How Fast Do Rats Grow?

Rats have an astonishing growth rate. In the first few months, they are just the size of a small coin. In less than three months, they will begin exploring the world around them and grow their fur. By six weeks, they will have fully grown their coat and will be weaned. By this point, they are ready for adoption. The best way to keep a rat is to raise it in a pair with the same sex.

Rats will reach sexual maturity between five and eight weeks of age. The average gestation period is 21 days. The litter size is usually between two and fourteen pups, with the average litter size being around seven. Female rats will continue breeding until they are about 18 to 24 months old. A newborn rat is blind and without fur, but they grow rapidly. It takes about three weeks for a pup to wean itself and two months for a male pup to reach sexual maturity.

Rats can grow up to nine inches. Their lifespan is short. They reach sexual maturity around five weeks and begin reproducing. However, if you make the wrong age estimation, you could end up with unplanned babies. As rats grow older, they can require special care.