Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is the second dumbo male that Ive boughten from Petsmart that has bad skin.I cant figure out whats up.This one is getting the problem and he is still pretty young.I had to feed off the last male because I couldnt figure out the problem and the poor rat was miserable.
I know its NOT parasites,none of the others have this problem...
Could it be genetic?
My two het dumbos dont have this problem even though they were sired by the first bad skin Dumbo.
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What do you mean by bad skin? What is their diet?

>>This is the second dumbo male that Ive boughten from Petsmart that has bad skin.I cant figure out whats up.This one is getting the problem and he is still pretty young.I had to feed off the last male because I couldnt figure out the problem and the poor rat was miserable.
>>I know its NOT parasites,none of the others have this problem...
>>Could it be genetic?
>>My two het dumbos dont have this problem even though they were sired by the first bad skin Dumbo.
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Unless it is ripping it's hair off in peices and scally and mangey it shouldn't be an issue. And if it is mange you can treat them and go on.
If it is oily, scabby, and yellow it is more or less normal male skin. Cut out some of his protein and he won't be as scabby.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Yea all of my blue males for some reason are exceptionally scabby. No mites or anything, just scabby from them scratching it looks like. The others have a small amount but the blues are all the worst.

I've used up my stock of 18% protein Harlan blocks and at the show Saturday I'm going to try 16% protein Mazuri and see if that helps it any. Doesn't hurt that it's a little cheaper as well.

His skin is getting spots where the hair is thin and scabby, looks kinda red too.Has just a few right now.
My other normal male is fine and has perfect skin.All the females look fine too.
The last one got so bad he had bloody spots and it look like he had bit himself ALL over.It was bad.Im just worried that this new one will get that bad too..
I feed them dog food mixed with puffed wheat(unsweetened) cereal,oats,grapenuts,uncooked pasta,some walnuts(not many, too expensive).And sometimes they get the ends of the boxes of cereal from our family like cheerios or whatever mixed in.
I give lots of treats, fruit,veges.Sometimes milk or soymilk soaked bread.Bites of bran muffins and the like..
The dog food is called River Run,I buy it at the local grainmill.All my dogs eat it too.
I was reading that dairy is a big allergen for rats so I will cut that out completely...
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My rats have never had it but Ive seen pics, sounds like it might be ringworm.

ringworm.Ive seen that before and I cant see how only the petsmart rats would have ringworm.Just doesnt really add up..Well I diluted some hydrocortisone cream and put some on each spot.BTW all the spots are on his back.if its a fungal infection like ringworm that will make it worse not better.
I really really dont want to lose this guy, he is a big sweetie and loves to play chase with my hand too.He is always begging to come out and play..I really shouldnt get attached to rats that started out as just breeders for feeders.
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to make sure its not mites or lice.Then I guess I will go from there.I got on a really good rat board so as long as they dont find out I breed "FEEDER" rats too I can get quite a bit of info from them.
But if I they find out Im hosed..
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