At a glance the quick version
General figures for the domestic rat from the MSD Veterinary Manual; the AFRMA standard sets no weight and says size does not disqualify. Wikipedia gives 300 g or more for a standard-sized male.
Coat and looks how to spot one
Tailless (Manx) body type; any coat
A fancy rat born with no tail at all. Without the long tail the outline looks quite different: the body can be shorter and more compact, and the hindquarters finish in a neat, rounded rump. Any coat type, colour or marking can be combined with taillessness.21
Personality what they are like
Tailless rats share the friendly, curious nature of other fancy rats. The AFRMA standard requires all show rats to be easy to handle, and these rats enjoy company, exploring and gentle interaction with their keepers.456
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Just as active and nimble as tailed rats and good climbers, so give daily out-of-cage time, toys and foraging. Because rats use their tails for balance, low platforms, ramps and soft landing areas suit a tailless rat well.156
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Self-grooming, so no brushing or bathing is needed. Rats use their tails to shed heat, so keep a tailless rat in a cool, steady room and out of hot sun, and keep an eye on it in warm weather.153
Home where they are happiest
A roomy cage with plenty of floor space and lower levels, ramps, hammocks and hideouts, dust-free bedding such as cellulose or shredded paper, and a quiet spot kept at about 19-23 C, away from direct sun and draughts.735
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A complete rat nugget or pellet as the daily base, with small amounts of vegetables, a little fruit, grains and cooked egg counted into the ration. Save sweet or fatty bits for training rewards, scatter some food for foraging, and keep fresh water available from a bottle.8
Company who they like around
Highly sociable. Keep with at least one other rat, as a same-sex pair or small group or a neutered mixed pair, and offer daily time with people.65
The story where it all began
Rats without tails were first described in a research article in 1915. The trait is recessive, so it can surface unexpectedly in litters from tailed parents. American fanciers developed it as a show variety, and the AFRMA standardised the Tailless rat on 14 November 1993.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The variety's other name, Manx, comes from the Manx cat, which is also known for having no tail.5
- 2
The earliest known written record of a tailless rat is a research article from 1915.1
- 3
Taillessness is recessive, so a tailless baby can appear in a litter from two tailed parents.1
- 4
Even without a tail, these rats climb about as nimbly as their tailed relatives.1
Recognised by the official bits
- American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA)
- Standardised on 14 November 1993. May be shown in any recognised colour, marking or variety; the defining feature is a complete absence of tail, and the body may be cobbier with a rounded rump.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Tailless Rat. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Play timeAt least an hour out of the cageevery day
- Nails checkevery 3 weeks
- Vet check-upevery year
You might also like
Fancy Rat
Top-eared Rat
Dumbo RatLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- AFRMA - Hairless, Tailless & Dumbo information afrma.orgused for 1915 record, inheritance, climbing ability, warm-weather care
- AFRMA Fancy Rats - Varieties afrma.orgused for AFRMA standard, standardisation date, body shape, colours
- MSD Veterinary Manual - Description and Physical Characteristics of Rats msdvetmanual.comused for weight, room temperature
- AFRMA Rat Standards afrma.orgused for body length, temperament requirement
- Fancy rat - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for Manx name, tail role in balance and heat loss, NFRS context, temperament
- RSPCA - Rats rspca.org.ukused for temperament, activity, social needs
- RSPCA - Rat environment rspca.org.ukused for housing
- RSPCA - Rat diet rspca.org.ukused for diet
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.