QUESTION: My male rat has some sticky yucky thing on his back, is this normal?
ANSWER: Yes.
Sometimes it is described as if the rat's fur it is just sticky, fat and dirty, and sometimes it is described as if the rat has orange flakes on the skin, and some owners suspect that the rat has parasites. Actually both descriptions fit just as good, only depending on how closely you examine the rat!
Most male rats gets this (or all males gets it more or less). You can try cleaning it away if you do not like the feel of it! A bath won't hurt! This is just a normal male ratty thing, and certainly nothing wrong.
Most female rats and neutered males rats do not have it, or have less of it.
Copyright Eva Johansson.
Last update: 11th of August 2006.