AFRMA - Rat & Mouse Information

The AFRMA Rat and Mouse
Information Pages

Here is where you will find information on the care of Rats and Mice.
We have taken this information from our newsletters and flyers.

General Information
Health Care
Bedding
Showing
Breeding – General
Breeding – Colors/Genetics
Critter Critiques (Product Reviews)
Pet Projects
Helpful Hints
Miscellaneous

General Information

Ratatouille Movie Review - read a movie review by an AFRMA member.
Pet Rats & Mice - The General Care of Pet Rats and Mice.
The Quest - How to find the rat or mouse for you!
Choosing Your New Pet Rats...
New Rat Companion
10 Most Asked Questions About Rats and Mice.
Rat and Mouse Essentials! - 10 Things You Need Before Buying a Rat or Mouse!
How Clean is Clean - by Nichole Royer
Introducing the Fancy Rat - by Nichole Royer
The History of Fancy Rats - A brief history of how the Rat Fancy started.
The History of Fancy Mice - A brief history of how the Mouse Fancy started.
Pet & Friends Highlights - Vol. 1 No. 1 - Stories from AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales
Pet & Friends Highlights - Vol. 1 No. 2 - Stories from AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales
The Mouse of the Day - A story about male mice - by Pat Bromberek
Trust-Training Nervous Rats - by Elizabeth R. TeSelle
Environmental Enrichment For The Pet Rat - by Nichole Royer
Rat Maze/Rat Vision & Color Blind Rodents
A House For Your Mouse (or rat): Housing the Small Colony for the Serious Fancier, part 1 - by Nichole Royer
A House For Your Mouse (or rat): Housing the Small Colony for the Serious Fancier, part 2 - by Nichole Royer
A House For Your Mouse (or rat): Cages, part 1 - by Nichole Royer
A House For Your Mouse (or rat): Cages, part 2 - by Nichole Royer
A House For Your Mouse (or rat): Cages, part 3 - by Nichole Royer
A Kid’s Guide To Basic Pet Rat & Mouse Care - A care sheet just for kids!
Companion Animal Loss & Pet Owner Grief - Part 1 by Marc A. Rosenberg, VMD
Companion Animal Loss & Pet Owner Grief - Part 2 by Marc A. Rosenberg, VMD
Photos of Food for rats and mice.
Educational Posters
These are posters that we use at our displays and have had people asking for copies. These are in PDF format and are ready to hand out in classrooms, etc., that you can print to your printer.
- Body Size - a comparison of sizes of house mouse, black rat, Norway rat (11x17 size); drawings by Sheryl Leisure.
- Diet - showing drawings of food and water requirements (8½x11); drawings by Sheryl Leisure.
- Fancy - what the term “fancy” means (8½x11); drawing by Liz Mullender.
- Determining Gender - drawings of male and female (11x17 size) by Sheryl Leisure.
- Physiological Facts - table of physiological facts of rats and mice (8½x11); drawings by Sheryl Leisure.
- Reproduction Facts - table of reproductive facts of rats and mice (8½x11); drawing top by Lorryta Bowker, bottom babies by Sheryl Leisure.
- Skeleton - drawings of mouse and rat skeletal systems (11x17 size) by Sheryl Leisure.
- Taxonomy - table of taxonomy facts of rats and mice (8½x11); rat yawning drawing by Dean Norton, rest of drawings by Sheryl Leisure.
- Why Pet Rats? - list of pros and cons of having rats as pets (8½x11); drawings by Sheryl Leisure.
More Educational Posters
More posters that we use at our displays. These are in PDF format and are ready to hand out or use in displays that you can print to your printer.
- Mammary Tumors in Rats
- My rat has a Bloody Nose
- Why are my rats sneezing?
- Is my rat too fat?
- Why does my rat have sores on his neck?
- Pregnant at Six Weeks?!
- Baby Rat Development
- What is the Judge Looking For?
Handout Flyers
These are our handout flyers that we use at our shows and displays. These are in PDF format that you can print to your printer. Most are double sided (1 flyer on one side, similar on other side, e.g. History Rats and History Mice)
- Cedar & Pine - we print on bright yellow paper (can also be printed on white).
- Pet Rats & Mice Caresheet - we print on 11x17 cream/ivory paper.
- Choosing New Pet Rats - we print on aqua paper (can also be printed on white).
- History of Fancy Rats - we print on green paper.
- History of Fancy Mice - back side to History Rats.
- Essentials - we print on salmon colored paper.
- 10 Questions - back side to Essentials.
- Introducing the Fancy Rat - we print on ivory colored paper.
- You Show What? - back side to Fancy Rat.
- Judge Rats - we print on orchid or light purple paper.
- Judge Mice - back side to Judge Rats.
- Breed Facts - we print on lime/terra green paper.
- Breeder’s Ethics - back side to Breed Facts.

Health Care

Disease Control – How to safeguard your animals
Quarantining – by Karen Robbins & Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Quarantining Part 2 – by Karen Robbins
Rat Diet
First-Aid Kit - by Nichole Royer
Hermaphroditic Rat?; Skin Mass/Mass Pops Out - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Hydrocephalic Rat & Anencephaly Rat - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M., Ph.C.
Squamous cell carcinomas - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Tumors In Rats; Regarding Euthanasia - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Lice Infestation in Mice; Respiratory Problems in Mice - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Caved-In Appearance; Colostrum; Frizzie Rot - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Update on Reddy; Pep-Boy’s Problem - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Bloody Nose; Eye Discharge; Eye & Nose Discharge - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Clicking Mouse/Rat Talking - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
No Pet/Sneezing/Humping Rat - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Rat with Ear Lumps; Pimples on Rats’ Ears - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M., Ph.C.
Longevity Study; Update: Scabs...Diet or ???; Ivermectin Treatment for Pinworms - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Kidney Stones vs. Kidney/Bladder Infections - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Megacecum and Megacolon - Megacecum and Megacolon: Development Disorders in the Enteric Nervous System in Rats by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Mousepox Ectromelia - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Mouse Hepatitis Virus Infection (MHV) - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Rat Coronavirus, SDAV, KRV, MVM, MHV, etc. - Ataxia, Anorexia, Rat Coronavirus, Sialodacryoadenitis Virus, Kilham Rat Virus (KRV), aka H-1 Virus, Minute Virus of Mice, Mouse Hepatitis Virus, Hantavirus, Bedding, Bloody nose, Spaying Rats, Anesthisia, Mouse Testing - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Abscessess/Bumble Foot; Pain Medicine For Rats; Chloroform - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Various Rat Questions & Answers - Rat with Dislocated Jaw; Dosage for Liquid Tylan; Foot Joint Sores; Abscesses, Bumble Foot; Pain Medicine for Rats; Wheezing Rat; Neutering and Aggression. - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Broken Leg; Mass Pops Out; Injured Rats - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Head Tilt; Eye Problem - by Nichole Royer
Blind Rat - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Miscellaneous Comments - Head Tilt/Red Eye Discharge; In Regard To The Itching; Pain Medications For Rodents: Update; Epilepsy In Rats: Necropsy of Porkchop
Ivomec vs Eqvalan; Dangerous Onions; Strange Rat Disease - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Taking Mice to the Vet; Mouse Problems; Illness in Rat Bites and Feces? - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Torticollis - Rat Walks on Side; Siamese Rat With Head Tilt; Hairless Rat With Head Tilt; Mouse With Head Tilt - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Rolling Mice, Rat/Mouse Health Questions, Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Raising Newborn Rats/Mice: Update, Reovirus 3 - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Bugs On Mice/Mites—Ectoparasite Infestations in Rodents - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Ringworm & Rats - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Ringworm on Mice - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Suddenly Ill Rat: Hemobartonella muris/Proteus Mirabilis - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Spaying Rats - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
C-Section Information - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Aborting Litters - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.

Bedding

Cedar and Pine are Toxic to ALL Small Animals! Gentle Touch™ information (a safe bedding alternative)
The Problem With Pine: A Discussion of Softwood Beddings By Elizabeth R. TeSelle, Nashvile, TN (From the July–October 1993 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales).
The Bedding Dilemma, Part 1 - by Nichole Royer
The Bedding Dilemma, Part 2 - by Nichole Royer
The Bedding Dilemma, Part 3 - by Nichole Royer
The Bedding Dilemma, Part 4 - by Nichole Royer
Cage Hygiene, Healthy Litters, and Beddings by Debbie Ducommun (Parts 1 & 2, from the July–October 1992 and November–December 1992 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales).
The Toxicity of Pine and Cedar Shavings by Debbie "The Rat Lady" Ducommun.
“Litterboxes and Liver Disease.” Harriman, Marinell (1989). House Rabbit Journal I (12): 8-9.
Respiratory toxicity of cedar and pine wood - An article from the Triangle Ferret Lovers club in North Carolina.
Wood Shavings - The problem with cedar and pine shavings as pet bedding and litter.
Physiological Effects of Softwoods on Respiratory and Liver Function - An article from the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Davidson, NC.
Use Of Cedar As A Substrate and More on the use of pine in captive herp environments - by Melissa Kaplan. The effects of cedar and pine on birds and reptiles.
Photos of paper beddings, wood beddings, misc. beddings, and pelleted beddings.

Showing

Purchase the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards Book
Disease Control - How to safeguard your animals
Quarantining - by Karen Robbins & Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Quarantining Part 2 - by Karen Robbins
You Show What? - by Nichole Royer
How to Show Rats & Mice - by Karen Robbins
On The Show Bench, What Is Condition? - by Nichole Royer
You Be The Judge - Rats
You Be The Judge - Mice
Ideal Markings of RATS - a graphic of Rat Markings
Ideal Markings of MICE - a graphic of Mouse Markings

Breeding – General

Purchase the AFRMA Breeding Book
Type (How an animal is put together) - by Nichole Royer
Know the Facts Before Breeding your Rat or Mouse! - by Nichole Royer
Breeding-Beyond the Basics: Ethics - by Nichole Royer
Breeding-Beyond the Basics: The Breeding Chart - by Nichole Royer
A Responsible Breeder’s Code of Ethics - by Nichole Royer
Record Keeping - by Karen Robbins, Helen Pembrook, Nichole Royer, & Geri Hauser
- Pedigree PDF form. - 4 Generation Pedigree form. For 3-hole-punch binder. You have the option of printing either the “Record Back” or “Litter Record Back” on the backside of the Pedigree form depending on what you would like the form to be used for — an individual record form for one animal or a record form for one litter.
- Record Back PDF - Record form to be printed on the back of the Pedigree.
- Litter Record Back PDF - Litter Record form to be printed on the back of the Pedigree.
- Record Sheet PDF - This is to be printed alone. Has all the features of the Pedigree/Record Form but all condensed on one side of the page. For 3-hole-punch binder.
- Litter Record PDF - Litter Record sheet to be printed alone. For 3-hole-punch binder
- NR Litter Record front PDF - Another version of a Litter Record sheet (front page). For 3-hole-punch binder.
- NR Litter Record back PDF - Another version of a Litter Record sheet (back page).
- All Litters Record landscape PDF - A form where you can keep track of all your litters born (landscape form). For 3-hole-punch binder.
- All Litters Record portrait PDF - A form where you can keep track of all your litters born (portrait form). For 3-hole-punch binder.
Inbreeding - by Nichole Royer
“How can I tell if my female is pregnant?” - by Carol Lawton
2 Fathers Sire 1 Litter??? - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Sexing 101 - Picture guide to sexing rats & mice from newborn to adult. Available as posters to purchase.
Baby Rat Development - From birth to 6 weeks by Carol Lawton
Casual Breeding Wanted - by Karen Robbins
Kids Looking for Advice on Breeding - by Karen Robbins
Hairless Help Needed
Caring for Orphans - by Karen Robbins

Breeding – Colors/Genetics

Purchase the AFRMA Rat Genetics Book
Rat Genetics, part 1 - by Nichole Royer
Rat Genetics, part 2 - by Nichole Royer
Rat Genetics, part 3, Genotypes of AFRMA Rats - by Nichole Royer
Rat Genetics, The WHAT IF chart - by Nichole Royer
The Agouti Rat - by Nichole Royer
The Agouti & Cinnamon Rats - by Sue Foulds
The Black Rat - by Nichole Royer
The Blue Rat - by Nichole Royer
The Siamese Rat - by Nichole Royer
Cinnamon Rats - by Nichole Royer
Russian Blue Rats - by Nichole Royer
The Pink-Eyed White Rat - by Nichole Royer
One In A Million: The Hooded Rat - by Nichole Royer
Rex Rats - by Nichole Royer
Taillessness in the Rat - by Sara B. Conrow
Tailless Rats - by Nichole Royer
Breeding Tailless Rats - by Carissa Cosley
Troubles With Tailless - by Nichole Royer
Satin Rats by Karen Robbins
So Many Blues; Blue Point Siamese Mice; Blue Hairless Rats? - by Nichole Royer
Variegated X Self = Berkshire, not Variegated
Purchase the AFRMA Mouse Genetics Book
Brindle Mice - by Nichole Royer
Siamese Sable Mice; Siamese Sable Fox
Mouse Genetics - by Bonnie Walters on the Little Mouse Club web site. Also available in the “AFRMA Mouse Genetics” book.

Critter Critiques (Product Reviews)

Pet Projects

How To Teach The Rat To Fetch Things - by Ann-Zophi Pålsson, Sweden
Apple Bobbers & Bottle Holder - by Nichole Royer
Buried Treasure - by Nichole Royer
Critter Kabobs & Toy Tip: Thrift Shops - by Nichole Royer
How To Make A Rat Piñata - by Nichole Royer
Making A Play Pen For Your Rats - by Nichole Royer
Put A Lid On It–An Aquarium That Is - by Nichole Royer
Raisin Boxes - by Nichole Royer
Rat Bathing Kit - by Nichole Royer
10 things to do with shredded paper - by Nichole Royer
Summer Salad - by Nichole Royer
Treasure Ball - by Nichole Royer
Warm Winter Salad & Sweet Treaters - by Nichole Royer
What’s For Dinner - by Laurie Bryson & Amanda Schmidt
Make Your Own Mouse Seed/Treat Mix - by Karen Robbins
Make Your Own Rat Seed/Treat Mix - by Karen Robbins

Helpful Hints

Cleaning Bottles, Carpet Rolls, Replacement Water Bottles
Cleaning Wire Wheels; Covering For Wire Shelves - from Nichole Royer
Flavoring Tylan - from Nancy Ferris
Home Made Bottle Holders - from Liz Fucci
Tips for Hot Weather - from Karen Robbins
Those Wonderful Coke Bottles - from Nichole Royer

Miscellaneous

Spottie Guy - by Nancy Ferris
Spottie Guy Award
Simply...Slick - by Nancy Ferris
Shipping Rodents - by Nichole Royer
Rodent Rescue - by Nichole Royer
Hamsters - Syrian & Russian Dwarf Hamsters - by Nancy Ferris

Updated September 5, 2008

© 1995–2008 American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association. All text, artwork, and photos are copyright to AFRMA, and/or the author, artist, or photographer. Unauthorized copying of any part constitutes a breach of copyright law.