New ratty and a question?

[flailinggypsy]

I took in a new ratty boy yesterday, he's about 4 months old. I named him Scooby. A friend of a friend bought him from a feeder tank a couple months ago and no longer had the time for him so I told her I would take him. He's VERY sweet but definitely stressed out from the move and changes. He's in a temporary cage away from Koby and Haze for a couple weeks until I know he isn't sick... then I can start intros. I will post some pictures later but I'm just wondering, he smelled like urine when he came home yesterday and I figured he would take care of it himself, I know it's usually best not to clean rats yourself but today he no longer smells like pee but he has a yucky ammonia smell when you get close to him... should I still leave it up to him or should I maybe bath him? I don't want to stress him out anymore than needed... he's already gotten a little sneezy. Should I just leave it???

 

[victoria]

I took in a new ratty boy yesterday, he's about 4 months old. I named him Scooby. A friend of a friend bought him from a feeder tank a couple months ago and no longer had the time for him so I told her I would take him. He's VERY sweet but definitely stressed out from the move and changes. He's in a temporary cage away from Koby and Haze for a couple weeks until I know he isn't sick... then I can start intros. I will post some pictures later but I'm just wondering, he smelled like urine when he came home yesterday and I figured he would take care of it himself, I know it's usually best not to clean rats yourself but today he no longer smells like pee but he has a yucky ammonia smell when you get close to him... should I still leave it up to him or should I maybe bath him? I don't want to stress him out anymore than needed... he's already gotten a little sneezy. Should I just leave it???

He probably smells like urine because his previous habitat was unsanitary. I would leave him for now, he doesn't need any more stress. If he doesn't start taking better care of himself in a few days, you can try cleaning him off with baby wipes, hopefully that will be enough.

 

[Zooy]

I'd try baby wipes, probably just his old cage smell.

 

[jorats]

I agree with Victoria, give him another few days and then like Zooy said, try baby wipes on him.

 

[flailinggypsy]

I left him and he seems to have taken care of it himself, he's not nearly as smelly anymore. I'm so in love with him, he's sooo sweet. :heart:

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

Pics please lol!