Okay, I got suckered by a naked rat.

[ed4281]

My female BP Xena is on the breeding hunger strike, so I got stuck with a naked rat that I just couldn’t kill. It totally sucker punched me with its sweet personality and the “I am so ugly I am cute” charm. I named him Mr. Biglesworth and now he’s part of the family, he had a slight Uri when I got him but after some baytril he is much better. The only issue I have is that he scratches his head constantly, since he has no furry padding on his little bald head, it’s bleeding and raw. Is he doing this because his skin is dry or is there something else that may be causing this, rat lovers please chime in, Thanks.

Here's a picture

[shorty54]

LMAO...We got a naked Female Rat! My wife is in love with & named PINK! It's all good...hopefully 1 day she will have babies 4 my snakes 2 eat!

[kasmiraross]

dats so sweet your not gunna kill it are you ?

[kasmiraross]

maybe it was the baytril that made him a bit sore ?

[Rhasputin]

He probably needs a friend. He might be OCD scratching. Pretty common in lone mice and rats.
especially males.

[crapwhereaminow]

he's kind of adorable.

[ed4281]

Thanks everyone, and no he's not on the dinner menu. Rat's are really so social that they need a friend? I had no idea. Would getting him a friend help the scratching, and would it make him less freindly with us?

[Black_Shark]

Thanks everyone, and no he's not on the dinner menu. Rat's are really so social that they need a friend? I had no idea. Would getting him a friend help the scratching, and would it make him less freindly with us?

Getting him a friend should completely erase all problems you have. Rats are extremely social creatures. If they do not have a companion they tend towards destructive behavior (think neurotic poodle) and you have to give them constant attention everyday. If they have a friend, not only do they remain great pets but they wont cause you major headaches down the road. Besides 2 is always better than 1

[Rhasputin]

Rats definitely prefer to be housed with other rats. They can get depressed, or OCD (like I suspect your guy may be) without a partner. You can get him a male rat partner, with or without fur. Male rats usually won't fight one another, since they're far more interested in being social.
They'll pee on everything in their cage though.

But the hairless rat will likely always have some scratches, just because he's hairless.

[ed4281]

Okay, I guess he will be getting a friend. What size cage would I have to get for 2 rats?. Also I will be neutering him and any freind he gets to prevent the peeing and buck musk issues.