Treats

[Velvet]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know what treats I could give my new rats. I don't want to give them anything that will make them sick or give them upset tummies.

Is dried fruit like raisins okay? What have do you find they like best? I want to gain their trust and I think offering them tasty nibblies will help.

[ladylady]

You could try giving them most of there normal diet from your hands but Leave them a little something for them to munch when your not there. My girls arent very interested in rasins.

[Forensic]

I think if you'll search you'll find things NOT to give rats, like citrus, chocolate, uncoooked meat, raw sweet potato, etc. But they love treats, and mine will gorge myselves if at all possible...

They like yogurt drops and yogurt covered raisins... rats have sweet tooths, I've heard.

[Wench]

In small amounts, chocolate is okay for rats. Preferably whatever has the least sugar, like dark.

I believe citrus is also okay for female rats but not males, but I might be confusing it with something else.

There are a few threads around the site listing different types of treats owners give their rats, so you could try checking those.

A little sweet fruit or cooked meat makes my rats very happy, and is much better for them than sugary sweets.

[DonnaK]

The fresh foods that you should avoid are -

Raw beans and peanuts
Raw sweet potato
Raw red cabbage
Raw Brussels sprouts
Raw artichokes
Raw bulk (non-packaged) tofu
Green bananas
Green potato skin and eyes

I have also read that citrus is not good for boys (cancer risk, I think) and onions should be avoided for some reason. You should also avoid carbonated beverages.

Chocolate can be good for them in very very small amounts. It helps with their respiratory issues.

Other natural things that I have had success with, are -

peas
sweetcorn
carrots
melon
grapes
pineapple
strawberries
broccoli
cherries
pear
hard-boiled egg (small slices)
banana (again, small amounts)
cucumber

I'll basically try anything that's natural, not high in fat, sugar or salt and not on the no-no list.

[Velvet]

Thanks guys!

I bought some cheezy rat snacks from the petshop and they really seem to enjoy these. The little girl rattie also really likes raisins! lol She goes nuts for them!

Thanks for the other tips, I don't want to risk feeding my ratties anything that's unhealthy for them.

[ladylady]

I was in the pound shop today and there were loads of dog chews-the dried skin ones and the sort of woody looking coloured chews-does anyone know if they are OK for rats?

[DonnaK]

I was in the pound shop today and there were loads of dog chews-the dried skin ones and the sort of woody looking coloured chews-does anyone know if they are OK for rats?

Do you mean rawhide bones? I imagine they would be good for rats to chew on, but you would need to monitor it for protein - you don't want itchy rats! I don't know if there would be any other concerns with them...

[ladylady]

thanks, how bout the coloured chip board looking ones?

[Night]

Actually, rawhide is pretty terrible, even for dogs.

Greenies and Nylabones are great, though.