Skin issues?

Question
QUESTION: I have three rats, the middle aged one seems to be suffering from skin issues. I did my best to check for mites or lice or whatever and didn't see anything. I figured she could be getting into fights with the others, so I started trying to keep my eye on their fighting more closely and break it up. However, I think the problem is worsening.

I grew very concerned after finding something attached to her skin, not a bug or anything, I did my best to take pictures (she also has scabs or sores?):

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2614/1031136.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9979/1031138.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4383/1031139.jpg
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8176/1031140.jpg

She's about a year old now. She doesn't seem any less active or anything, but when she seemed in pain when I was trying to investigate what it was. (Originally I thought she'd gotten something in her fur.)

ANSWER:
Its a little hard for me to see what your  seeing, but could it be a nit from lice.

However, what does her daily diet  of?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I went through a very frustrating time with lice in my life, so unless rat lice are different it isn't a nit. It's attached to the skin like a hair, and is a bit longer than a hair. It's white and tough-like, kind of like a thing piece of dead skin but not quite. (I apologize for being horrible at describing it.)

I feed them lab blocks, Mouse/Rat Food Premium Pet Mouse & Rat Food. I try to give them veggies/fruits/etc whenever I can. I looked over your site to try to find something similar though couldn't. I guess it could be unrelated to her skin problem, maybe just something she got pricked with/embedded in her skin. I don't think it's lice, I assumed it wasn't mites because my other two rats are pretty fine and healthy.

I suppose it could be just dry skin, I tried trimming her nails but she's a very squirmy girl.

ANSWER:
Please refer to my website, Sandyscrittercity.com. Go to the page on proper diet.
You need to toss the food your using out.

Details on my website. Also, try rubbing her skin with hydrocortisone for itching.

As for what your describing, yes, rat lice is totally different than the lice humans get, but the description you gave convinced me it isnt a parasite. I wish I could see it better.  Is it more like a growth, perhaps?



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yeah, it's more like a growth. It has indents in it. In addition, it seems longer than a few days ago. If it's mites I'll need to take her to a vet anyway, right? Should I just take her to one?

Answer
Well, I cant say its NOT mites, but yes, if it is she will need a Vet to treat her.

Just becareful of who you see....not all vets are qualified to treat  rats no matter what they claim the see. If you need helping finding a decent vet let me know.