Procedures for laboratory care and management of the wild rodent Calomys callosus Rengger, 1830, are described. This domesticated strains is named "Canabrava". Observations show that C. callosus can be considered a suitable species to be extensively used as laboratory animal. Its breeding has many advantages: easy handling, high productivity, year-long breeding activity and resistance to commom laboratory animal infections. In addition C. callosus has a very convenient body size, allowing its housing in small space.