Not eating, but nibbling?

[Danegerous]

I just bought two hairless rats and they are adorable. I was looking at them today (they are each in a tub with a bunch of girl rats, 6-7). I noticed one of them had some deep chew lacerations on his tail and feet...I figured he was getting attacked, but then i saw his body and face were fine...I wonder, is he eating himself? I mean these wounds are deep...like, gross deep.

Any thoughts on this? BTW, no other rats in either tubs have these marks...

[littleindiangirl]

Are you sure it is a bite wound and not ring tail?

Check out this site and get those rats to a vet.
http://ratguide.com/health/integumen...n/ringtail.php

Oh duh, you said it is on his feet too. Well, regardless, something like that will get infected and needs to be treated.

[Danegerous]

no, definitely not that...lemme get a pic. That looks like heaven compared to what my guy has...actually, i dont even wanna pick him up its so bad. take those pics on that site and add them every 1/4" and put them in all directions and twice as deep... it looks like it went through a garbage disposal. I think he's doing it to himself, no one else has any marks...he is now quarentined, though.

[SatanicIntention]

If they are on any type of irritating bedding such as pine, or that pelleted stuff, anything that is dusty, it can make them very itchy. Hairless rats have higher care requirements than normal rats since they don't have the protective hair coat. Scratches show up easily and can become infected. Their nails need clipped if they get too long, as they can scratch themselves. They tend to get eye infections/ulcers easily. DO NOT USE CAREFRESH or similar bedding with them. It is too dusty and will ball up in the corners of their eyes and cause ulcers, which can blind them(not to mention, it's incredibly painful).

Also, please don't breed hairless females. They generally do not lactate well, if at all, and have a high rate of not having viable litters.