OMG!! No one told me about De-Gloving!!!

Oh my god!!! I was hysterical and had tears running down my face after it happened. I still feel queasy.... :tears:

I thought it was perfectly fine to pick rats up by the tail! :confused: One of my females is completely evil and will bite you if you even get close to her. Even if she's out of the cage running around the rat/snake room she'll come right up to you and bite your feet! :O So I've just always picked her up by the tail when I transport her during cage cleanings. Well tonight she started going crazy and spinning, I stopped her and then she started spinning and fell to the floor....but I was still holding something! It was about 2 inches of TAIL SKIN! :O My little sister was here, 13 year old, and was laughing at me for being so upset and looked up information on it. Apparently it's some sort of defense mechanism and it's called de-gloving. Oh my god. It was horrible! I was hysterical, screaming and crying. I feel so bad, it's so gross, and I still feel sick.....


Please tell me other people pick their rats up by the tail!!!

I forgot to mention that I have a weak heart :( I almost fainted the first time I feed a live rat pup to the snakes. I saw the blood heard it screaming and had to leave the room..... I know I'm pretty pathetic! I've also fainted every time I've donated blood!

...actually, you are never supposed to pick them up by the tail for that very reason. :oops: It's why I refuse to have any 'psycho' rats in my house - since you can't pick them up via the tail and if you try the normal way you get bitten. As one who got nailed on the NECK by a psycho rat as a youngster (and yes, I still loved them as pets but I was always careful to make sure they were calm) I stick to that rule like glue!

A great way I would use to move mean rats was to 'coax' them into a long box, then move them in the box to a holding tub/cage.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

...actually, you are never supposed to pick them up by the tail for that very reason. :oops: It's why I refuse to have any 'psycho' rats in my house - since you can't pick them up via the tail and if you try the normal way you get bitten. As one who got nailed on the NECK by a psycho rat as a youngster (and yes, I still loved them as pets but I was always careful to make sure they were calm) I stick to that rule like glue!

A great way I would use to move mean rats was to 'coax' them into a long box, then move them in the box to a holding tub/cage.

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Oh my goodness I can't believe that! I swear I had read that it was ok to pick them up like that! :O I would really like to get rid of her....there's no doubt about that.

(I've had rats for three years so I'm definitely not new to owning rats)

EDIT and I just went and flipped through my "PET RAT" care book and it does say it's ok to pick them up by the tail, the nape of the neck, and of course under the belly. Although I should have known better than to listen to that book because I picked up my pet rat by the neck one day and she bit me for it, not enough to draw blood but enough to tell it that hurt!

I have always heard that it is ok to pick up rats and mice by the very BASE of the tail. Never by the end of the tail or by limbs.

You could also try wearing leather gloves if you have a rat that's really keen on biting. :)

Do you have the rat being treated? If not, you may want to euthanize it. The tail now is a open wound, with exposed bones, prone to terribly infections.
Sorry it happened, there was a vet show that showed them treating a pet rat where that happened. A little boy who was told not to, did exactly what you describe. They amputated the tail, since you can't cure it without skin.

Ugh....I'm sorry. I know that had to be traumatic. I would be hysterical too. There is a picture online of a rat that somehow degloved her front foot...that gave me nightmares.

I will admit, I pick mine up my the tails when I'm in a hurry cleaning. I quickly pick them up by the base and put them in another tub less than a few inches away. I do this with the mice too. I usually put my other hand, or a random object if they are being grumpy, under their belly to support them so they feel more secure.

I had it happen once with my first male rat and I too wanted to vomit and faint. He lived to be a ripe old age (2 1/2) with a stubby tail. Other than it being gross he didn't seem to have any trouble. I didn't use any antibiotics on him but I made sure his cage was always very clean.

I had a really nasty female once who DID NOT ACCEPT BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE CAGE O-O She absolutely FREAKED every time I tried, neverevereverever did I ever do anything to make her hate being taken out (I'm very gentle to all of my rats, even feeders), she just wasn't okay with it.

One day I just give up trying to do it the nice way and grabbed her by the tail and hauled her out. It was by the base of the tail, with it firmly gripped so no injury would ensue. The same goes for mice, grab as close to the base as possible and have a firm, but not squeezing, grip.

But yeah...I've picked up rats by the tail. My gloves love to hide whenever there needed x)

I pick all of my rats up by their tail... you just have to know how close to the end of the tail is too close... also if you have a rat that likes to spin... you better just drop it or else it'll break its tail skin and deglove itself...

I would only ever pick up by the base of the tail and not very much further, especially for a big girl, but I also never hold them like that for more than 1 second.

I'm a big girl and can handle a psycho or nervous rat. I always put a hand underneath their belly even if they scratch my hand to smithereens. I'm talking about some very crazy rats too. My hands are all scarred up every week from dealing with these girls.


I suggest you buy a small sterilite tub that you can quickly put her into and transport her around.

http://sterilite.com/Products/Catalog/1892_LG.jpg

I had that happen once with a feeder rat and it was horrifying. I second what people say about picking up only by the base of the tail and only when absolutely necessary and then only for a second or two. Mice it's not as big a deal since they weigh a whole lot less, the only way you're going to de-glove a mouse is if you hold by the very end of the tail and the grab something and hold on or spin uncontrollably.

I love my rats and it kills me to see them hurt so I will probably be euthanizing the one psycho female that I have but I need to have a breeder female to replace her with. It sucks too cuz she's a great breeder, 14-18 babies per litter.

I don't have time to respond to everyone individually, but thanks for all the info. I really would like to euthanize her. She's so evil and I always where leather gloves when I hold her because she'll bite anything she can get a hold of. She bit me the other day and almost got through the gloves and bruised my finger nail!!!

I do feel bad and I will assure you that I will stop picking them up by the tail! All the other ones I have raised myself so they are pretty friendly and I can pick them up and haven't ever been bit by any of them.

I pick mine up by the tail for short distances, and they have become accostomed to this because I have been doing it since their birth; I have had only one rat behave like this, it happened when I first started breeding rats. I promptly fed her off. I breed for temperament and looks so I don't keep the "crazy" ones. Rats are smart and once one learns that he/she can get his/her way by behaving a certain way, they continue to do it, and worse..imo, they teach the other rats.:colbert:

I pick up all my rats by the base of the tail, because like snakes, I never know when one of them is going to decide that he/she doesn't want to be bothered. My rats are friendly..but they aren't pets and I get no joy in getting bit, so would rather not risk it.

I don't feed off the ones that try to bite but I do give them a little flick to the head with my finger and they seem to learn from that.

What kind of leather gloves are you guys talking about that can protect from rat bits?

My first time being bitten by a rat was when I was wearing the type of leather gloves welders use when welding. I thought for sure it would protect my hand so I didn't even try to move away. But its teeth went right through the glove and gave me a nasty bite.:(

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Do you have the rat being treated? If not, you may want to euthanize it. The tail now is a open wound, with exposed bones, prone to terribly infections.
Sorry it happened, there was a vet show that showed them treating a pet rat where that happened. A little boy who was told not to, did exactly what you describe. They amputated the tail, since you can't cure it without skin.

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This is incorrect. This happened to one of my female Spiny Mice when I had them 6 years ago. I used a bit of gauze on the tail and a bit of ointment. Kept the cage clean and watched it for infection. It healed over and the gauze was removed to have a stubby skinned over tail. It wasn't scaly like normal tails, but it had skin on it.

You can cure it, the skin will in fact regrow.

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Originally Posted by Somed00d

I don't feed off the ones that try to bite but I do give them a little flick to the head with my finger and they seem to learn from that.

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Good luck!

Personally, I don't risk my fingers, hands, or any other extremities near rats that are prone to biting and...I also don't keep them in the gene pool.

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Originally Posted by broadude

Good luck!

Personally, I don't risk my fingers, hands, or any other extremities near rats that are prone to biting and...I also don't keep them in the gene pool.

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I'm trying to avoid it, but sometimes it's understandable. Like, my females will bite at me when I try to get to their babies, but they won't really attack me if I pick them up to move them.

Holding ASFs just doesn't work for me though.. they jump too much..

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

This is incorrect. This happened to one of my female Spiny Mice when I had them 6 years ago. I used a bit of gauze on the tail and a bit of ointment. Kept the cage clean and watched it for infection. It healed over and the gauze was removed to have a stubby skinned over tail. It wasn't scaly like normal tails, but it had skin on it.

You can cure it, the skin will in fact regrow.

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NOTE: I said "being treated". Keeping the tail clean and putting ointment and gause on it is treating it. I never said it couldn't be healed, I said it needed treatment, and that on the vet show, they amputated the tail.
Thanks for the info.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Do you have the rat being treated? If not, you may want to euthanize it. The tail now is a open wound, with exposed bones, prone to terribly infections.
Sorry it happened, there was a vet show that showed them treating a pet rat where that happened. A little boy who was told not to, did exactly what you describe. They amputated the tail, since you can't cure it without skin.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

NOTE: I said "being treated". Keeping the tail clean and putting ointment and gause on it is treating it. I never said it couldn't be healed, I said it needed treatment, and that on the vet show, they amputated the tail.
Thanks for the info.

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I never took it to the vet. It was my own set of stuff, and I was young so it was kind of on the spot responsibility. I had no real idea what I was doing.

I did cure it without skin?

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

I'm trying to avoid it, but sometimes it's understandable. Like, my females will bite at me when I try to get to their babies, but they won't really attack me if I pick them up to move them.

Holding ASFs just doesn't work for me though.. they jump too much..

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Ummmm....some people have told me that their rats will bite or try to bite them if they try to pick up babies...I don't get it, cause mine don't try to bite me. Thinking.....maybe someone will come over and film me handling the rats so you can see what I mean about breeding for temperment.

Gotcha, tail doesn't need skin. That's what I get for posting when tired.

the same thing happened to me once and i freaked out and thought it was in a ton of pain so i fed her off but now i try not to pick them up by the tail.

I always pick up by the tail.....just a little lower down by the base.

Sorry, but this was a funny read.......LOL...... I remember the first time I say this, I was like "what the crap just happened"......ROFL

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Originally Posted by Rapture

I pick all of my rats up by their tail... you just have to know how close to the end of the tail is too close... also if you have a rat that likes to spin... you better just drop it or else it'll break its tail skin and deglove itself...

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what she said.

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Originally Posted by broadude

Ummmm....some people have told me that their rats will bite or try to bite them if they try to pick up babies...I don't get it, cause mine don't try to bite me. Thinking.....maybe someone will come over and film me handling the rats so you can see what I mean about breeding for temperment.

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I haven't kept any of her babies because I don't want them to be like her. They all get fed off before they're old enough to be weaned. My other mom will let me pick up her babies any time I want. She's never bit me and just stands up so I'll scratch her neck before I take her babies away. I do feel bad that her litter goes down in numbers every week :( poor thing. Although, she does have one little baby girl with her that I LOVE! I'm keeping her for a pet. I wasn't planning on it, but she was so darn cute! I'll have to get pictures.

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Originally Posted by Nightmare Creatures

I always pick up by the tail.....just a little lower down by the base.

Sorry, but this was a funny read.......LOL...... I remember the first time I say this, I was like "what the crap just happened"......ROFL

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Don't worry, I knew someone would laugh at me! My little sister thought it was hilarious and my boyfriend was on the fence. He has a soft heart to, although he did laugh at me for being hysterical about it. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by broadude

Ummmm....some people have told me that their rats will bite or try to bite them if they try to pick up babies...I don't get it, cause mine don't try to bite me. Thinking.....maybe someone will come over and film me handling the rats so you can see what I mean about breeding for temperment.

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My ASFs in this case, as I don't have full rats, would be perfectly good temperament before breeding, then they would be protective.
I've tried breeding out temperament, exct, but I didn't get anywhere.

I've picked up thousands of rats by the tail with no problems ever. However, I do grab them as close as possible to the base of the tail.

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Originally Posted by broadude

Ummmm....some people have told me that their rats will bite or try to bite them if they try to pick up babies...I don't get it, cause mine don't try to bite me. Thinking.....maybe someone will come over and film me handling the rats so you can see what I mean about breeding for temperment.

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Well, your talking to someone that takes a very keen interest in breeding rats, and above all I breed for temperament and associate with every single breeder as pets.

Yes, most of my females would take a swing at me when handling the babies while she is in the tub. I am very quick and haven't been rightfully tagged, but they hover and follow my hand with their head in the manner that says "I'm gonna get you!! Come and get it!!"

When I actually go to pick THEM up and ignore the babies, they are fine and sweetie pies. :)

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Yes, most of my females would take a swing at me when handling the babies while she is in the tub.

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None of my females try to bite when I play with the babies. Most of them are not even socialized in any way beyond being picked up at cleaning time. They all make a mad dash dragging babies everywhere when I open the tubs.

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Originally Posted by Somed00d

None of my females try to bite when I play with the babies. Most of them are not even socialized in any way beyond being picked up at cleaning time. They all make a mad dash dragging babies everywhere when I open the tubs.

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Mine also do the mad dash and try to move babies away, but they are by far more interested in my hand and most likely wanting to tag me. I never hold still to see what they really want to do. I've been bitten by an adult rat before, and I never want to experience that ever again. lol;)

I've been bitten several times and always by a mama with a litter. They jump on the back of my hand and don't just take one bite and it seems to be right at the knuckles! :( and I cry like a girl . . . wait I am a girl! :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

I've picked up thousands of rats by the tail with no problems ever. However, I do grab them as close as possible to the base of the tail.

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Same here. When I was breeding rats, some of the mama rats were okay with me just picking them up under their belly but for the most part my rats were not socialized to be able to do that. I aways just picked them up by the base of their tail.

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Same here. When I was breeding rats, some of the mama rats were okay with me just picking them up under their belly but for the most part my rats were not socialized to be able to do that. I aways just picked them up by the base of their tail.

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See and if I pick her up by the base of the tail she still gets a hold of me and tries to bite me through the gloves! :O There's no way to win with this one... Other than to get rid of her.... I still haven't decided how I'm doing that. Plus I need her for another two weeks or so till I feed off her babies.

I had one psycho girl that did a spin as you described and off came the first inch of tail flesh. I put her in a clean cage with a young female for company. After a week the tip of the tail fell off. A few weeks later it was healed. No infections, no issues. She was a good mother even being evil.

Definitely an "eeewww" moment. I pick up my rats about 50/50 between by tail at base and just grabbing their sweet squishy bodies...but I haven't de-gloved since manually euthanizing for the first time.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

http://sterilite.com/Products/Catalog/1892_LG.jpg

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This cracks me up - this is exactly the tub I used to create my old euthanasia chamber!

And on mean rats...life's short for mean rats. For every mean rat, there is a hungry snake. I just killed off a mean momma girl who was also a chewer. Carmen thought she was tasty. :snake:

I actually de-gloved a f/t mouse once. It ended up on the floor. Splat. I was confused at first because I still had the trail skin in my fingers. ha ha. :P

Even that freaked me out. So I can imagine it was not a good experience for you or your rat.