference in the form and landing of the ears. As a rule, they will be planted quite low, in addition, their dimensions will be more, in comparison with the ears of ordinary rodents. There are animals with a characteristic form of ear-sinks, like Dambo rats. Sphinx's eyes are pronounced, located on both sides of the skull. The paint colors can be black, husky, red and even pink. Among the animals of this breed, you can also meet animals with different color of the eyes.
The sphinxes are highlighted by their good temper, however, it does not affect their activity, so rodents willingly play, and also very quickly get used to their owners. It is determined by a similar feature in the nature of bald rats by the fact that due to their lack of wool, it is possible to spend more time with direct contact with a person - on the hands, for the sinus, on the shoulder. Outgoing heat from the body of the owner acts on them peaceful, moreover he warms.
At home, with regular contact with a man, rats are able to very sensitively recognize the mood of the owner to intonation of his voice. Therefore, the breeder should control its timbre when communicating with a pet, so as not to scare it. Bald rats are able to memorize and respond to their nickname. Polyspot animals, so with free walking through the dwelling, the breeders do not arise with problems with cleaning the sphydrous life products in places of movement.
The life expectancy of bald ornamental rodents is 1.5-2 years old, however, if it is properly to care for the rodent and provide him with a balanced diet, he will be able to live with a longer man.
Advantages and disadvantages
The decorative rock of the bald rat is highlighted by its strong and weak parties. The advantages of animals should include such moments:
- Due to the lack of wool of such pets, it is possible to start even if there are allergic reactions to the animal fur;
- rats almost do not exude an unpleasant odor inherent in small rodents;
- Unlike hamsters, the sphinxes are very contacts, so they are fairly willing to go to the person;
- Animals are highlighted by their decorative attractiveness due to an unusual appearance;
- Bald rats have high intellectual abilities, so the human mood is well recognized, as well as are able to remember their nickname.
Among the minuses of such rodents it is worth highlighting the following nuances:
- Sphinxes may suffer from depression alone, so it should be communicated with animals;
- Rodents are not long-livers, so one person with a person will live long.
Care and content
For such exotic pets, the main point relating to the content is the temperature regime in the room. Specialists recommend placing cells with rodents in rooms where air will be heated in the range from +22 to +30 C. Sometimes you can allow an increase in the thermometer to +35 C.
In winter, usually sphinx contains near heaters or radiators. As for the summer months, the bald rats should be protected from sunlight, because due to the lack of wool they may have burns from ultraviolet.
The optimal indicator of air humidity will be 75-80%, the increased humidity rate can cause the development of various ailments from Rodent.
Housing
Pets live in spacious cells with metal rods, inside them are the container for food, drinking, as well as cuts of paper or napkins as a material to create a socket in which Sphinx will sleep. Suitable sizes of the house will be 70x70 centimeters, in such conditions, rodent will be enough space for movement. It is best to choose houses with several tiers, with ladders and partitions.
In addition to the material for the socket, it is worth installing inside the cell a house in which the rodent will relax and sleep, as well as hide if necessary. Animals are fairly singing in hammocks.
Cleaning in the house is recommended twice a week Also rodent need a tray. As a filler, you can use conventional products intended for feline toilets.
For games and physical activity, rats do not need a wheel, the optimal option for such a pastime will be a walking ball.
Nutrition
As for the diet of a bald rodent, such pets can be fed by specialized feed mixtures, additionally treat vegetables and fruits. Once every seven days, the sphinx should be given boiled fish and meat, vegetables should also be pre-boiled. Animals can not be salty, smoked and acute food, one should abandon the temptation to treat rodent sweets from a common table.
The most favorite delicacy for the decorative rat will be cheese, however, they can be poured an animal more than once a week.
Hygiene
Sphinxes are quite rapidly growing claws on the front and hind limbs, so the owner in the process of care of the rodent will be required once a month cut them with sharp scissors . Neglecting such rules will be further fraught with the wounds on the animal body, in addition, the rat may damage its owner in the process of communication.
Pet is recommended once every 2-3 months bathe in warm water However, the use of additional treatments cannot be used, water for hygiene procedures will be quite enough, since the rat in the intervals is clean and carries themselves independently.
For such small rodents, a very important point is the attention from the breeder - If the owner knows that the rat is for the most part will be at home alone, he should be purchased several Sphinx at once. It is best to choose animals of one sex and from one litter. But this does not cancel the need for daily contact and communication with the rat.
As noted earlier, the bald rats do not stand out by their vitality, most often the rodent suffers from a variety of skin diseases. Some abrasions and wounds on the body of an animal can turn into purulent ulcers.
Another common disease among the Sphinxes is oncology, such a predisposition is due to genital mutations, as well as the lack of wool. Such diseases in rats are not subject to treatment.
Rats are good at home, the females occur every 5-7 days. That is why diverse animals living in the same cell will regularly bring off the proceedings. Patients of animals are not recommended to pair, because there is a possibility that they will give their own occasion.
The newborn beats are forbidden to take on the hands, since the sphinxes, like most rodents, when discovering strangers from offspring, can eat all the cubs. Also in a separate baby's bald rat house can be seated a month after birth.
Tips of professionals
Sphinx breeders strongly recommend buying such decorative pets exclusively in specialized pet stores, since animals that are offered in natural markets, very often contain with violations of the conditions, which is fraught with further health problems. In addition, specialists can get important recommendations regarding the care of the decorative rodent.
Sphynx breeders recommend paying attention to the fact that the teeth are regularly updated in animals. To contribute to rats in the painless and correct flow of these processes, In the house should specifically place a piece of wood.
Rats need mineral additives, for this purpose for pets it is recommended to acquire vitamins or put in the chalk cell.
For considerable breeders who purchased two pets of different sexes, however, the breeding of animals do not plan to do, many branches offer services for sterilization and castration of animals. This will avoid possible problems with the numerous offspring of bald rats in their home.
In the next video, see the opinion of a small breeder about your petomice - a bald rat.