Black or Ship Rat

Scientific name: Rattus rattus
Size: 34-40cm long
Lifespan: 2-3 years
Natural range: throughout Europe

Housing

• large wire rat type cage with solid bottom is best
• females are social and should be kept in same sex pairs or groups
• males can be kept together if introduced when young
• they do not tolerate cold temperatures well and the area they are in should be kept above 65F
• Bedding: aspen or corn cob
• Accessories: nest box, branches, tubes, solid rat wheel, chew toy

Food

• mixture of high quality rodent seed mix and some rodent blocks and cat kibble
• offer fresh fruit or veggies once to twice weekly

Breeding

• Maturity: 3 months old
• Gestation: 21-23 days
• Litter size: 2-6
• nursing mothers are extremely protective of the nest
• eyes open at 14 days old
• to ensure tame offspring, pups should be pulled from the nest at 15 days old and hand reared until weaning
• should be fully weaned by 3 weeks old