Wrong..WRONG WRONG WRONG ARG - Paw Talk

Fubie · #1 07-03-2006, 11:31 PM

Ever come across "rat facts" that are false?
For example, rats love swimming? An odd rat does but generally..no.

Well I bring up the subject because I'm thinking that maybe a fact that we all take for granted isn't all that true
.
I'm not accusing it of being false..yet but I'll state my case and we will discuss and from that we'll see.
I'm talking about scent marking, urine marking that is.
It's like this, every rat I've ever had urine marks.And many many books/websiteswhatever information claims that only dominate rats mark.
Thing is, my first rat wasn't exactly what I'd call "dominate" he was sweet, shy, he always treaded softly, he was never rambuncous or anything like that.
To call him dominate just seems like a misrepsentation
Next are my current two rats, they both urine mark.
This is where I'd like to interject a question, can there be more then one dommi at one time in a cage? Doesn't the alpha rat keep the others subordinate? Wouldn't that make the rat not dominate and then if so, cease urine marking?
Well this definatly has not happened.
Is it just a jumble of circumstances that I got three urine marking rats or maybe a rat doesn't only mark if it's dominate?
If so, do ALL rats mark, or is it just a certain some? Why some and not others?

I just like analyzing animals behaviors and discussing..
We could so make a better rat book then anything out there.

Anyway, anyone else come across rat facts that are completely wrong?

Here's one.
Rats have small glands on their feet that leave small amount of fluid when the walk.
Nope, sorry buddy, that's PEE. (I found that one on discovery channel website of all places)

Also: Rats like cleaning their tails, LIES!

Nara · #2 07-03-2006, 11:57 PM

My friend has 4 male rats who all live together and ALL of them scent mark, so I think they're wrong about that... I've never even heard that before...

As far as other supposed facts that are wrong, I've read on about 10 different rat sites that they simply WILL NOT use a wheel, yet all six of mine do. Go figure.

Skratikans · #3 07-04-2006, 02:18 AM

all my rats mark me, my dominant rat and even the other rat (althought she started doing this around 4 mnths of age)

none of my rats like water (even when i raised them and bathed them daily starting at 2wks of age)

none of them like the wheel

but mine will clean each others's tails

....ohhh and its possible for rats and mice to get alone and even live together!!!

Fubie · #4 07-04-2006, 02:25 AM

Hoow abouut..Has anyone's rats ever used just a corner as a toliet, like a rabbit would?
Mine sure don't! And it's highly claimed.

pinkie1205 · #5 07-04-2006, 06:23 AM

My rats only use one corner, the "alpha" is the only one to scent mark, and trust me, he can ALWAYS take down the baby...lol

ratty_ratkins · #6 07-04-2006, 08:36 AM

all rats i have ever had sent mark. none ever used a wheel, and only one out of like 15 liked swimming.

ZapGraphix · #7 07-04-2006, 10:04 AM

Sorry, I'm not a rat expert, so forgive me if my question seems stupid, but.... how would you know if a rat likes to swim or not? Do you put them in the sink or tub and just see if they like it? Just curious.

Blueyed_Dreamer · #8 07-04-2006, 10:54 AM

I have three girls and only 2 of them mark me, the one who doesn't is shy and everything happens on her terms only, but is a total sweetheart. The other two mark me to claim me for the most part, and then when they're really happy. I don't really have a dominant rat, but I guess Kaylee would be it, since she doesn't like new rats entering our family. She'll leave dotted trails if there's been a different rat in her 'territory' aka my room. She'll drag her butt across stuff, lie she's making sure that area is marked.
My girls hate the water, but that could be bc its associated with bath time. Does it seem like their nails magicaly become sharper at bathtime? lol

I definately know what you mean about facts being wrong. It drives me nuts too.

Nara · #9 07-04-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fubie


	Hoow abouut..Has anyone's rats ever used just a corner as a toliet, like a rabbit would? Mine sure don't! And it's highly claimed.

They don't use only one corner, but there is one that they use a little bit more often than the rest of the cage. Wouldn't you know it's on the top level so everything else gets covered anyway!

Chinchilla_Girl · #10 07-04-2006, 12:25 PM

How do you know if they are scent marking? I've got two males that pee all over their cages, but only down in the shavings. They never pee on the kids or I nor do they pee when they are out running. How do you know if it's scent marking or not? I mean, mine don't lift a leg or anything...

Fubie · #11 07-04-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinchilla_Girl


	How do you know if they are scent marking? I've got two males that pee all over their cages, but only down in the shavings. They never pee on the kids or I nor do they pee when they are out running. How do you know if it's scent marking or not? I mean, mine don't lift a leg or anything...

Scent markings are small little droplets trails. To me sounds like your rats don't scent mark. And they do left their leg "discretly" walking over something X3 Wonder if anyone else noticed that?

the_real_bum · #12 07-04-2006, 12:41 PM

mine just walk and mark they dont lift thier legs I'll end up noticeingwhen I look at my arm and notice the drops.

Fubie · #13 07-04-2006, 12:49 PM

If you watch one closely "walk" over something ( they sometimes go out of their way to walk over an object) they'll left their leg slightly slightly closer to their body, then walk on as if they did nothing at all.

the_real_bum · #14 07-04-2006, 12:49 PM

what can you tell me about the stomach being tickled my girls wont stay on thier backs long enough

Fubie · #15 07-04-2006, 12:53 PM

No way, girls are much more energetic, they're way too busy to be on their backs.
Boys are more laid back, but even they don't like it! Well at least not my boys X3
Ever try wrestling? they like that