Rodents are a fairly diverse group of mammals and are widespread throughout most of the world. Depending on the type, they can have terrestrial, subterranean, semi-aquatic or arboreal habits. Within the various families that make up the order, we have the Muridae, which includes various types of rats and mice. Although it seems less common, rats have been domesticated for several years, belonging to the group of pets. From the species known as the brown or common rat (Rattus norvegicus), certain varieties of these rodents have originated, which have spread as magnificent life companions. Of course, it is very important to understand that a rat, like any other animal, also needs care and attention, it should never be left confined in a cage because it will not be happy that way.
One of the most special and popular varieties is the Manx, characterized by the absence of a tail. For this reason, in this tab of our site we want to introduce you to all the characteristics of the manx rat, so read on and learn about its origin, character, care and much more.
Origin of the manx rat
Rodents such as rats and mice have been animals widely used over time for scientific research, which, for years, has already been the subject of debate due to the suffering suffered by these small animals. For this reason, it is essential to continue researching to implement alternatives to animal experimentation.
The presence of tailless rats (in English "tailless") dates from the year 1915, which were produced from a mutation obtained in a laboratory in the United States. Then, in the mid-1980s, studies reported the appearance of tailless rats again in various litters and, from then on, they began to be somewhat more frequent. It has also been mentioned in different documents that English breeders, around the previous date, obtained rats without tails, however, there is no precision as to whether they are related to those born in the early 1900s.
On the other hand, in 1983 rats were imported from England to the United States and by 1984 a rat was born in this country. litter where there was a female without a tail. This was the first recognized of this variety and it is estimated that it is possibly the moment where official breeding of this type of rodent with the peculiar characteristic of not having tail.
Although the breeding mentioned above did not develop successfully, because there are some he alth problems initially associated with these rats, which we will refer to later, in the following years individuals with this trait continued to be born and, because they were finally he althy, the Manx variety was officially standardized in November 1993
Characteristics of the manx rat
The distinctive feature of the Manx rat is the total absence or a small formation of the tail, due to a mutation by a recessive gene that produces this congenital effect, that is, during the formation of the embryo this limb does not develop, so the animal is born this way. In this sense, Manx rats are characterized because they are born without the vertebrae that are arranged in the tail, in addition, they may also have modified sacral and lumbar vertebrae. When this occurs, the posterior area where the pelvic girdle is located sinks, causing a rounded shape in the animal.
This is the peculiar characteristic of these rodents, therefore, in terms of color, coat or size, they can be variable, without any special condition in this regard. In this way, they can be gray, gray and white or gray and black among many other combinations. However, over time, breeders have established certain parameters for this breed, such as attractive colors, smaller sizes and robust bodies, but from our site, we do not support the breeding of these animals only for exhibition and commercial purposes.
Manx rat character
Domestic rats differ from wild rats in character, since the latter can be aggressive and respond abruptly to certain stimuli or if they feel in danger. In particular, the Manx rat tends to be extroverted, playful, curious and very familiar with his human family, with whom he develops a pleasant relationship and can even show affection like licking.
If the Manx rat lives with other types of rats, you can clearly see the difference in behavior, since it is usually the dominant one in the group due to its strong character.
Manx rat care and feeding
The brown rats that give rise to the domesticated varieties are native to Asia, but later spread throughout Europe to subsequently have a presence on all continents, except Antarctica. By this we mean that they have the ability to adapt to virtually any environment. However, this is not quite the case with the Manx variety and now we will see why.
Even if they are at home, it is very important to offer the rats a correct habitat suitable for their needs in order to be happy. If we talk about the care of the Manx rat, there are two additional factors to the conditions of the cage that are very important to keep this variety in captivity. On the one hand, rodents are characterized by the continuous growth of their incisor teeth, so it is necessary for the Manx rat to have some object to gnaw on inside or outside the cageand control this aspect. In addition, rats use their tails for balance and to regulate their body temperature when the ambient temperature rises. In this sense, lacking this extremity, the Manx can be more easily affected by heatstroke , so it is essential to regulate this aspect in the environment.
Manx rat cage
Like any domesticated animal, the Manx rat requires adequate conditions to live. Commonly, rodents that are pets are kept in cages to prevent them from escaping and also to protect them from other animals, but it is essential to understand that the cage should only act as a refuge or safe place , not as your only space. Rats, like all animals, need to move freely, walk, run and, ultimately, exercise. In a space as limited as a cage this is impossible. Therefore, the cage should be as spacious as possible so that it has comfort and enough space to move around. The incorporation of wheels to play, objects to climb and shelter are appropriate for conditioning the space, so that the animal feels more comfortable. In any case, the objects intended for exercise and fun can also be located outside the cage. The ideal would be to allocate a room or space for the rat to place the cage and all its resources.
Once the cage is obtained, it is advisable to cover the bottom with a natural substrate, which can be corn chips, sawdust pellets pressed or wood chips, but must not be pine, cedar or aspen. Likewise, cat litter should not be used either. Inside the cage we can also add the feeder and the bowl for water, which must always be available.
Manx rat feeding
Like all rats, the Manx is omnivorous, so it has a varied diet that can be based on good quality feed. quality or preferably more natural foods such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, seeds and animal protein Although these animals love cheese, it is important not to offer this food in excess because it is not the most suitable for them. Therefore, it can be used as an occasional prize, but not as part of the diet. In this other article we talk in depth about What rats eat.
Usually we associate that rats feed on garbage, and this happens with those that live in the streets, however, we should not give our companion spoiled food, as it could affect her He alth.
Environmental enrichment
As the ideal is to prepare a space for the Manx rat, outside and inside the cage it is important to place different resources that keep it stimulated both mentally and physicallyThese resources can be wheels, tunnels, specific toys for rats, as well as structures with various heights.
Manx Rat He alth
The first litters of tailless rats, in addition to this trait, developed certain problems such as incontinence of the bladder and intestine, they used to having the deformed hind legs, had sterility or, in the case of females that were they became pregnant, they had difficulties in having the offspring. Given this, for some time it was debated whether they should continue to breed this variety of rat because it was not ethically appropriate to raise animals with those conditions.
Given the above, the exhibition of these rats in events was prohibited, since these complications affected the well-being of these rodents. With the passage of time, these aspects were controlled and currently there is a greater breeding of these animals without the aforementioned complications. However, it is always recommended in the presence of any eventuality or appreciation of any he alth problem of the animal to go to a veterinarian. Likewise, it is always advisable to sterilize our rat.
Curiosities of the manx rat or tailless rat
The name Manx is associated with a cat originating from the British Isle Man, which has a mutation that produces the absence of a tail or the presence of a very short tail. In this sense, in English "manx" is the name of the inhabitants of the island, so this cat without a tail is known as a manx cat. In this way, with the appearance of a rat without a tail, the name "manx" was accepted for these rodents.
