[reessm01]

Does anyone know of any harmful carcinogens in this rat food mix? I can buy it at Pet Land here in town, and haven't heard anyone mention it here on the forum. I want to get off the kaytee rat diet. Had no idea how bad that crap is. You'd think any brand making food for any animal would be sensitive to the animals health... society is so sad any more... all about the dollar.

 

[rattikins]

Hmmm... never heard of it.

Harlan Teklad is well known for being quality and it's super easy to find online and order!

 

[reessm01]

There any way I can read the ingredients and know? Harlan Teklad sounds great, but I'm not fond of ordering things online. I will if I have to though.

 

[cjshrader]

Generally I don't trust anything labeled as rat food from any company.

I can't tell you about carcinogens, but I do know that if one of the main ingredients is corn then that pretty much means it's junk.

 

[rattikins]

If you go to their website you can read the ingredients.

Harlan Teklad makes many different types, so the ingredients will vary, but they're all listed there.

I have another thread about 5 down from this one that states which type to buy for young and adult rats.

I would also suggest purchasing the Harlan Teklad food from a different retailer online, as I think Harlan Teklad only sells HUGE bags.

Just google "Harlan Teklad 2014" and you'll find some places to buy 5 lbs bags from.

Also, some humane societies will sell this brand.

 

[Forensic]

What are the ingredients? Does it contain seeds, dried corn, alfalfa? If so, it's not good. Does it contain ethoxyquin? That's the carcinogen in question.

 

[rattikins]

Here, I found the ingredients to the Sun Seed food for you:

Ingredients:
Corn, Milo, Wheat, Peanuts, Striped Sunflowers, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal,Flaked Corn, White Millet, Dehdyrated Pineapple, Dehydrated Carrot, Dehydrated Papaya, Dehydrated Apple, Dehydrated Blueberries,Celery Flakes, Red Bell Pepper Flakes, Dehdyrated

 

[cjshrader]

Yep, then exactly as I said, steer clear of it. It's not that corn is particularly bad for rats, it's just that they don't digest it so they aren't really getting any nutrients out of it.

 

[lilspaz68]

Sun Seed makes a multitude of products, and the original poster may also be talking about Critter Cubes (their version of lab blocks). They were my first lab block and as soon as I saw the ingredients I chucked them. :lol:

I went to Sun Seed's website and tried to find the ingredients for their products there and through Google for the Critter Cubes. No luck, and that in itself is a huge red flag to me.

There are 3 products you should avoid if you can, besides hamster/gerbil and seed mixes. They are Kaytee products, Sun Seed, and Reggie Rat.