Rat Food Help?

[Munchie]

My girlies are currently Pets At Home brand Rat Nuggets. They have been on it since I before I got them (I've had them for about a month or 2) and seem to like it. (I like it too, seeing as it's easily available and £8 for a big bag )


The packet says it is a complete food, but after reading about all the different available diets I was wondering if this is the best food for them?


I know a lot of people swear by lab blocks but I'm not sure how I'd get hold of them in the UK, and my pet shop only sells the rat nuggets and tiny bags of rat muesli, which I'm sure they'd only pick the best bits out of.


They are pretty fussy about treats, so I'd rather feed a complete rat food and not need to rely on supplementing with fresh food as it's always touch and go as to if they will eat it. I'm a massive newb on rat nutrition, so any advice, or hearing about your own ratties diet would be massively appreciated ^^


Thanks in advance!
Munchie <3

[RatMad]

I am stuck with the whole nutrition thing too. Also from the UK, foods seem pretty limited here dont they? Ive been reading so much on the internet. Some people swear by subee's diet, while others say that its not as good because you need to add supplements and some rats get over weight. Ive heard nuggets are good and elsewhere that they are too boring for rats as they like to forage! So in the end what is the best way to go? Reggie rat has bits of corn in and alfalfa pellets. Ive heard a good rabbit food can be used like harrisons, but is it really ok??after all they arent rabbits! Talk about confusing! I have been pulling my hair out over what food is best

[shawnalaufer]

Most pet stores are pretty limited as to what they carry. I would order online if I were you.

For a lab block, I use Oxbow Foods Regal Rat. It is a low fat blend with balanced fiber and fat to help support a healthy weight. No artifical colors or flavors, corn or fillers. Since it is recommended for rats over 4 months of age, the youngsters get Solid Gold Holistique Blendz dog food. Both can be ordered online. I am able to find the Solid Gold Holistique Blendz in local petstores but must order the Oxbow online.

Harlan Teklad, the best known lab block has a formula, 2018, that is 18% protein and 5% fat for young rats and nursing mothers. Solid Gold Holistique Blendz's protein is not less than 18%, not likely to be more than 21% and the fat is about 6%. So as you can see, they are very very similar. I use the Holistique Blendz because its easier to get- I can get it at Petsmart or Petco and lots of placed online. Harlan Teklad is very hard to get a hold of without buying a huge bag, unless you get smaller bags from someone who is splitting the bag and reselling smaller quantities of it. That's not a bag idea, but I personally don't like buying pet foods that are opened, especcially when I don't know how fresh it is. I also have no idea as to what the codes are on the bag, in case of a pet food recall. Seems to be a lot of them recently...

The Regal Rat has 14% protein and 4% fat, much like Harlan Teklad's 2014 formula (14% protein and 3.5% fat). This is the best of Harlan Teklad's diets to feed as an overall maintenance diet to adult rats. I buy Regal Rat online although I know other areas have said they sell it in store (my petstores don't locally).

I used to feed my rats the popular Suebee mix but I also have always had chubby rats. Now I use just the Oxbow Regal Rat and the Solid Gold Holistique Blendz as a staple and supplement my Rat Whisperer Diet Supplement, which is similar to Suebees, but each rat only gets 2 tbsp daily as a supplement, not as a diet staple. I have already seen a difference in the males weight- they don't look quite as round around the middle, LOL! You can find the recipe on my blog (see sig).

I keep it all food fresh and pest-free using Gamma Vittles Vault Plus (15 lb size) containers.

I also provide various pureed baby food, fresh and/or frozen fruits,veggies, and fresh herbs including but not limited to:apples, bananas, prunes, peas, corn, bok choy, fresh parsley, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, melon, dandelion greens, green beans, dark leafy greens, various berries, etc. I try to alternate fruit, veggie, fruit, veggie, etc.

Three times a week they also get Healthforce Nutritionals' Green Mush, a superfood.

[shawnalaufer]

Stay away from rabbit foods- too much alfalfa which rats dont eat.

With a food like the Oxbow, they can't pick out the best bits. And its not these clumbersome nuggets- they come in small triangular, thin wafers. Much easier for a rat to hold, eat and carry.

[BigBen]

Stay away from rabbit foods- too much alfalfa which rats dont eat.

They may eat it, but they can't digest it, so it's essentially just filler as far as your rat's diet is concerned. It won't hurt them, but it doesn't do any good, either.

The same is true of timothy hay, as well.

[shawnalaufer]

They may eat it, but they can't digest it, so it's essentially just filler as far as your rat's diet is concerned. It won't hurt them, but it doesn't do any good, either.

The same is true of timothy hay, as well.

LOL- thats what I meant...they can eat it, technically, but its not a part of their diet since they cant digest it. So best to avoid it.