The new plague... HaloedSatan help! lol

[Botis]

I posted about a week ago I was going to start breeding. I had to return my male 2 days ago because he had dark spots around his eyes, which had become dark and sunken and glossy. He was sneezing constantly and blood was mixed in the sneezes.

I brought him back to Petco for an exchange, and they gave me a rat with the same problem. I noticed it before I left and got a refund.

So that same day I went and picked up a new rat at a completely different store, a small family owned one. It is not showing the beginning signs of the same thing.

Now I know its not my doing because I have been cleaning and sanitizing their cage every other day, I dont use anything toxic or harmful in the cage, I constantly supply fresh water and food, and the female is bright eyed and healthy.

What is this "sickness?" Is it a coincidence that I got 2 males from different places with the same problem? I cant imagine what the deal is here.

All I can think is that they were both in poorly maintained environments and got sick.. but the female was in the same tank as the original stud I had and shes fine.

I think im going to have to get a different species to breed, maybe dumbos. These white rats have very poor immune systems or something.

[jadeboa]

That sucks and is just wrong..........you need to report them.........that is unacceptable.

[speerbeer]

Wow that sucks!

I have no clue as to what the illness may be. Could be connected to inbreeding, it's hard to know where pet stores get their rats. I don't have this problem with my rats at all but I get mine from different breeders. I also don't have the white rats. I used to breed white mice and I did have health problems with those and syptoms were close to what you are describing.

If I were you I would try and find someone in your area that breeds their own rats and buy some off of them. Almost always better quality than pet store animals.

[AbsoluteApril]

Sounds like the rats may have an RI... seems like it can be failry common, there are different viruses that may be present and the RI is a secondary infection.
Rat & Mouse Gazette: Respiratory Infections in Pet Rats
Rat Respiratory Disease - Mycoplasma
the Rat Report
What kind of bedding are you using?
Good luck!

[Botis]

Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Sounds like the rats may have an RI... seems like it can be failry common, there are different viruses that may be present and the RI is a secondary infection.
Rat & Mouse Gazette: Respiratory Infections in Pet Rats
Rat Respiratory Disease - Mycoplasma
the Rat Report
What kind of bedding are you using?
Good luck!

Originally I was using hay, aspen shreddings, and shredded newspaper.

Since the problems arose I switched to just newspaper which i change daily. I was thinking it may be a allergy thing.

Anyway as an update the male hasnt sneezed today that ive noticed, but I think im going to gass the white rats and try dumbos or something else that has a better immune system.

[HaloedSatan]

Sorry, I didnt see my name posted in the subject title lol!

Yeah, it was a respiratory infection. Even if it isnt I wouldnt buy rats from there anymore. I'd be willing to bet that the same breeder supplies both stores in the area-- it wouldnt be uncommon.

The red mucous is caused by saturated bedding. The urine soaks into the pine,newspaper, etc. and jsut turns into a breeding ground for bateria, not to mention the strong ammonia smell that doesnt help the rat's lungs at all. I'd imagine the droopy eyes are a biproduct of the infection.

Either way, make a trip out of town and buy healthy rats. If youre breeding for ball pythons, you may want to get some african soft furs. Theyre as close to the "natural prey" for a bp as youre gonna get, they fetch a premium from buyers (because theyre hard to come by) and they have large litters. The downside... well theyre not as domesticated, and can be a little aggressive. Buy a pair of leather gloves if you go that route.

	Ball Python

[JuliusSqueezer]

RI in petstore rats is common and usually fatal unless you spend a mint at the vet..most herpers I know just kill them, freeze and feed them off later. Responsible pet rat keepers would go the vet route...yeah they don't understand us either Sneezing red mucous can also be blood if pneumonia has developed.

[Botis]

Thanks guys!