How Long Can Rats Hold Their Breath?

Rats are some of the most widespread and adaptive animals on the planet. They are known for their athletic ability and their tendency to get into places that we really don’t want them to, such as sheds and garages. However, they also have a bad reputation for getting into garbage, chewing through wires, and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Rats live in all kinds of habitats though, including places near water. Therefore, you might be wondering how long can rats hold their breath. So, let’s discover the answer! We’ll also explore some other interesting information about them, including whether they can swim or not!

All About Rats

We all know that rats tend to have a bad reputation for being pests and carriers of diseases. However, they are actually incredibly intelligent and fascinating creatures. There are around 60 different species of rats in the world today, with rats in the Rattus genus being classed as “true rats”. They live on every continent apart from Antarctica. They can also survive in a wide variety of habitats so long as there is sufficient food and shelter for them. Rats also frequently live in places such as sewers and are excellent climbers of both pipes and trees. In fact, so long as the surface has a suitable texture to provide them with grip then they are able to climb it!

Rats live in family groups which consist of a dominant male, several breeding females, and their offspring. These groups are called “mischiefs”. They have a strict hierarchy which is determined by the age and size of the rat. Litters can consist of anything between five and 12 juveniles which are born following a 21 to 23 day gestation period. Rats are prolific breeders and can produce up to five litters per year. The pups are fully mature and old enough to look for their own mate at nine weeks old.

Rats are all popular pets and are very social. They typically enjoy interacting with their owners and can even form strong bonds with them. Pet rats are typically easy to care for, although they do require plenty of attention to keep them happy.

How Long Can Rats Really Hold Their Breath?

Rats can hold their breath for as long as three minutes!

The main reason that rats would need to be able to hold their breath is if they are submerged in water. There’s a few situations when this might happen. As we mentioned earlier, some rats inhabit sewers, so being able to hold their breath as they are coming up pipes or through water is essential for their survival. Being able to hold their breath for this length of time also enables them to survive being flushed through pipes or even swept into rivers. It’s also helpful for any that are living in underground nests or burrows in cramped quarters where they may need to squeeze through a small space where there’s little oxygen.

Although not a true rat and a little different to holding their breath, naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) have been found to be able to survive in extremely low oxygen conditions (5%) for up to five hours. Studies also found that they could survive without oxygen at all for up to 18 minutes! Although they stopped breathing, as soon as they received oxygen again they were able to wake up without suffering any ill effects.

Are Rats Good Swimmers?

Going back to the reason that most rats need to hold their breath, you might be wondering whether rats can swim. In fact, rats are excellent swimmers. They can even head into water to escape from predators, to cross a river or stream, or even in search of food. Rats in sewers are particularly adept at swimming and can easily swim through a network of tunnels and pipes. They are even capable of completely submerging themselves and swimming underwater when the need arises. This combines their ability to swim with their ability to hold their breath for a long time. Rats are also capable of treading water for a long time and can manage to do this for three whole days before they tire!

Rats are actually extremely well adapted to swimming too. They have such streamlined bodies with powerful legs which help to propel them through the water. Their long tails also help to provide them with buoyancy and can be used as a rudder to help them navigate their way through the water. Furthermore, most rats have fairly thick fur and this can help them to stay afloat. This is because air becomes trapped between the fibers and again acts as a buoyancy aid. It also keeps them warm in the cold water.

Although they are not naturally aquatic animals, some rats are even known to swim extreme distances. Some New Zealand rats having been spotted swimming approximately half a mile between Motuhorapapa and Otata islands.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock.com