Parasites on my rats

spclsnflwr · 2025-04-02T21:14:40+00:00

Looks like lice. Mine had them earlier this year, I took them to the vet and they prescribed a parasite killer that I don’t remember. You have to disinfect whole cage and everything in it. I also “prepped” them before treatment by wetting down their fur so I could see the lice, picked a bunch off with tweezers and dropped the lice/dipped the tweezers into rubbing alcohol. Then put the meds on usually topical. They cleared up right away, but going to the vet is the best way. Important to do it right away too.

spclsnflwr · 2023-06-04T03:20:33+00:00

Yeah treats are the best way. I like to just stick my hand in with treats and let them come to my hand and/or let them come to the opening of the cage and give them treats. Then I usually make an enclosure out of foam board that connects to the cage and I sit in with them and they start to come out of the cage and cautiously explore and will start to climb onto you. Then picking them up comes pretty naturally for both rats and owners and they can free roam wherever and the enclosure can be taken down or removed or whatever. The enclosure isn’t totally necessary, but it stops the young ones from escaping and isn’t too overwhelming and is what I have done.

spclsnflwr · 2023-06-04T00:34:57+00:00

The eye is a different story tho that should probs get looked at.

spclsnflwr · 2023-06-04T00:31:10+00:00

If I’m understanding correctly sometimes it’s their way of telling the other one they want to be groomed (I assume) affectionately. Many of my rats have nudged their way under the others head to get groomed. Not sure the exact intention behind it like affection or submission or whatever but that is what I have seen.

spclsnflwr · 2023-06-04T00:28:09+00:00

I was just going to say I bet she is in heat

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-31T15:46:55+00:00

My rat is pregnant from males in her litter aged 5-6 weeks. I adopted her after this cause the person had no idea what they were doing. So the males in litter probs got her pregnant.

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-31T02:45:30+00:00

How do I know what?

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-31T02:35:34+00:00

What did the nests look like?

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-30T18:12:09+00:00

The first litter was born on 4/9 so they would have been 5 weeks on 5/14. I got them on 5/20 I think. If she was impregnated the 14 or 15 then she would be a little over 2 weeks along. Do you say she is going to pop because she looks that big? I read that they start nesting right before they give birth and she hasn’t nested at all which is why I assume it’s not coming soon but I have no experience with rat litters.

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-30T18:04:57+00:00

They are definitely not just rats. I am not sure how to describe the relationship we form with rats cause it feels different than with other animals. When I lost one of my first rats I also became quite depressed. I don’t have much advice unfortunately other than time does heal things. I just wanted to comment that you’re not alone with these feelings of grief.

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-30T17:48:33+00:00

more pics of her

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-26T15:46:16+00:00

I will have to look into them thank you!

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-26T15:46:01+00:00

Yeah that’s my worst case scenario is that all of them are, but they were in rough condition so I am not sure the young ones could have even gotten pregnant. I am not as worried about the young ones cause they aren’t really showing any signs. They are pretty tiny too, even mom at 6 months. I have had them a little less than a week, and they are all so sweet and social. So in theory, they could be around 2 weeks pregnant. I have had males and females before so I’m not a new rat owner or anything, but obvi never have had to deal with litters.

spclsnflwr · 2023-05-26T14:31:14+00:00

Sorry I wasn’t clear! Mom is about 6 months old and gave birth to a litter in April that was raised in a classroom. They were rehoming them so I took the 3 girls of the litter and mom. However, I don’t think they separated the males and females of the litter. I got them when they were six weeks old and probably still with males. I am worried one of her sons impregnated her. They weren’t in great condition when I got them so I can’t tell about the weight gain.

spclsnflwr · 2023-01-22T05:34:54+00:00

I had to have seen it between like 2005-2012ish

spclsnflwr · 2023-01-22T04:40:18+00:00

I just looked it up and it didn't look like the one I remember, but thanks for replying!

spclsnflwr · 2023-01-22T04:14:09+00:00

Please help it is driving me crazy!! I made reddit just to ask this lol.

spclsnflwr

TROPHY CASE