While the lifespan of most rats is two to three years, the lifespan of a truly hairless rat is nine to twelve months. Because of this, they are prone to upper respiratory, kidney, liver and bacterial diseases. Most store-bought rats will live 12 to 24 months. Well, you might have done your research because these rats need additional care compared to other types of rats. Asked in Biology Why do rats have tails? . The American fancy rat, commonly kept as a pet, is a domesticated Rattus norvegicus, also called a brown rat or Norway rat. Owners across the world love hairless ratties, as they don’t produce shedded fur like most other rats, and are particularly favorable for people who have allergies to pets. They typically live anywhere humans live. Comments. The average life expectancy of 2 to 3 years. Rats are very social, therefore it is best to house a pair together. Although this may appear a short time in comparison to other pet animals, owning rats is still a big responsibility and commitment. There are also hairless and tailless rats. Few creatures in the world inspire more dread than the rat. Hairless rats, or Sphynx rats, are a very special type of bald pet rat. There are many enthusiasts, however, who adore them. They need more protien (and food in general) to keep warm. Hairless rats are unique looking creatures that many people find unattractive. Have you bought yourself a hairless pet rat? Hairless in particular do need some special care. And they can be easily scratched by other rats which may lead to a higher risk of infection since their immune systems are weaker. Most rats are nocturnal, though the brown rat is often awake day or night. Wild rats have an average lifespan of about 1 year (Jackson 1982). Introduction: The Rat Life Cycle. Hairless rat lifespan. Take a look at our pet search to see all the rats available for rehoming. Some of these rats come in special colors such as Siamese, blue, cinnamon, variegated and silver lilac. How long do wild rats live in the wild? Hairless rats are rats, just hairless. Before we answer the question of how long does a rat live, it is first necessary to make clear that not all rats are the same. Overall, rats live to forage and mate. Pink-eyed white rats are albinos. Like all rats, they are full of personality and quite intelligent but do have certain special needs due to their lack of hair. Hairless rats are the same as normal rats. According to the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association, hairless rats rarely live beyond a year, thanks to their inability or decreased ability to fight off infection. Hairless rats can be paired with other hairless or with a furred rat but pairs … Usually, rex coated rats are bred from one double rex or patchwork hairless rat and one standard coat rat. Like there are dumbos or rex, they all live 2-3 years. There are distinct subspecies amongst the rat species, with each one having a different average life expectancy. Rat genetics work in fascinating ways! However, if you aren't aware, we don't think there's a reason to worry. Rats have complex needs and are not easy to look after well. The rodents’ usual cellular structure is good at taking information from DNA and making proteins—these proteins may help extend their lifespans Habits. The first rex coated rats were bred by a geneticist (Roy Robinson) in the mid 1970’s. In general, store-bought rats come from weak genetic lines, are susceptible to illness and cancers and are not expected to live as long as fancy rats.