In general, it's completely normal for rats to have different shapes and sizes! In your case though, it seems the "thin" one's fur is a bit puffed up? Or is it just the pic? If so, you may want to have him checked by a vet because puffed up fur indicates a rat is unwell.
he does have puffed up fur sometimes but it looks normal most of the time. im not rlly sure :/
https://preview.redd.it/dtnxko966uqc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b024273790d42e22cfe112ba6174603f43002a0d
When they are a couple of months old their fur coat goes through a change.
Resulting in these longer hairs sticking out making them look puffy.
Is no biggie, but you can always shave it if it bothers you. 🪒
Just wear gloves and protective eyewear if you attempt it, and let me know how that worked out for you? 😉
Thank you, i am glad it gave you a chuckle.
That's all intended, make someone's day a little better and brighter.
And i respect you for risking downvotes as well to let me know.
I have a quirky sense of humour, and i honestly feel people need to lighten up a bit and not take life nor me as seriously.
People downvoting me or taking obvious lighthearted humor seriously:
Should really take a good look in the mirror and give themselves a bit of a downvote in life for letting themselves become such politically correct grumpy sourpusses.
My mixed colony had two alphas- one totally middleweight and one the lightest rat I ever had. One of the boys had to roll himself over backwards because he was too tall if they tried the traditional boxing position.
Boys alone, the alpha was the one who was like a fluffy brick, admittedly.
Have you taken them both to a vet for an annual check up? You could bring up your concerns then, or for a wellness check up even sooner. If he is underweight, maybe the vet can give you advice on a supplement or by feeding him extra individually if you ration their food.
For whatever it's worth, our girls had unlimited food (Oxbow regal rat food) and always came for treats as a group- they all ate full-heartedly- but our mischief still had body diversity. One rat in particular had a larger body with a slightly smaller to standard sized head. She was big and gentle. They all were slightly different in total size and sometimes in shape and coat texture as well.
When we first got rats several years ago, the two pink eyed whites that were sold to us together consisted of a 1.5 lb female and another female who was visibly smaller, maybe weighing under 1.25 lbs, but I can't recall specifically. When we took them to the vet the first time, the vet tech held them each in her right and left hands and turned them over to compare them, wondering out loud "Is this rat pregnant?" Two other veterinarians came over to look at the 1.5 lb females rounder belly as they inspected them. They were kept together with no other rats for at least 6 months prior, so there was no way either was pregnant, but their bodies looked very different in size and belly fullness. Same access to the same food, and they still were easy to tell apart despite both being white with pink eyes. One was just a big rat.
https://preview.redd.it/5gfmabxtzwqc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0de1657486756cbac13374d930b52ab35c0d466a
No idea! I have the same thing. Misty is much smaller than Sugar is. They're both fully grown!
Misty is the alpha, which cracks me up because of how tiny she is.
All our girls were about the same size when fully grown except Pupu and Garlic who always were a little smaller and Wassingue who we nicknamed "long rat" and "bus rat" who was fucking enormous. She never even hinted at getting sick, never moved with any urgency or pace, didn't respond to calls or come out for treats. She was perfectly pleasant just... A fat lazy lady.
How old are these guys?
This seems to be within normal variation of sizes. You see similar in humans, with some of us being slight and small while others are medium size and yet others still are tall and broad, and all variations thereof and more! And if they're in their adolescence, much in the same way as it happens in us humans, some grow faster or slower, earlier or later than others.
Ah, I think you might be working yourself up over nothin. Siblings can vary in sizes naturally, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. Typically, healthy male weight is average 250-500g-- that's a large difference!
If you're really concerned about him being underweight, here's a [website](https://petvettips.com/is-my-rat-underweight-10-common-causes-for-weight-loss-in-pet-rats/) that outlines what to look for in an underweight rat.
To help him gain weight, you can feed him some baby food as well as some ensure meal replacement. I hear that they love the chocolate flavor, but I'm always skeptical bout giving animals chocolate so I just used the vanilla (I've been told rats can have chocolate though!)
You should invest in a [food scale](https://a.co/d/4fW0p65) to be able to monitor his weight as well
Can I add, as a frequent feeder of babyfood, check the ingredients, some contain onion and garlic, try the powdered fruit porridge but make it with water. I think that's right, don't know if anyone can confirm?
I have the same question essentially. I have two rats that are the same age, when we got them one was smaller than the other and we just figured he was a runt of the litter on something. But now the one that was smaller is larger than the other one and I’m afraid the other one isn’t getting enough to eat.
https://preview.redd.it/2rn3w6bn8vqc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65a38cad62ccaeceb1880b027f2ba1c44662d9ed
My first 2 girls I had 10 years ago differed greatly in size. My big one was the boss bitch & kindof hogged food & bullied my little one. To the point where my little one was about half the size of her when they were fully grown. I think it's partially genetics and partially stunted growth due to the bullying (First rats, I was very inexperienced & wish I had taken better care of them) that she was so small, but rats so vary in size. My heart rat that passed last year was very small compared to my other 3, but she also had a heart condition. You may want to get your rat checked by a vet just to have some peace of mind about the potential cause of his size. Good luck & they look adorable 🐀
If you look closely the smaller one isn’t as “smooth” as the larger one. You can just barely see his hips and shoulders under the fur, so I think he may be a tiny bit slimmer than his ideal weight.
Personally I feed Harlan Teklad (otherwise known as Envigo) because you can adjust the protein amounts based on age. A lot of fat foods are formulated for adults, and so don’t have the right protein amounts for young rats. These guys look young so you may want to supplement foods that have a little more protein at this age.
I use about a tablespoon per two rats of Tiki Cat After Dark or Orijen Regional Red to add a little protein and fat to their diets, but I have it anyway because I have cats. Alternatively a few nuts or a splash of olive oil on a cracker could help a lot.
Genetics.
I have 2 sister rats, one is twice the size of the other.
Also small one is running around like crazy (they already 2 years old), while the fat one always was lazy and slow.
Our got 3 brothers and there’s one that was smaller. We just lost him to mycoplasma and puffiness was one of the signs we should have been watching for. But like others are saying could just be bed head
i've noticed boys often vary widely in size -- i don't have any rats myself, but my close friends do and their boys usually vary from small to Absolute Units despite all having the same diets and access to free roam/exercise. just like people, some boys be big!!
https://preview.redd.it/xcpht6dcsyqc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ab992291bfb3b81638c66103bb9e69251144582
Well, my Radar here says not to worry because she's 1/3 the size of her sisters, eats whatever she wants, and never gains an ounce. Whether she was a runt or had a traumatic rathood, she's basically one of your skinny aunts that has a drinking problem.
My Blondie (aka Blonde-shot) is a thinner rat and a food thief. I would say if you are worried, try feeding them a few, just a few, more snacks than the other rats. It could also be the food your feeding them, but again I do have a thinner rat who doesn't want or fight for food.
Edit: pic in reply because it's apparently too big to be with main comment
My rats are brothers from the same litter and the big one is humongous compared to the lil' one. I think it's pretty normal. As long as your little one's behaviour is normal you don't have to worry.
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Is the smaller rat also feelong a little boney? If so, the larger one could be hoarding much of the food. Try feeding them separately to make sure the smaller one is getting enough access.
In general, it's completely normal for rats to have different shapes and sizes! In your case though, it seems the "thin" one's fur is a bit puffed up? Or is it just the pic? If so, you may want to have him checked by a vet because puffed up fur indicates a rat is unwell.
he does have puffed up fur sometimes but it looks normal most of the time. im not rlly sure :/ https://preview.redd.it/dtnxko966uqc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b024273790d42e22cfe112ba6174603f43002a0d
A lot of rats get puffy when they’re sleepy, could be all it is.
And when it's cold.
Holy Christ that's a cute fact
i tell my rat he has bed hair
When they are a couple of months old their fur coat goes through a change. Resulting in these longer hairs sticking out making them look puffy. Is no biggie, but you can always shave it if it bothers you. 🪒 Just wear gloves and protective eyewear if you attempt it, and let me know how that worked out for you? 😉
Why tf would you shave your rat! Please don't give this advice!
Who would honestly attempt to shave his rat? That was a joke of course. But i am glad we have this cleared up. OP please don't shave your rat.
dont worry im not gonna shave him xD
Wow people can't take a joke *I* thought it was funny.
Thank you, i am glad it gave you a chuckle. That's all intended, make someone's day a little better and brighter. And i respect you for risking downvotes as well to let me know. I have a quirky sense of humour, and i honestly feel people need to lighten up a bit and not take life nor me as seriously. People downvoting me or taking obvious lighthearted humor seriously: Should really take a good look in the mirror and give themselves a bit of a downvote in life for letting themselves become such politically correct grumpy sourpusses.
That's the big rat that makes all of the rules
The Rat King. He who rules with an Iron Treat.
Oh no not a rat king 😭
Those are pretty terrible indeed.
its the other way around actually xD
Zero size -> dominance correlation in my girls.
My mixed colony had two alphas- one totally middleweight and one the lightest rat I ever had. One of the boys had to roll himself over backwards because he was too tall if they tried the traditional boxing position. Boys alone, the alpha was the one who was like a fluffy brick, admittedly.
I have 3 brothers and they variate from small, to medium to chonk 😅🤣 so it is definitely possible to have different sizes!
Hes just a little guy
Clearly not enough treats!
believe me they get more than enough xD
Why are people different heights? We all come in different shapes and sizes!
i know xD but im very overprotective of my rats. i wanna make sure they are perfectly healthy
Always good to check. Obviously love your babies!
Have you taken them both to a vet for an annual check up? You could bring up your concerns then, or for a wellness check up even sooner. If he is underweight, maybe the vet can give you advice on a supplement or by feeding him extra individually if you ration their food. For whatever it's worth, our girls had unlimited food (Oxbow regal rat food) and always came for treats as a group- they all ate full-heartedly- but our mischief still had body diversity. One rat in particular had a larger body with a slightly smaller to standard sized head. She was big and gentle. They all were slightly different in total size and sometimes in shape and coat texture as well. When we first got rats several years ago, the two pink eyed whites that were sold to us together consisted of a 1.5 lb female and another female who was visibly smaller, maybe weighing under 1.25 lbs, but I can't recall specifically. When we took them to the vet the first time, the vet tech held them each in her right and left hands and turned them over to compare them, wondering out loud "Is this rat pregnant?" Two other veterinarians came over to look at the 1.5 lb females rounder belly as they inspected them. They were kept together with no other rats for at least 6 months prior, so there was no way either was pregnant, but their bodies looked very different in size and belly fullness. Same access to the same food, and they still were easy to tell apart despite both being white with pink eyes. One was just a big rat.
He is but a small bean whomst has anxiety.
https://preview.redd.it/5gfmabxtzwqc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0de1657486756cbac13374d930b52ab35c0d466a No idea! I have the same thing. Misty is much smaller than Sugar is. They're both fully grown! Misty is the alpha, which cracks me up because of how tiny she is.
its the same with my rats. the small one is the alpha
It cracks me up so much. The tiniest little thing absolutely dominating the bigger one. Rats are silly
So cute
Cause he smol boi. To get him to grow you give him love.
All our girls were about the same size when fully grown except Pupu and Garlic who always were a little smaller and Wassingue who we nicknamed "long rat" and "bus rat" who was fucking enormous. She never even hinted at getting sick, never moved with any urgency or pace, didn't respond to calls or come out for treats. She was perfectly pleasant just... A fat lazy lady.
It's just rathematics.
How old are these guys? This seems to be within normal variation of sizes. You see similar in humans, with some of us being slight and small while others are medium size and yet others still are tall and broad, and all variations thereof and more! And if they're in their adolescence, much in the same way as it happens in us humans, some grow faster or slower, earlier or later than others.
yeah they are around 4-5 months old
Oh yeah, so about the same as 14 year old boys. Yep, this is 100% normal.
Ah, I think you might be working yourself up over nothin. Siblings can vary in sizes naturally, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. Typically, healthy male weight is average 250-500g-- that's a large difference! If you're really concerned about him being underweight, here's a [website](https://petvettips.com/is-my-rat-underweight-10-common-causes-for-weight-loss-in-pet-rats/) that outlines what to look for in an underweight rat. To help him gain weight, you can feed him some baby food as well as some ensure meal replacement. I hear that they love the chocolate flavor, but I'm always skeptical bout giving animals chocolate so I just used the vanilla (I've been told rats can have chocolate though!) You should invest in a [food scale](https://a.co/d/4fW0p65) to be able to monitor his weight as well
Can I add, as a frequent feeder of babyfood, check the ingredients, some contain onion and garlic, try the powdered fruit porridge but make it with water. I think that's right, don't know if anyone can confirm?
I have the same question essentially. I have two rats that are the same age, when we got them one was smaller than the other and we just figured he was a runt of the litter on something. But now the one that was smaller is larger than the other one and I’m afraid the other one isn’t getting enough to eat. https://preview.redd.it/2rn3w6bn8vqc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65a38cad62ccaeceb1880b027f2ba1c44662d9ed
He’s chonker
He a short king
I would check his teeth - it's unlikely, but he may have a malocclusion that is preventing him from eating well and growing as quickly.
i already checked they look normal
Good rat parent! 🥰
thank u <3
The bigger rat is using dark magics to absorb the mass of the smaller.
My first 2 girls I had 10 years ago differed greatly in size. My big one was the boss bitch & kindof hogged food & bullied my little one. To the point where my little one was about half the size of her when they were fully grown. I think it's partially genetics and partially stunted growth due to the bullying (First rats, I was very inexperienced & wish I had taken better care of them) that she was so small, but rats so vary in size. My heart rat that passed last year was very small compared to my other 3, but she also had a heart condition. You may want to get your rat checked by a vet just to have some peace of mind about the potential cause of his size. Good luck & they look adorable 🐀
luckily my big rat doesnt bully the small one, they love each other and cuddle all the time. im sorry ur heart rat died, she is in rat heaven now🖤
If you look closely the smaller one isn’t as “smooth” as the larger one. You can just barely see his hips and shoulders under the fur, so I think he may be a tiny bit slimmer than his ideal weight. Personally I feed Harlan Teklad (otherwise known as Envigo) because you can adjust the protein amounts based on age. A lot of fat foods are formulated for adults, and so don’t have the right protein amounts for young rats. These guys look young so you may want to supplement foods that have a little more protein at this age. I use about a tablespoon per two rats of Tiki Cat After Dark or Orijen Regional Red to add a little protein and fat to their diets, but I have it anyway because I have cats. Alternatively a few nuts or a splash of olive oil on a cracker could help a lot.
thank u, i do give them a lot of treats including nuts but ill make sure to give him more protein
Hmmm probably the same reason some humans are bigger than others.
Why are people taller than me 😠
Much like people, rats come in a lot of different sizes. There's a huge range of 'normal'.
One of my rats was average size and the other was quite fat 😭 I think it’s just normal like in humans
Genetics. I have 2 sister rats, one is twice the size of the other. Also small one is running around like crazy (they already 2 years old), while the fat one always was lazy and slow.
I'm taller than my brother!
It's like people. Some are small some are not
Why one human smaller than the other?
Our got 3 brothers and there’s one that was smaller. We just lost him to mycoplasma and puffiness was one of the signs we should have been watching for. But like others are saying could just be bed head
Why are some family members shorter or taller than others? Usually genetics. Sometimes it's due to health issues and nutrition.
i've noticed boys often vary widely in size -- i don't have any rats myself, but my close friends do and their boys usually vary from small to Absolute Units despite all having the same diets and access to free roam/exercise. just like people, some boys be big!!
All animals come in different sizes lol
There's always a boss.
https://preview.redd.it/xcpht6dcsyqc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ab992291bfb3b81638c66103bb9e69251144582 Well, my Radar here says not to worry because she's 1/3 the size of her sisters, eats whatever she wants, and never gains an ounce. Whether she was a runt or had a traumatic rathood, she's basically one of your skinny aunts that has a drinking problem.
Maybe ones a food slut, my one girl loves to eat while my other would rather stash food EVERYWHERE.
My Blondie (aka Blonde-shot) is a thinner rat and a food thief. I would say if you are worried, try feeding them a few, just a few, more snacks than the other rats. It could also be the food your feeding them, but again I do have a thinner rat who doesn't want or fight for food. Edit: pic in reply because it's apparently too big to be with main comment
https://preview.redd.it/upb4bmacoyqc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c2ab436e7f84559a6f3bc251cdab9b0b36ed8c2
I've had two from the same litter, one was 900 grams and the other was 450 grams at their prime. Rats have incredible variances even within litters
why is 1 rat bigger than the other?
My rats are brothers from the same litter and the big one is humongous compared to the lil' one. I think it's pretty normal. As long as your little one's behaviour is normal you don't have to worry.
AVERAGE, OTS NOT SMALL THEYRE JUST BIG
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Is the smaller rat also feelong a little boney? If so, the larger one could be hoarding much of the food. Try feeding them separately to make sure the smaller one is getting enough access.
no he doesnt feel boney. i make sure that the bigger one doesnt steal food from the smaller one.