All domestic (fancy) rats are the species rattus norvegicus, or Norway rats. Inside of the species, there are lots of different possible varieties and coat colours that rats can have.
The varieties of rats are mainly defined by the body shape and type of coat. Because they’re the same species, all varieties of rats can happily live together with other domestic (fancy) rats – as long as you introduce them properly!
There are two main ways of distinguishing rats from each other: by body shape, and by coat type.
Varieties by Body Shape
Standard, tailless, dumbo, and dwarf are defined by their particular head or body shapes. Each of these varieties can also have different coat types, colors and markings. For example, you can have a dumbo rat with a satin coat.
Standard Fancy Rats
Standard rats have short, smooth, straight fur and slightly pointed ears that sit at the top of their head. Some people call standard rats “top ears” as opposed to dumbo eared rats, which are covered below.
Tailless (Manx) Rats
Tailless rats are, as the name suggests, born without a tail! The name “Manx” is shared with tailless cats.
A lot of people don’t have any problems with rats, aside from their tail. But tails are actually really important to rats, helping them to balance and regulate their temperature.
Some tailless rats have no tail at all, while others might have a little stub. The difference between a rat who has had an unfortunate tail accident and a true tailless rat is in their bone structure towards their bums. Tailless rats have stockier, rounded bums and often have an indent where the tail would normally be.
Tailless rats are a difficult variety to breed. They are pretty rare because even two tailless rats will usually have more offspring with tails in their litters than without. To make matters worse, female tailless rats can have trouble carrying litters and giving birth because of their bone structure.
Some people consider breeding tailless rats unethical. Some lines of tailless rats are very healthy, but others are born with deformities, problems with their spine, and internal organs. Because of this, the NFRA, a show organization in the UK, has banned tailless rats from showing.
If you’re interested in getting a tailless rat, it’s especially important to find a responsible breeder. Tailless rats from pet stores are almost guaranteed to have physical abnormalities and health problems, and buying rats from them just encourages more careless breeding practices.
Dumbo Rats (Large Ears)
Dumbo rats are a variety of domestic (fancy) rats known for their large, round, ears that are more flat and sit lower on their head than in standard rats. They’re named after the elephant from the Disney movie Dumbo!
Besides being especially cute, dumbo rats are pretty much the same in terms of personality, diet, and health care as standard rats. Their bigger ears don’t need any additional care or show any particular problems (although they sometimes get nicked more easily during scuffles with other rats!)
I’ve heard before from other rat owners that dumbos are friendlier or more chill than standard rats, but in my experience any variety of rat is very friendly and loveable!
Dumbo ears are a recessive trait that can pass from parents to offspring. They’re pretty common and easy to breed.
Dwarf Rats (Mini Rats!)
Dwarf rats are a bit rare, but becoming popular as pets. These rats are a third or less of the size of regular rats!
Their bodies are so much smaller because they don’t have as much growth hormone. Averaging only 75g – 125g, they’re able to fit in the palm of your hand even as adults.
Dwarf rats are shaped a little differently from standard rats. They have somewhat stubbier, more rounded bodies; shorter, thinner tails, and little stubby toes! The eyes and ears are larger in proportion to the rest of their head – one of the main signs that your rat is a dwarf and not just a small standard rat.
Dwarfism in rats is caused by a recessive gene, like with dumbos. Surprisingly, they actually tend to live longer when compared to an average sized rat. The lack of growth hormone makes females less prone to mammary tumors, and many owners report that their dwarf males are much more active (so probably less prone to hind leg degeneration) than standard males.
Dwarf rats can handle quite a lot more protein in their diet than a typical rat, and may need it with their higher activity levels. In spite of their size, they do still need the same size of cage, filled with enrichment items like wheels, hammocks, digging boxes, ropes and other climbing opportunities as standard sized rats.
Whether you can keep dwarf rats with standard rats depends on the personalities of each rat. It’s probably safest to introduce them as babies and to keep an eye on the group to make sure the smaller rats aren’t getting bullied or picked on. Many breeders have reported that they can happily coexist, but the size difference does make introducing unfamiliar rats somewhat riskier.
If you keep dwarf rats with standard ones, keep an eye on your dwarves to make sure they aren’t gaining too much weight! Their small frames make them somewhat more prone to obesity and related problems.
You sometimes have to wait longer when adopting dwarf rats from breeders, because they have smaller litter sizes than standard rats.
Varieties by Coat Type
The way a rat’s fur grows can affect its overall look. Let’s consider the different rat coat types:
Hairless (Sphynx)
Hairless rats are easy enough to recognize – they have no fur! There are three different types of hairless rats: double rex, patchwork, and true hairless.
As the name suggests, patchwork rats do have some patches of fur, which they often shed and re-grow in different patterns throughout their lives.
True hairless rats even lack eyelashes and whiskers. They are often called “nudies” or nude rats, in comparison to other hairless rats who may still have a bit of peach fuzz!
Double rex and patchwork rats are popular pets, though they also suffer from some health challenges. They may have trouble staying warm, and can be more prone to skin infections, cuts, scratches and abscesses with no fur to protect them.
Sadly, one particular gene mutation that causes hairlessness also causes a poor immune system and shortened lifespan, around 1 year on average. This particular type of hairless rat is sometimes bred in laboratories.
Because of their health challenges, some people consider hairless rats unethical to breed, and the variety is also banned by the NFRS (in the UK) from showing.
Hairless rats can be kept with other rats without issue. For more information, see: All About Hairless Rats!
Rex (Curly hair and whiskers)
Rex rats are a variety of fancy rat. They have curly hair, and even their whiskers are curly! Their coat has a different, woolier feel than with a standard rat. The fur is usually not quite as shiny, but still healthy, beautiful and soft.
Because of the way their hair grows, it may seem thinner in different spots and you can often see skin through the hair. “Double rex” hairless rats are the result of breeding two rexes together.
Rexes have no additional care needs or health concerns when compared to standard rats.
Satin (Shiny Coat)
Satin rats have shinier, thinner and longer fur than standard rats. These rats often have wavy whiskers too!
Their fur is very glossy or even described by some as “sparkly”. They can have different coat colors, with darker colors showing the satin effect more strongly.
Aside from their coat, satin rats are more or less the same as other varieties of rats, and don’t have any extra care needs or health concerns.
Velveteen (Wavy Coat)
Velveteen rats have an especially plush, thick and wavy coat. They may seem similar to rexes, but are more wavy rather than curly (including their whiskers) and have much thicker fur.
Harley Rats (Long Coat)
Harley rats have the longest coat of all other varieties. Their fur is super fine and wispy, with no undercoat. Like with rexes, you can often see the skin through their fur. Their whiskers are typically shorter than with other varieties.
As they get older, the super fine hairs going off in all directions can almost make them look like little mad scientists on the brink of their next discovery.
Silvermane (Silver-tipped fur)
Silvermane rats are a particularly beautiful variety. Their fur has silver tips that make them very shiny and soft, with darker colored fur underneath. They often become more silvery as they age. Silvermane rats have a darker patch around their muzzle where the fur isn’t silver-tipped.
Bristle Coat (Coarse Coat)
Bristle coat rats have a much coarser, more “pokey” feeling coat than standard rats. They actually start out a little wavey, like a rex’s coat when they’re young, but quickly grow into their straight bristly coat. Bristle coat rats also tend to have pin-straight whiskers.
Conclusion
Fancy rats have come quite a long way since their domestication from the typical wild brown rat. They now come in an amazing variety of body shapes and coat types, from dwarves, to hairless rats, to satin, velveteen, rex, and more.
But that isn’t where the diversity ends: each of these varieties of rats can also have more than 40 different recognized coat colours and markings! Needless to say, you’ll never get bored with the different types of pet rats available.
