I am getting either two hairless rats or one hairless rat and one furry rat. Probably the second choice. I have researched a lot about hairless rats and their cage requirements and nutritional needs. I just wanted anyone who had any other good information or websites about furless rats to contact me. I had one question, would it be okay to have more than one furless rat to keep each other warm?

I think it is best to keep hairless rats with furred rats. If you do decide to get 2 hairless rats, you might want to get another furred rat to go with them. It is better for their skin and they're warmer that way.

I agree with Burrito, it would be best for @ least 1 rat to have fur to help keep the hairless warm. This isn't absolutely necessary, but much better. If you have a big enough cage & really want 2 hairless rats, why not get 3?

Hairless rats have a higher metabolism than furred rats & feel warm to the touch. This higher metabolism also means they'll eat & poop a bit more than normal rats. I've read that the average life expectancy of a hairless is only 22 months, but ours lived nearly 3 years & never had a single myco flare up.

Since hairless rats don't have a protective coat, they get scratched much easier than furred rats do but usually heal quickly. They're more vulnerable to eye infections too. It's often difficult to keep rats' nails trimmed, but this will reduce the amount of scratches your hairless guy/s receive. You can get a Lava Ledge, which is marketed for chinchillas, from many pet shops & this does help them wear those claws down.

Another potential concern with hairless rats is dry skin, which is easily treated by a nice massage with a bit of olive oil. This is effective, very nice for the rat & beneficial when the oil is licked away.

It's always important to give our rats the healthiest diet & environment possible, but may be more so for hairless because they're so vulnerable. Give them soft bedding & plenty of nesting material to keep them comfortable. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Hairless make awesome companions, the same as any domestic rat. Our hairless girl was relatively small but was alpha doe for most of her life. She also taught our other girls how to use the exercise wheel.

Rats-- gotta love 'em.