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Heard this about Dumbo Rats, It's not true, is it?

I know that Dumbo is just another name for Fancy rats whose eats are at the side rather than at the top and they can be found in the same litter as top ears so today when I was talking to someone about them because I may be adopting two male dumbo's next month from a breeder, when I mentioned I wanted Dumbo ears specifically because the two I have now are top eared, She told me I shouldn't because they tend to be more aggressive?

I don't believe that since they're found in the same litter and it's only the ears that are difference (and they're a little bigger, right?)

Is that true or just a myth? Surely it comes down to the handling more and genetics?

Update:

Oh really? Everyone told me they were from the same litter! Thanks for clearing that up as well! :D

5 Answers

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  • Sheena
    Lv 7
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Dumbo is a recessive gene. not a breed.

    so if you want a Dumbo, it makes it even more of a good idea to go to a good breeder for them.

    when rodents are mass farmed for the pet trade, if they're breeding for recessive traits like Dumbo, then there is likely to be more interbreeding of rats with less desirable genetic traits.

    if the breeder is one concentrating purely on a cosmetic thing (Dumbos fetch more money) and not considering the whole animal, their health, their temperament etc. just persueing those low ears, then they are more likely to have less desirable traits bred with it.

    a good breeder will consider all other aspects of a litter, and place more importance on their health and temperament than on them having perfect markings, specific colours or ear settings.

    even breeders aiming for particular colour strains, if they are a good breeder, will put the health and character first.

    and yes, there are often litters with a mix of some dumbo, some top eared. as well as litters where some are rex, some are smooth, some are hairless.

    it just depends what the parents carry for. so a litter could have smooth top eared, smooth Dumbo, rex top eared, rex dumbo, hairless top eared, hairless dumbo, and this would be completely normal.

    when people I know have bred rats, it's always been exciting waiting to see where the ears will sit and what the coat type will be.

    if it were always the same in every litter, that wouldn't be a matter of excitement.

  • 9 years ago

    You will only get both dumbo and standard if both parents are different. For some reason people think their more aggressive and fat. I have 1 dumbo and 2 standard and the dumbo is the most friendly. The ears do make them look mow chubby but when I weighed them the dumbo weighed less. You shouldn't listen to that person dumbo and standard are the same thing just the ears go to the side. I hope this helps and I totally think you should adopt the dumbos.

    Source(s): I own rats both dumbo and standard.
  • 9 years ago

    Dumbos and Fancies are two different breeds... I have a friend who breeds Dumbos, and she never gets Fancies out of the litter... likewise, you won't get a Dumbo from a true Fancy. You might get the occasional fluke here and there, but otherwise they're different breeds when bred correctly (as in, if there is no Dumbo in the line of Fancies, or vice-versa).

    Dumbos do have some different traits, although I have not noticed them to be more aggressive towards each other.

  • 5 years ago

    that's not authentic. the only distinction between them is that dumbos have ears on the element of their head and classic rats have ears on the main surprising of their head. pink eyed rats oftentimes do not stay shorter lives than black eyed rats and that they don't have greater wellness themes. Their eye sight is the only situation "undesirable" approximately them. pink eyed rats oftentimes have very very undesirable eye sight or may be blind.

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  • 9 years ago

    Not at all. Most owners of them report that dumbo rats are more docile and calm.

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