[aqualaureena]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone on here has a tailess rat? Also wonderin what colours they can be and if their tailess has any disadvantages? My rat Bones is a healthy little beast and is very agile but is there anything i need to look out for?

 

[Forensic]

Colors? I'm sure just about any color and markings. Females cannot be bred, since their hind end is shaped wrong. Some have bladder/incontinence issues. The other issue (detatched back legs, paralysis) would likely have been noticed by now.

 

[IceLore]

There are quite a few (4 I believe) kinds of manx rats depending on body shape and exactly how much of the tail there is. Some manx have no tail vertebrae and some only have a few. Where did you get him from? Are you sure he's a genetic manx and just hasn't been docked?

I've heard some pretty nasty stories with the breeding of them, but the most common issue seems to be rectal prolapse. Just watch his poos I suppose. If he ever seems like he is having trouble, get him to the vet.

 

[aqualaureena]

I got her from a pet shop (big mistake i now realise as she isn't good at all with being handled but she's gettin there), and they said she came from the breeder like that. I asked if there has ever been any blood in her cage, looked for scarring etc and there was nothing. She has no tail what so ever! Just a little round bum! She has very long back legs and carries her bum quite high which apparently is normal for a manx, so I reckon she is a genetic. I'll look out for toliet troubles but she seems to be fine so far. I wasn't planning on breeding her but thanks for all the advice

 

[IceLore]

It sounds like your are right, that she is genetic. That's good. At least you don't have to worry about it too much then.

I hope to see pictures of her sometime! Does she have any friends?

 

[aqualaureena]

She does, a male Rizla, when I bought her the pet shop they told me she was a boy. I get her home and there is definatley no boy parts! So I had to get a separate cage for her.My original plan was to neuture Rizla and keep them together until some1 advised me that its dangerous 4 rats. I now know otherwise so when I have the money they can both live together. I am slightly worried though as Rizla was always rough with his other cage mate and as Bones is blind I dont want him to hurt her, any tips?

 

[Forensic]

Wait, someone told you what was dangerous? Letting them live together after neuter, or the neuter itself? Neuters are fairly standard with a good exotics vet and letting two rats live together is the preferably situation. The boy rat will likely be less aggressive, both due to the neuter and the fact that his cagemate is female, but you'll have to take it slow (remember, 3 weeks after neuter before it's safe to let them play together!)

 

[lostbutnotforgot]

She sounds cute! Don't tailless have more trouble balancing? That's the only physical disadvantage I can think of.

 

[Vixie]

She sounds cute! Don't tailless have more trouble balancing? That's the only physical disadvantage I can think of.

I've read many things against that thought. also, many tailless cats have no trouble whatsoever hopping up on fences and walking across them.

 

[Forensic]

Basically, being born tailless is like being born deaf. You adapt becuase you never had a tail in the first place. :lol:

 

[aqualaureena]

They told me that the neutering itself was dangerous cause he's 2. Which looking back on it does sound daft cause I have my dog spayed which means she's less likely to get certain cancers etc so why wouldn't the same apply to a rat? As far as her balancing she is more agile than any rat I've met! She can really jump as well, despite being quite small. Thanks for the advice

 

[IceLore]

In your case, it''s the age and not the procedure itself that would be dangerous. There is a higher chance of something bad happening with anesthesia in older rats, just like with older people. Neutering is just as safe as any other surgery, but it's still a surgery.