Healthy rat tail

Question
I've had my two male rats for about 6 months now; they are the first two I've ever had, and I would just like to know what a healthy rat tail is supposed to look like.

Answer
Tails vary in appearance.  They always have fine prickly hairs covering the tail, all going in one direction. Many people dont realize the tail has hair but it does.  Tails can be pink or darker in color depending on the color of the rat. Rats hold their tail different ways too. Some carry it high, others hold it out, and they usually all wrap it around something when they are unsure of their footing.

The tail may even have bumps on it from time to time. There should be no bloodied sores on it however or kinks or black discoloration on the tip of the tail which would indicate the tail was injured somehow. Sometimes there is an orangish scaly crust on the tail which is from buck grease. The tail may also get dirty and hold dirt under their fur so you can gently scrub their tail with a soft toothbrush going in one direction, away from the rats body since their fur lays away from their body too. Rats tails are very sensitive help control body temp as well as being an extension of their vertebrae. They can be degloved easily which is when the skin of the tail is pulled off and this is so painful it can cause the rat to go into shock.  This is why we are never supposed to lift the rat by their tail, ever.


Hope this helps!