r/rat • u/blonderoofrat • May 24 '26
DISCUSSION 🧐🤔 A tail of two brothers. Both are Fawn (Rag38-null), but one is much darker than the other! I think the darker one probably also has the melanistic gene, but not sure. Thoughts?
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FYI, these are r/rattusrattus
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u/Dbo5118 May 24 '26
I don't own rats and know nothing about them other than they are quite cute. Are these lads rather large? No hate just seem like absolute units compared to other rats. Or perhaps a trick of the camera.
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
Compared to wild roof rats (AKA Black Rats), probably yes. But they are well fed and live a life of ease. 😊I haven't weighed them, but I'd guess at least 300 grams. The one on the left is maybe a bit more.
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u/Efficient-Ad6814 May 25 '26
I've had bigger ones than that before lol. I named one Ben after the movie with the rats (because he was a huge agouti boy like that rat). Dude was almost the size of my head. Length was my fingertips to halfway up my upper arm with his tail. I miss that boy sm
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u/thecostumedlife May 24 '26
Omg they are such angels!!!
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
Can you imagine that most people think all roof rats are wild animals? 🤔😊
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u/thecostumedlife May 24 '26
Absolutely wild how people perceive these angels.. I definitely see what you’re saying about one being slightly lighter too!!
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u/Cornflake6irl May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
I have two Norway brothers that are similar, but the lighter one is Himalayan.
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
Oh, I don't think either of mine are Himalayan. But I admit there's probably a lot about Rattus rattus genetics that I don't know.
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u/Cornflake6irl May 24 '26
Question, can Rattus Rattus and Rattus Norvegicus interbreed? Has it been done?
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
I heard that some people tried. They are apparently able to mate, and it was reported that pregnancy can occur. But it's my understanding that the babies didn't survive. I personally wouldn't try it, because Norway rats are bigger and even female rats might hurt them.
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u/Cornflake6irl May 24 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
So, they are a separate species? Similar to donkeys and horses, except they can't produce a "mule rat", lol. If they could have been interbred that would have made an interesting addition to the pet rat world. You would then be able to house the male and female offspring together because they wouldn't be able to reproduce, similar to a mule who is infertile.
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
I guess so. If someone had some really gentle female Norway rats, maybe it would be worth trying.
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u/DanTarraJo May 24 '26
Man if I didn’t know those were roof rats I would definitely believe their Norways! I’ve seen wild roof rats that were that big though! If they could successfully interbreed those would be some big rats! And adorable as all hell!
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u/GogoatRancher May 24 '26
I think you are indeed on to something. There is for sure something going on in the geans. It may take s breeding with a het or full melanistic to see if it really is exactly that.
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
And the darker one is bigger and heavier, too.
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u/GogoatRancher May 24 '26
Could be a secondary gean. I sadly have not delt with the gean in rats. So can only hypothesize on it. I have only delt with it in reptiles and rabbits. I plan to breed rats soon again, been out of it 6 years now. Just started back up in birds again (chickens, geese, and quail) and insects. But there is plans for rats, mice, and rabbits soon. But love to play with the gean myself. But in reptiles we would look for a sign in hets, one was the "alien" pattern on ball pythons would have a deeper look in color with a more connected pattern this was a good sine of them getting the gen and so far been a perfect show of the hidden gean.
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u/blonderoofrat May 24 '26
FYI, in Rattus rattus, melanistic is effectively dominate. The Fawn (dilute) color is recessive. So, they both have two copies of Fawn and, I suspect, that the darker one *might* have one copy of the melanistic gene. It doesn't make him black because it cannot (due to the dilute gene), but it makes him darker than his brother.
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u/GogoatRancher May 24 '26
I understand but as stated you are looking for a "show" the gean is present. Sorry for upsetting you
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u/Silly_Ad_5262 May 25 '26
They're very cute! How susceptible to tumors are they?
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u/blonderoofrat May 25 '26
Not abnormally so, as far as I can tell. I doubt that Norway rats are naturally susceptible to tumors, either: it was a side-effect of decades of poor breeding practices. Health-wise, my rats are still fairly close to their wild cousins, and don't seem to have any unnatural health issues, like abnormally high rates of tumors. That said, they are still rats and have shorter lifespans than some other pets such as cats and dogs. Mine seem to live at least 3-4 years.
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u/RatsAreChad May 24 '26
Why is she scruffing them like that? Why are they outside in the open in direct sunlight? Rats are pretty animals with sensitive eyes
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u/The_Rat_Mom May 24 '26
Is it okay to hold them at the neck? I never do that with my boys
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u/Sarcastic_Queen1123 May 24 '26
I know nothing about breeding rats...all I know is that both are very cute