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Dwarf rat information: care, housing, food & furnishings

Practical information page about dwarf rats: temperament, keeping them together, cage or terrarium, substrate, nutrition, ratscaping, wheel size, cleaning, and FAQs. Includes helpful shopping links to the relevant categories.

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Dwarf Rat Information – Everything You Want to Know for a Great Start

Example of a suitable dwarf rat enclosure

Pygmy rats are intelligent, curious, and sociable animals. They behave very similarly to pet rats, but are smaller. With the right housing, a logical layout, and appropriate food, you can make the most of these animals' fun, interactive nature.

On this page, you'll find clear explanations and handy shopping links to precisely the categories you need. You'll be shopping with us, thanks to our carefully selected range and practical knowledge from our daily consulting practice – specialists since 2011 .

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What is a dwarf rat? • Keeping and behavior • Housing • Furnishings and ratscaping • Bedding • Nutrition • Enrichment and exercise • Maintenance • Checklist • FAQ

1) Basics in order

✔ Spacious accommodation with good ventilation

✔ Dust-free floor covering + toilet corner

✔ Multiple hiding and sleeping places

2) Ratscaping & routes

✔ Height differences, tunnels and plateaus

✔ Stimulates climbing, sniffing and gnawing

✔ Something to do every day in the accommodation

3) Nutrition & rewards

✔ Appropriate basic food (measurable feeding)

✔ Extras: vegetables, herbs and foraging

✔ Snacks especially for training & confidence

What is a dwarf rat?

A pygmy rat is a smaller version of the domestic rat. They are often just as curious and people-oriented in nature, only more compactly built. They enjoy being active: climbing, sniffing, destroying, nesting, and exploring are all part of their nature.

Important to remember: the smaller the animal, the faster the details regarding housing and nutrition become apparent. Consider things like bar spacing, safe materials, and a smart cleaning routine.

Cohesion & behavior

Dwarf rats are true pack animals. Therefore, always keep them with others of their own kind (preferably at least two, and preferably a small group if your space allows). Sleeping, grooming, and playing together is normal behavior and creates peace.

Introducing new animals? Do it carefully and step by step. If you need help, check out the (rat) step-by-step plan and apply it to your dwarf rat situation:Bonding Rats (step-by-step plan) .

Housing: cage or terrarium?

For dwarf rats, you can choose a cage or a terrarium, as long as the enclosure is spacious and well-ventilated. A cage often offers plenty of climbing space and is easy to set up modularly. A terrarium can be a good option for digging layers, but extra care should be taken with ventilation.

Practical guidelines

✔ Size guideline: start at approx. 80 × 50 × 60 cm for two dwarf rats (bigger = better).

✔ Bar spacing: max. 1 cm (young animals are often smaller, so escape is not possible).

✔ Terrarium: choose ventilation above and at the front/side for good airflow.

✔ Work in layers: sleeping, eating, toilet area and playing/climbing should each have their own place.

→ View dwarf rat cages

Furnishing & ratscaping: how to make your stay logical

Dwarf rats love having a "route" through their cage: from platform to tunnel, to resting area, to foraging zone. This prevents boredom and makes the enclosure interesting without becoming cluttered.

Ratscaping in brief

✔ Multiple hiding places (preferably more than the number of animals)

✔ Tunnels, cork pieces, bridges and plateaus for height & routes

✔ Nibbling and demolition material to encourage natural behavior

✔ Foraging: hide (some of) the food in the enclosure

→ Dwarf ratscaping → Houses & hideouts → Play & forage

Ground cover: comfortable, dust-free and practical

A good substrate does three things: it makes exercise comfortable, it keeps the enclosure cooler, and it supports natural behavior (such as rooting and nesting). Many dwarf rat owners choose a combination: an absorbent base and a softer mix for them to "work" in.

Popular Choices (and Why)

✔ Paper/cardboard: soft, absorbent and handy for toilet corners

✔ Cotton (granules) or cotton blends: comfortable and pleasant to build nests with

✔ Flax/cardboard mix: ideal as a "working layer" in combination with cotton

→ View dwarf rat bedding | → All bedding & nesting materials

Diet: What do dwarf rats eat?

Pygmy rats are omnivores. In practice, it works best to start with a suitable base diet and vary it intelligently: vegetables, herbs, forage mixes, and occasionally animal protein as a supplement.

Guidelines for basic food

✔ Protein: approx. 12–15% (high enough for fitness, not unnecessarily "heavy")

✔ Fat: preferably around or below approx. 5%

✔ Crude fiber: often better if it is lower (many dwarf rats do well with < 10%)

✔ Water: always fresh, preferably several drinking points for groups

→ View dwarf rat food → Practical feeding structure (rat as a pet)

Enrichment & exercise: active, smart and eager to keep busy

Dwarf rats are inquisitive and learn quickly. You don't need to make things complicated: rotate the decor regularly, hide food in different places, and incorporate short "contact moments" daily (hand feeding, targeting, gently picking up).

Running wheel: what should you pay attention to?

✔ Preferably choose a closed tread (safe and comfortable).

✔ Guideline diameter: around 30 cm , so that the back can remain nice and straight while running.

✔ Place in a stable and unobstructed position (not against wobbly bars or narrow edges).

→ View dwarf rat exercise wheels

Taming (handy extra) → Step-by-step plan: taming rats

Maintenance & cleaning: how to keep it fresh (and workable)

✔ Daily/every other day: check the toilet corner and remove wet spots (spot clean).

✔ Weekly: Clean up hanging areas, platforms, and trails; partially replenish ground cover where necessary.

✔ Periodic: a major cleaning where you logically rebuild the enclosure (but always leave some of their own scent/familiar nest).

→ Hygienically clean → Care & routine (rats)

Checklist: Preparing dwarf rats (practical)

✔ Spacious accommodation + good ventilation

✔ Ground cover (absorbent) + softer nesting/working layer

✔ At least 2–3 hiding/sleeping places

✔ Tunnels/bridges/plateaus for routes

✔ Toilet corner (possibly multiple floors)

✔ Suitable basic food + storage container

✔ Water points (preferably more than one)

✔ Enrichment/foraging + gnawing material

✔ Running wheel (closed running surface, approx. 30 cm)

✔ Cleaning products for routine

Good to know

✔ Check materials for sharp edges, loose threads, and crevices where they could become lodged.

✔ Always place heavy items (stones, platforms) in a stable and fall-proof manner.

✔ Do you notice a sudden change in behavior or appetite? If in doubt, contact a veterinarian.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Dwarf Rats

How many dwarf rats should you keep together?
Always with other animals. Start with at least two, and preferably a small group if your space and furnishings allow.

Cage or terrarium: which is better?
Both are possible. A cage is often ideal for climbing and layering; a terrarium works well for digging layers, provided there's good ventilation.

How big should a dwarf rat cage be?
Guideline: around 80 x 50 x 60 cm for two dwarf rats. Bigger is always better, especially in height and route options.

Which bar spacing is suitable?
A maximum of around 1 cm (often smaller in young animals). This prevents escape and awkward situations.

What kind of ground cover is useful?
Choose a low-dust, absorbent base and, if necessary, combine it with a softer blend for working in. You'll find the most commonly used options in the dwarf rat bedding category.

Do dwarf rats need an exercise wheel?
It can be a nice extra, provided you choose a closed running surface and a large diameter (around 30cm) so they can run comfortably.

What do dwarf rats eat?
Start with a suitable staple diet and vary it wisely with vegetables, herbs/forage items, and occasionally animal protein as a supplement. Water should always be fresh and readily available.

Can you tame dwarf rats?
Yes. With rest, a consistent routine, and rewards, you build trust. See also the step-by-step plan: taming .