Why do we have to feed our rats all these special rat foods?

Question

Ok so I have been buying Harlen Teklad rat blocks for my rats and their healthy but there HATE them. How would you feel if you ate one food your whole entire life? Isnt that boring? Sure, Regal rat is the best food but my rats dont like it and its expensive. Why cant I just buy, a big bag of bird seed (with no corn), some low protein dog food, dried fruit and some cereal and mix it all together? Then they can get some eggs, meat, mealworms, crickets fruits and veggies and stuff like that. It's simple and I'm sure they would like it a lot better than a boring old lab block. What do you think?

Answer 1

i have had rats and they do make foods for them very similar to hampster food with seed fruits and other things like that and my rats loved it my rats loved peanut butter one of there favorite snacks was carrot with some pb on it...nutriphase i believe was what i feed mine you can get it at petsmart it also has the chunks of block in it as well.

Answer 2

If you're careful you can feed rats on a diet of wholegrain - some rice, bread and oats or barley e.t.c, some fresh vegetables and protein such as a small amount of dry dog food or mealworms. You'd have to check this with your vet or a pet nutritionist however to make sure your rats are getting all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Lots of dog food will also cause your rats to take in too much protein causing itchy skin and a dull coat amongst other problems.

Lab blocks or a specially formulated rat mix are however the best diet for your pet, supplemented with treats of fresh fruit, vegetables and biscuits. Are you sure your rats don't like the blocks or rat mix - these usually contain a mix of cereals, grains and nuts to keep up the variety -? If you've found little stashes around the cage, this isn't a sign of dislike its a natural foraging behavior and perfectly healthy. Rats may also eat a little in the morning, sleep, and then eat the rest of their food in the evenings.

EDIT - *How would you feel if you ate one food your whole entire life?* try not to get too anthropomorphic here. This theory is one of the main reasons that there has been such a rise in pet obesity amongst dogs - dogs are descended from carnivores who often had to eat raw meat which means their taste buds aren't very effective and respond more to texture than taste - dogs are not humans and are perfectly happy and healthy living on the same food everyday. I am sure that the same is true of rats, they need a staple diet that remains the same day after day to provide nutrients - which is fine as long as a variety is added with fresh fruit and vegetables as treats.

Answer 3

I would give them a couple blocks a day because they are fortified with trace vitamins and minerals, but yes...most of their diet can, and should, be a variety of fresh fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins.  That serves as enrichment if nothing else.

Answer 4

yes they have got to be fed wiv rite proper rat food or they wont get their proper vitamins and iron levals and will become less active -x- stephany -x-

Answer 5

Lab blocks are the most balanced diet and should be the staple of their diet for this reason. Yes, only blocks would be boring, but you supplement with veggies and a little fruit. The food alternatives you suggest (bird food, dog food etc.) are NOT balanced for a rat. They lack essential vitamins, amino acids etc. Bird seed is way too high in fat and in the case of dog food, the high protein content can lead to significant health issues. The only food you should be giving your rat is food formulated for a rat. Besides, switching from one monotone staple to another would not help anything.

If you are really against the blocks you could do a homemade diet as per Debbie Ducomon's diet plan, but be forewarned, the diet is much more expensive than blocks and very time consuming. (Sue Bee's diet is the other alternative, however there are some concerns that it may not be adequately nutritionally balanced.) You would be best off providing variety with the supplemented foods you give your rats.

Here is Debbie Ducomon's diet:

Daily

about 3 T molasses mix (see recipe)

one serving of fruit (see menu)

2-3 servings of vegetables (see menu)

Twice a week (see menu)

1 serving cooked beef liver (organic is best) or canned oysters

Serving sizes

cooked beans(2 t, use a variety of types)

cooked sweet potato(3/4" cube)

broccoli floret(1 1/2" across (cooked or raw)

leafy greens(about 2" square)

other vegies(1" square)

cooked beef liver(1" X 3/4" X 1/4")

canned oysters(one average)

fruits(1/2" cube)

Recipe for Molasses Mix

(will last two rats about a week depending on size--for more than two rats, you can multiply the recipe)

1500 mg calcium from chewable tablets or liquid calcium with vitamin D

2000 mcg chromium picolinate

250 mcg vitamin B12

40 mg manganese (from capsules)

3/4 C Total cereal

1 lb packaged (not bulk) soft tofu

4 t shelled raw sunflower seeds

1 T flax seeds

3 T raw oatmeal

4 t pearled barley

4 t millet

3 T cooked brown rice

4 T toasted wheat germ

2 1/4 T nutritional yeast flakes (5.6 g)

2 T blackstrap (dark or full flavor) molasses

Soak the chromium picolinate, calcium, and B12 tablets in a tiny bit of water and when soft, crush. Coarsely crush the Total in a plastic bag. Mash the tofu in a bowl. Add all ingredients together with warm molasses and mix thoroughly. Store covered in the refrigerator or freezer.

Answer 6

Lots of people do that. Although you don't want to give them too many seeds as a daily food, because they're very fatty and rats tend to eat a lot of them, but some is alright. They should still have lab block, but that's not all they should have! Variety is very important in a rat diet.

Here's a good site with a varied diet, Suebee's mix.

http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html

Answer 7

Talk with the vet about any kind of food change.

Answer 8

There are homemade diets. Google ''SueBee rat diet'' as that's a popular one.

The only hard part about making your own diet, is the risk of it not providing all the right nutrients to the rats.

Personally, I give my rats a mix of Regal Rat & Mazuri lab blocks as a base diet. They get fruits, veggies, healthy cereal, oatmeal, etc. in ''rat sized'' portions daily for flavor.

Answer 9

Just make a hole on the side of the trash can and let them have at it.