diet...
Every breeder on every page will show you a different kind of diet that they feed their rats. There is a diverse array of mixed dry foods, special dinner meals, and different mixed fruit and veggies. It's all about personal choice, but the most important thing is providing your rats with a quality and nutritious diet. Personally, I eat as much fresh and organic food as I can afford, and I would like to do the same for my rats. I've used a variety of mixed seed diets, Gnibble & Gnaw is a really good one that can be found at any Big W and some pet stores. The best diet I've found on any breeder's or online website is one from Pixies World. It's amazzzing! Below is the diet that I am currently trying on my rats, it's a combination of a few different ones, supporting what my rats like and don't like and a healthy, affordable, and balanced diet.
Remember, rats need a healthy diet of dry mix, fresh fruit and vegetables, and a hearty dinner meal. And rats don't overeat. I've never had that problem.
Remember, rats need a healthy diet of dry mix, fresh fruit and vegetables, and a hearty dinner meal. And rats don't overeat. I've never had that problem.
dry mix...
Puffed Wheat Cereal
I use organic puffed wheat cereal from Coles or Woolworth's. Malt-O-Meal, Quaker or Kashi. Cheerios are also a viable alternative, if the other two are not available, but keep in mind that there may be added sugar. Quaker doesn’t have any added sugar, but Arrowhead Mills is 100% USDA certified organic. The exact amount you add to the mix doesn’t really matter,
Puffed Rice Cereal
Again, I personally use Coles or Woolworth's puffed rice from the organic section. In America, Quaker is also another alternative, because it contains no sugar. But, again, Arrowhead Mills also has a good bag that is completely organic. Rice Krispies really aren’t the same at all and are NOT recommended because they contain a lot of sodium and sugar.
Dried Oats
Organic section is your biggest fan. I've never had a problem finding them there. Not too expensive either. Quaker is fine, but may be more expensive and isn’t organic, or you can buy it if you have a bulk bin at your local super market. Keep in mind that oatmeal is binding, so too much can cause constipation problems. Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats are also a great organic alternative. Again they are 100% USDA certified organic and very healthy for your rats.
Vegetable Pasta Twists
Mrs. Leeper's Rice Vegetable twists are a great addition to the mix. They are made with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients from real organic fresh veggies. We add one bag to a mix. Keep in mind you do not need to use this particular brand, of even organic if you don't want to! Regular veggie spiral pasta can be found in almost any grocery store! Dried pasta spirals also help to file down your rats’ teeth and they loveee them!
Flax Seeds
Arrowhead Mills Flax seeds provide a good source of fiber and protein for your rats. It is also a natural immune system booster! Again, this product is 100% USDA certified organic and the rats love it. Or if you can find Kashi brand cereal that contains flax seeds, you can add that to your mix. Any type of unsalted flax seeds are worth adding to your mix, they really improve your rat’s coat making it shiny and healthy.
My advice is not to use Flax seeds, they just end up not being eaten at all. I'm going to try supplementing flax seed oil soaked in some toast once a week.
Dried Fruit
Dried bananas and cranberries, peaches or blueberries. The bananas offer potassium, and cranberries are good for the urinary tract. Do not use banana chips, they are usually fried. If you can find Just Fruit bananas or peaches add them to your mix. The rats love them and they have no added sugar and are organic. Goji berries are also a good thing to add to your mix, it's high in antioxidents and helps improve immunity. Dried fruit is NOT a replacement for fresh fruit, you still have to give plenty of that to your rats.
Even if there's dried food in your dry mix it does not replace the fresh fruit you should give your rat.
Sunflower Seeds
The large sunflower seeds for birds (the black and white ones) are best. You can buy the unshelled sunflower seeds, but some rats don't enjoy those as much (I mean really the fun part IS opening them!). Keep in mind that too many sunflower seeds can add too much fat and protein to the diet. Use common sense.
Dog Food
Supercoat lite and mature is easy to find in Australia. This is a wonderful dog food for your dogs and it turns out that it's great for your rats as well. It doesn't have too much protein in it, which is good for your rats.
I use organic puffed wheat cereal from Coles or Woolworth's. Malt-O-Meal, Quaker or Kashi. Cheerios are also a viable alternative, if the other two are not available, but keep in mind that there may be added sugar. Quaker doesn’t have any added sugar, but Arrowhead Mills is 100% USDA certified organic. The exact amount you add to the mix doesn’t really matter,
Puffed Rice Cereal
Again, I personally use Coles or Woolworth's puffed rice from the organic section. In America, Quaker is also another alternative, because it contains no sugar. But, again, Arrowhead Mills also has a good bag that is completely organic. Rice Krispies really aren’t the same at all and are NOT recommended because they contain a lot of sodium and sugar.
Dried Oats
Organic section is your biggest fan. I've never had a problem finding them there. Not too expensive either. Quaker is fine, but may be more expensive and isn’t organic, or you can buy it if you have a bulk bin at your local super market. Keep in mind that oatmeal is binding, so too much can cause constipation problems. Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats are also a great organic alternative. Again they are 100% USDA certified organic and very healthy for your rats.
Vegetable Pasta Twists
Mrs. Leeper's Rice Vegetable twists are a great addition to the mix. They are made with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients from real organic fresh veggies. We add one bag to a mix. Keep in mind you do not need to use this particular brand, of even organic if you don't want to! Regular veggie spiral pasta can be found in almost any grocery store! Dried pasta spirals also help to file down your rats’ teeth and they loveee them!
Flax Seeds
Arrowhead Mills Flax seeds provide a good source of fiber and protein for your rats. It is also a natural immune system booster! Again, this product is 100% USDA certified organic and the rats love it. Or if you can find Kashi brand cereal that contains flax seeds, you can add that to your mix. Any type of unsalted flax seeds are worth adding to your mix, they really improve your rat’s coat making it shiny and healthy.
My advice is not to use Flax seeds, they just end up not being eaten at all. I'm going to try supplementing flax seed oil soaked in some toast once a week.
Dried Fruit
Dried bananas and cranberries, peaches or blueberries. The bananas offer potassium, and cranberries are good for the urinary tract. Do not use banana chips, they are usually fried. If you can find Just Fruit bananas or peaches add them to your mix. The rats love them and they have no added sugar and are organic. Goji berries are also a good thing to add to your mix, it's high in antioxidents and helps improve immunity. Dried fruit is NOT a replacement for fresh fruit, you still have to give plenty of that to your rats.
Even if there's dried food in your dry mix it does not replace the fresh fruit you should give your rat.
Sunflower Seeds
The large sunflower seeds for birds (the black and white ones) are best. You can buy the unshelled sunflower seeds, but some rats don't enjoy those as much (I mean really the fun part IS opening them!). Keep in mind that too many sunflower seeds can add too much fat and protein to the diet. Use common sense.
Dog Food
Supercoat lite and mature is easy to find in Australia. This is a wonderful dog food for your dogs and it turns out that it's great for your rats as well. It doesn't have too much protein in it, which is good for your rats.
Dinner Options
I try to offer my rats some sort of dinner option every night, or at least three times a week. Below are some of the things I give, and the ones that my rats really enjoy:
- 4 bean salad from supermarket
- cooked chicken breast
- canned tuna (best in water)
- cooked pasta
- cooked rice
- sardines
- mix of fresh or frozen veggies
- sprouts
links...
links...
Forbidden Foods
Pixies World
Ruby Rattery's food suggestions
Dapper Rat food suggestions
Rat Health Food by Debbie Ducommun
The Suebee Diet by Suebee
Pixies World
Ruby Rattery's food suggestions
Dapper Rat food suggestions
Rat Health Food by Debbie Ducommun
The Suebee Diet by Suebee
Ratatouille
