When I try to pick my rats up they keep running into their bed. Should I just lift the whole cage top off and just leave the base? So they have nowhere to hide? I really need to pick them up soon!

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Binks and Smudge

R.I.P JETTY

You need to give them time, you haven't had them long. They will come round in their own time.
Why do you really need to pick them up soon?

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You cant rush picking them up, but taking the top of the cage off and just leaving the base is a good idea. Obviously do it somewhere that they cant escape from. The bathroom is a good choice for most people. Let them come out on their own time and climb on you etc. Having a tasty treat for them wont hurt either

Ah right I'll try that. Just because I'm worried if I don't pick them up soon that they will never be used to it and I'll have to watch them through a cage (even though that is fun too). They like nibbling my fingers!

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Binks and Smudge

R.I.P JETTY

Congrats on your new dumbos! I'm not sure if you're in need of any more advice regarding your new rats, but I actually just wrote up a short article on the interesting characteristics of dumbo rats. I'll post it below. Also, here is a link to a website I've put up with a variety of other dumbo rat articles.

Dumbo Rat Facts

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Interesting Dumbo Rat Facts

A dumbo rat is a regular domestic rat, belonging to the same species as all other pet rats, but with a mutation that produces larger and wider ears, placed low on the head compared to other rat breeds. This particular variety of rats first originated in Northwest America and was first discovered back in 1990s. The first dumbo rats on the scene were the Siamese dumbos that were soon followed by a wide variety of dumbos. Today, dumbo rats are available in almost every combination of colors and markings such as the blue dumbo rat and hairless dumbo rat.

To this date, there has been no real scientific study on the interesting mutation of dumbo rats and no published documents have been released on the subject. However, it has been pointed out that the said mutation is caused by a recessive gene.

Dumbo Rat Mutation Characteristics

Here are some of the known characteristics associated with dumbo rats:

Ear shape – there are actually a wide variety of ear sizes and shapes produced by the dumbo mutation. Among the most desirable ones are those with large, rounded and low-set dumbo rat ears. However, the mutation may also produce some anomalies such as tubular, creased, pointed, folded and even curled ears.

Skull shape – the upper part of the skull of the dumbo rat is broad and flat. Others may also be concave, while some may display a more prominent occiput, or the back of the skull that often gives a rat that hunchback appearance.

Jaw shape – there are variety of dumbos that have a smaller lower jaws.

Eye shape – dumbos may also have differences in the position and shape of the eyes.

Body shape – the bodies of dumbos are often rather stocky.

Ear movement - some owners of dumbo rats that have reported the ears of their female rats do not vibrate when in heat.

Temperament – dumbo rats are widely known to be more docile and possess a calmer temperament than most other domesticated rats.

Best of luck, and happy rat-keeping!!

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Tom Parker
Lover of dumbo rats and founder of
www.dumbo-rats.com, a great rat care information resource.