False Water Rat
The geographic range of Xeromys myoides is restricted to Australia. Though originally known only in Southeast Queensland and the Northern Territory, the false water-rat is currently found in the central and southern parts of Queensland, North Stradbroke Island off the coast of Southeast Queensland, the Northern territory, and on the nearby Melville Island. The false water-rat is found mainly in coastal swamps with mangrove forest. It has also been recorded near freshwater lagoons, sedge lakes, and grassy and reed swamps. It appears to depend on mangrove habitats for food acquisition.
False water rat
False water-rats have markedly long, flattened heads with small eyes and short, rounded ears. These rats possess just two molars on each side of the upper and lower jaw. Their upper incisors are yellow or orange and the lower incisors are white. The head and body length of the false water-rat is 115-27mm. The tail length is 85-100mm and the hind-foot length is 23-26mm. Body fur is generally dark gray, which gradually blends into the white underside. This coat is water-resistant. The hands, feet, and tail are covered with fine, white hairs, and the feet are not webbed. The tail of these rats is scaled
Reproduction
Very little is known about the false water-rat’s reproductive behavior. It is thought to be in breeding condition throughout the year. Litter size does not exceed 2.
Behavior
The false water-rat is nocturnal, foraging by night and resting in it nest by day. Their nests are found at the base of mangrove trees, among their roots. They also nest in sedgeland. The nests, which resemble termite mounds, are composed of leaves and compact mud and are about 60 cm high.
While there is typically a single opening to this mound, inside, a complex system of tunnels connects multliple chambers. The nests are usually inhabited by one male, several females, and multiple juveniles with a total of up to 8 residents. At night, when the tide recedes, these rats leave their nests to forage among the mangrove forests. False water-rats have slightly overlapping home ranges that are estimated at about 0.8 ha for males and 0.6 ha for females.
Food Habits
The false water-rat’s diet is very much dependent on its swampy habitat. They appear to feed on small crustaceans such as crabs, marine polyclads, marine pulmonates, shellfish, and worms. In captivity, the false water-rat will eat insects, fish, lizards, crabs that are larger than itself. In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly.
Cheerios or wheat bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate, fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without extra waste.
