The Quick Question Thread

[Petunia]

He may still want to be alpha but he will be more pleasant about it.

:laugh4:
oh good!
that's kinda what I thought, I just wanted to be sure

 

[Bunny]

Has anyone had success with some kind of protective shirt for their rats? One of my girls keeps biting the other (hairless) on the back and running away lately. Now she has all these tiny bite marks on her back so I am thinking of making her a little shirt or something to help protect her.

 

[jorats]

I've seen pictures of rats with shirts but I don't know how well they stay on. You could try a small sock, cut the end off and holes for the arms.

 

[Joanne]

I've seen pictures of rats with shirts but I don't know how well they stay on. You could try a small sock, cut the end off and holes for the arms.

Won't the other rats try and pull it off her?

 

[jorats]

I've seen pictures of rats with shirts but I don't know how well they stay on. You could try a small sock, cut the end off and holes for the arms.

Won't the other rats try and pull it off her?

That is a possibility, the one doing the biting and running, sounds like either playing or bullying.

 

[victoria]

Where are the scabs? Have you eliminated the possibility of parasites?

 

[Bunny]

Where are the scabs? Have you eliminated the possibility of parasites?

The scabs are on her back, I don't think its parasites (I hope!) because I have witnessed the biting. I tried to separate them once when the biting was really bad and she even bit on to her tail to try to pull her back.

Jorats - I think it is bullying. Sometimes they play wrestle but never with biting. The biting seems separate from their normal play and is a recent development.

 

[victoria]

Can you post a picture? Mites are invisible to the naked eye and often the only symptom we see are scabs on the back, usually around the shoulders.

 

[Bunny]

Here is a pic, a little dark but I hope its clear enough.

 

[victoria]

That's not too bad, it's not abnormal for hairless rats to get some minor scratches. They're in the right spot for mites though, if they get much worse or if you're uncertain, you should treat her and see what happens.

Here's a good summary of ectoparasites: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=28715

 

[Bunny]

That's not too bad, it's not abnormal for hairless rats to get some minor scratches. They're in the right spot for mites though, if they get much worse or if you're uncertain, you should treat her and see what happens.

Here's a good summary of ectoparasites: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=28715

Thank you for the info! I will be sure to keep an eye on them then, just in case. ><

 

Do any of your rats actually use those mineral/salt stone things? I've tried several over the years and none of them have showed the slightest interest. I'm not overly worried about it but for something that's always so highly recommended in shops, it just seems weird...

 

[hopefloats]

rats dont need them and they are not healthy for them i believe....sounds like puttings veggies in front of a kids....

 

Argh, really? Another case of shop workers just wanting to sell stuff, then...

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[hopefloats]

Yup they rarely have good info

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How annoying.

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[Aida]

Yeah, notice how all the pine and cedar beddings have cute, happy rats on the packaging. Wow, nooooot true.

 

Another question, how do you know the difference between tumours and abcesses? And is there anything else that can cause lumps?

 

[hopefloats]

Tumors keep growing and abscess usually get a head. I generaly hope a head appears if not then I know it is a tumor.

 

How long would it normally take for it to get a head?

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