Curly tail?

So my friend has a half dozen female rats, and one of which that is 5 months old (sister to my boys), has an extremely curly tail. Is there anything other then too small of a wheel that could cause this? He says that although she is the only one (mostly?) with the tail arch, that she isn't the main rat who uses the wheel. I was curious if it was possibly hereditary; if I need to watch my boys about it. They have no arching, but then they really don't get to use the wheel much, except when it's out side cage time.

I'd like to say his is the 11'' "wodent wheel" (ick, what a horrible product name!)
http://www.exoticnutrition.com/r54328.html


Thanks!

A picture would be helpful. There are several different genes in rats which can cause a curled or kinked tail.

I took it with my phone, aaaand it turns out that I can't download it onto the comp. Maybe later I shall take my camera over there. It's not as extreme as say, a pug, but imagine a loop of tail coming up over the back, and the tip ending about where the tail starts.

Okay, I have pictures. Um, don't mind the background, he's your typical college kid.

She looks really derpy here.


She was standing still here, though usually she only arches it when walking.


What she looks like when walking usually. Also, the food is the Native Earth, it's just in an old bag of stuff he'd gotten before.

It looks like wheel tail to me. I personally don't give my rats wheels, except the dwarfs and they have a 13" wheel. He may not see her using the wheel much, but she could be using it when he's sleeping or not around.

I do agree that it looks like wheel tail.

Ditto!

Thanks guys! They make flying saucers in rat size, right? I told him the saucer might be better, but I really don't have any experience with them. His girls are under 6 months, so pretty active.

yeah...they make 12" saucers

I ditto the opinion that the rat doesn't really need a wheel. I never gave mine a wheel - they much preferred to spend their time as that rat is in those photos! Interacting with the outside world!

Unfortunately, his apartment isn't rat safe, otherwise he would. His girls really like to explore and have figured out how to get off the couch so any out-side cage time needs to be done a couple at a time, or completely focused on the girls so they don't escape and end up somewhere they shouldn't.

I am so glad my boys are so chill! I can go on the computer with them running on my bed without worry, and on the rare occasion one slips off, you give them some cereal and scoop them up really easy. Where I rent, my room is completely sealed from the rest of the house so I don't have to worry when someone is exploring.

Oh how I miss newer apartment buildings. Though with one girl I really had to keep an eye on her because she could end up on top of a bookcase or on the hung clothing in the closet or...anywhere!