mystery rex pups?

[harlequin]

Hi, just wondering if anyone is an experienced rex breeder? On 13 July I adopted a young PEW rex female who gave birth on 18 July. She was pregnant in a cage by herself, and she's the first rex I've seen except in photos. The pups are 2 agouti, 2 black berkshire, and 5 white. Can the pups be slightly rex, or is this another coat type, if the whiskers aren't curly, but the coat is still coming in wavy, like little ridges? Two of them are more curly than the others, with frizzled whiskers, and 3 look normal and smooth.

[Kim]

Hi Harlequin

I'm an experienced Rex breeder. I've been breeding Rexes since 2004.

Whenyou get into the main forum, we have a section which explains coats, colours and markings of rats and we are working on having photos as well to help members understand better.

In Rex you have 3 types.

1) Rex which can also be called Single Rex. Tends to have only a slight kink or curl to the coat and the eyebrows tend to be slightly curly, whiskers may not show much curl at all.

2) Double Rex. Tends to have a lovely thick curly coat. Babies tend to lose some to all their hair during their 4 to 6 week old molt, but the coat tends to grow back nice and thick.

3) Patchwork Rex. Tend to have bald patches and skin showing and the whiskers tend to be very curly to the point that they look very short and curled in. Just like double rex babies they also lose their hair but unlike double rexes, patchworks tend to always have bald patches or patchy coats all their lives, evenin adulthood.


Here are some photos showing the different rex coats.
Single Rex





Double Rex





Patchwork Rex





I hope that helps withyour little girl.

[harlequin]

Thankyou Kim! that explains it. I have never touched rex rats before, and I am totally hooked on these babies now. Their curly fur feels fantastic!

The Double rex babies seem to have a bit of crust in their fur, like a skin condition? Is that normal?

[Kim]

No that doesnt sound normal.

I've never had any rexes with a crusty fur, skin type condition before.

Are they scratching? It could be an irritation to something.

Roughly how old are they? Do they all have it?

I wish I could come and have a look at them in person.

[harlequin]

No, its just something I noticed on the double rexes. They are not scratching. The fur is really tight and short, and it looks like dry skin when you part the fur, but a little yellow. They are 20 days old and walking around the bottom of the cage. Last night I saw a couple showing interest in mum's food. What's good for pups to eat?

[Kim]

It could be to do with the fact the curls can hold skin oil and moisture in more against the skin than with the straight haired types.

So if they are getting peed on that could by drying on thir skin and giving you that look.

Baby food is good for baby rats along with anything else that you are feeding to the mum.

My babies basically start to eat the dry food mix within a few days of opening their eyes as I always have a constant supply of dry mix in with my rats.

So because I also give the mother other things as well they tend to try just about everything I put in for the mum, so baby food, fruit, veggies, egg, chicken, fish, yogurt.

Its all good for them.

[oldratmum]

oh.....

I LOVE! the patchwork Rex.......

do they come in different colors too?

[Kim]

I dont know about other people but at the moment my Patchwork rexes end to be mainly Agouti and Cinnamon, but I have breed Black patchworks as well.

Here are some pics of a couple of my patchwork girls from my lines, but sadly these girls passed away a few years ago and I havent produced any more like them.

Although I am going to get back into working on my Patchworks over the next 12 months, as I kind of stopped to work on the blazes more.


Cinnamon Swirl


Possum



These are some of my previous boys..


Shiver


Skinny *he was very hyper and very skinny because of it*

[oldratmum]

I do love the Rex rats

would be interested to go on a wait list for a double Rex and patchwork Rex.

I keep saying it, but it is SO true, rat keeping has changed so much (and mostly for the better) since I had rats last.

It would be fun to see some of these little personalities in person!!

[LittlePaws(Cat)]

Thanks for posting those pics, wow I might have to change my opinion on rex rats. The single and double rat look quite normal, even cute!

Still don't like those patchwork ones though, I know others do (such as you Kim).

[ceara]

Hehe Cat,

I know I'm going against the majority, but I'm not a major fan of patchwork rex either. I think both double and single Rex's are absolutely gorgeous though

The main reason is that growing up, I had a maltese terrier dog who had a severe skin condition - he was allergic to just about everything. Consequently, his coat looked a lot like that of patchwork rats. It was really awful though - he lost most of his hair due to allergies and was constantly itchy despite receiving the correct vetinary care.

I think I still have a gut feeling that animals with patches of hair missing have allergies and health issues - despite being well aware (logically) that this is not the case!

[Kim]

Actually your thought and reaction is more normal.

There is actually a larger majority of people who dont like the Patchwork look, mainly because the look does make the rat look sick and mangy.

LOL .. even in the animal world we find it hard to get past first impressions and preconceived notions.




Normally those who do like the Patchwork Rex look are those who would be first in line for a hairless.

[oldratmum]

kim wrote <<<Normally those who do like the Patchwork Rex look are those who would be first in line for a hairless >>>

....and that would be me ;D

[Kim]

I'll try to get some updated photos of Fizzgig this weekend as well as the 2 Rex girls that I plan to breed in February / March.

[ceara]

Hehe
I don't actually mind the hairless look so much because that way my gut says 'oh, so they're MEANT to not have hair, it's not a skin condition!'