Orangy color on rats skin?

Question

My pet rat has orangy colored spots on his skin & little bite marks from where he's been itchy.

What could it be?

Answer 1

It could also be mites, or rat lice.  It's gross to think about, but rather common.  It is very uncomfortable for your rat, so you'll need to help him out with a trip to the vet.  They'll advise you on how to treat the problem, whether it is parasitic, fungal, or something else.

Answer 2

Psst. This is in 'reptiles'.

Anyways, is your pet rat a male? If so, you are seeing buck grease, and when it builds up to a certain point, it can become quite irritating to the rat, causing him to scratch/chew and break his own skin in the process.

I bathe my male rats every 3-4 weeks to keep it under control. I use regular Dawn soap if the buck grease is real bad, but mostly I use baby shampoo as it is soothing & gentle on the skin.

Pet shops also sell small animal shampoo, but I've learned to compromise, as my local pet store is always out of stock.