How long do white rats live? - briefly
White laboratory rats typically live two to three years under optimal conditions. Exceptional individuals may reach up to four years of age.
How long do white rats live? - in detail
White rats typically reach maturity within eight weeks and show peak reproductive activity during the first year of life. Average longevity under standard laboratory conditions ranges from two to three years, with a median of approximately 2.5 years. In well‑managed domestic environments, life expectancy can extend to four years, and exceptional individuals have been recorded at five years.
Key determinants of lifespan include:
«Genetic background» – Inbred strains such as Sprague‑Dawley or Wistar display consistent mortality curves, while outbred stocks exhibit broader variation.
«Housing conditions» – Temperature maintained between 20 °C and 24 °C, humidity at 45–55 %, and low‑noise environments reduce stress‑related morbidity.
«Nutrition» – Balanced pelleted diets with adequate protein (18–20 % of kcal) and limited excess fat prevent obesity, a common cause of early death.
«Health management» – Regular health monitoring, vaccination against common pathogens (e.g., Sendai virus), and prompt treatment of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections prolong survival.
«Sex» – Females generally outlive males by 10–20 % due to lower incidence of aggressive injuries and reduced susceptibility to certain neoplasms.
«Reproductive status» – Continuous breeding cycles accelerate senescence; females removed from breeding programs tend to live longer.
When these factors are optimized, the survivorship curve shifts rightward, reflecting increased median age at death. Conversely, suboptimal conditions—crowding, poor ventilation, inadequate diet—compress the curve, leading to mortality often before the second year.
Overall, the lifespan of albino rats is flexible but centers around two to three years in research facilities and can approach four years in carefully controlled pet settings.