I have heard different things about what the best amount of protein in a diet staple is. Generally, I hear 14-18% on this forum, but in other places I've heard/read up to 24% - most memorably to me was when I was looking at Harlan Teklad blocks on Kim's Ark Rescue site, where the 24% protein block is the highly recommended one, and 14% was advised against for healthy rats. I believe that one is also the one the RMCA recommends as well.
Right now my rats are eating a staple of Nutro Natural Choice Lite, which has a crude protein of 14%. This is not all they eat, and they do get protein from other sources, but I'm still wondering if this is too low.
So what is the best percent? Why isn't the best percent agreed upon? There's a big difference between 14% and 24%. It seems most people go with 18% which is a happy medium, but is that best?
People throw numbers around a lot, but I can't recall seeing any solid facts, just sort of a general "low protein is best" so I'm wondering where people are getting their information and what everyone's opinion is on this.
Right now my rats are eating a staple of Nutro Natural Choice Lite, which has a crude protein of 14%. This is not all they eat, and they do get protein from other sources, but I'm still wondering if this is too low.
So what is the best percent? Why isn't the best percent agreed upon? There's a big difference between 14% and 24%. It seems most people go with 18% which is a happy medium, but is that best?
People throw numbers around a lot, but I can't recall seeing any solid facts, just sort of a general "low protein is best" so I'm wondering where people are getting their information and what everyone's opinion is on this.