GeneticsCurlyCoats

Odd Fellows Rattery

Email skyclyde@yahoo.com

Fancy Rat Genetics
by D. Needham- Curly Coated Rats

Click to: More Curly Coat Observations...
Click to: Hairless types,..

Rex (Rere): These rats have very kinky curled coat. The whiskers are tightly curled and short. The hairs in the coat appear shorter and denser than in the velveteen coat. This is a dominant gene. Homozygous rats for rex are called double rex and appear hairless in areas. This gene does not affect lactation or motherhood.

OFR Bently, Black Freckled Rex, tightly curled whiskers.

OFR Snowflake, Velveteen Himalayan,
1st Place Velveteen RatsPacNW.

Classic Velveteen (Cucu): The coat of the velveteen is wavy or lightly rippled and soft. The whiskers are softly curled, especially at the tips. The velveteen coat on babies appears very crimped. A show quality velveteen will have this wavy coat all over, however, many velveteen rats have only areas of waviness. The coat is very soft. Velveteen coats may thin or straighten with age. This is a dominate coat type and bred to a standard, this coat will show in 50% of the offspring. It can be bred to another velveteen to produce double velveteen which is a wandering patchy bald coat. The genes for this coat type do not affect lactation or mothering instincts.

OFR Sparky, Velveteen Dumbo BlackSelf... Snowflakes's son.
Best of Show- 1st Place Velveteen RatsPacNW.

Curly Coat Variation 1:This velveteen coat feels like a cross between rex and velveteen. It is short and dense, but very soft. Babies coats are soft and fluffy. The length of the velveteen is missing, and the crimpedness, as well as the coarseness of the rex coat. Hair sticks out like a frizzy cotton ball. Males have coarser coats. This coat is not standardized in any clubs. If bred to a standard rat, the offspring will have this coat type. This gene pairing does not affect lactation or rearing.

OFR Jewel, Cinnamon Agouti Velveteen Variation 1

OFR Johnny Bravo Jr. Jewels son. His hair type at 9 months (left) and 1.5 years (right). Whiskers curly, but not tightly (far right).

Velveteen as baby then curl relaxes: Variation 2
This rat was born from OFR Bluebell. Bluebell was a velveteen as a youngster. By time she became an adult, her curl had relaxed until it was almost standard type. Her daugther, (left) has the same fur type. The gene is dominate and is passed down as such. Adults have been shown as standard coated. No affect on lactation or rearing.

OFR Bluebell. She has velveteen coat then it relaxed after 8 weeks.

OFR Cellestial, Bluebell's daughter. She has velveteen coat then it relaxed after 8 weeks. She has slightly bent whiskers, the only sign she is a velveteen.

Harley coat - New Longer Fur:
(resessive genes - rats need a pair for it to show up)
The original Harley was found in a pet store so her background is not available. Her coat is soft and mostly straight, however tightly curled coats and thin coats appear depending on which curly gene is inherited with it. The vast majority are born with some curl. It is less dense than standard coats. It appears longer than other coat varieties. It almost looks and feels like a teddy bear hamster coat. The whiskers are bent. In heterozygous state (carriers of the gene) can be rex, velveteen, satin, or standard coat. 1:10 Harley coated rats are born with no curl to their longer coat at all.
For a Link to the Family and History of this Coat Type, Click HERE.

MORE TO COME!

Variation 3 - 'Plush Velveteen'?
I am finding a type of velveteen that has no curl or crimpness to it. It seems to occur after a complete shedding of all hair on the rat until it is hairless (around 4 weeks-old) and then the new coat comes in. The coat stands up more than standard coat, like a plush carpet, and the whiskers are bent. It is noticably velveteen-like, but there is an absence of curl.

PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR COAT TYPES!
I am still gathering data to determine if there are 'distinct types'. Please email me you observations, include the rat's coat description, feel and whiskers. Then, tell me any other characteristics of that coat. Finally, tell me what the babies looked like. If you can give me what the parents looked like, that would be appreciated. The more generations , the better.

There appears to be some overlap in coat types, as two types of velveteen may appear in the same litter. Please tell me of these types. I have found the rex like velveteen type (tighter curles whiskers and fur) and a classic velveteen type appear in the same litter. It is possible these rats carry some other coat type, such as satin or hairless.

But to further my understanding, I need your data. Your email will be glady appreciated!
Thanks...email skyclyde@yahoo.com

The following pictures and descriptions are copyright D. Needham 2001/2002/2003/2004/2005. Please do not duplicate these descriptions or photos. I hope to provide interested individuals a reference. For additional genetic information, please refer to my genetics research book. Click here for more information