How long does it take for dambo rats to grow? - briefly
Dambo rats become sexually mature after roughly 8–10 weeks and achieve full adult size within 4–5 months.
How long does it take for dambo rats to grow? - in detail
The development of a dambo rat follows a predictable sequence after birth. The newborn weighs approximately 1.5–2 g and is altricial, relying entirely on maternal care.
- First week: Rapid weight gain of 0.5–0.8 g per day; eyes open around day 10; fur begins to appear.
- Second week: Weaning occurs between days 14 and 21; solid food intake replaces milk; body mass reaches 6–8 g.
- Third to fourth week: Growth rate slows to 0.3–0.4 g per day; skeletal musculature matures; average weight reaches 12–15 g.
- Fifth to sixth week: Sexual maturation markers appear; males develop testes, females exhibit estrous cycles; weight stabilizes near 18–20 g.
- Eight weeks: Individuals attain full adult size, averaging 22–25 g; reproductive capacity is established; physical dimensions (body length 8–10 cm, tail length 5–7 cm) are fixed.
Environmental factors such as temperature, diet composition, and cage density can modify the timeline slightly, but the outlined schedule holds for standard laboratory conditions. Mortality rates drop sharply after the third week, indicating the critical period for intensive husbandry attention.