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It is easiest to sex them at around 2-3 weeks, when the fur is short enough to see the nipple-spots on the does, or after 5 weeks when the bucks' testicles drop. They are weaned at 4-5 weeks, and begin to moult into their smooth (unless they are rex), shiny adult coats at about 6 weeks, starting with the fur on the forehead and along the spine. Does are fertile at 5 weeks and bucks at 7 weeks.
For more details see section on reproduction.
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They are fully adult at 6 months, but may continue to grow slowly throughout life. Dominant bucks produce a pheromone which actually supresses growth in their subordinates, so if the boss buck in a pack dies or is removed, or falls in the pecking order, the other males in the group will put on a noticeable growth-spurt.
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Lifespan varies from strain to strain, but is generally between 20 months and 3½ years. 2¼ years is the norm, 7 years 4 months the record. Very approximately, for most rats one month of life is roughly equivalent to 3 years for a human.
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