Rattie Rascals Rattery
Port Orchard, Washington
Est. 1998
(360) 876-0236 weekdays - (360) 874-9085 evening
Rattie@boardmanweb.com
Owned and operated by
LeAnn & Beth Boardman
Members of RatsPacNW
 

Rat Nutrition

What Should we feed our Rat?

Commercial Diets:

Rodent blocks – blocks of food made for rats/rodents in mind.  It is preferred that corn is not the first ingredient.  Blocks are made for chewing and help keep your rats teeth from overgrowth.

Harlan – Teklad
Mazuri

      Other types, read labels (try to find blocks made for professional use - labs, etc)

Pre-made Mixes-

Rat & Mouse mixes-
            Typically have grains and seeds suited for small mice not rats. 
            May have lots of waste, chaff and non-digestible items thus the rats will be loosing out on proper nutrition.

Hamster, Gerbil, Guinea Pig mixes – Not suitable for rats

Homemade, mixing Your Own:

  If you decide this is the way to feed your rat, please make sure the ingredients will fulfill a rat’s Recommended Daily Allowance.

Listed below are only suggestions!

This is what WE feed our rats along with Mazuri rodent blocks:

3 Parts grain mix

                   2 parts Rolled oats

1 part Rolled Barley

1 part Rolled Triticale

1 part Rolled Rye

(Bulk, rolled grains are used rather than whole grains for digestibility)

1 Part dry dog kibble

We use Diamond Senior, lowfat OR use a high quality, low fat brand with moderate protein content (14-20%)!!

1/2 part ABC Pasta Soup Mix (consists of lentils, pasta, green & yellow split peas, rice  with no spices)
We also add in smaller quantities: freeze dried corn, peas & carrots and unsalted soynuts.

Above is approximately 14.6% Protein & 5.07% fat *

Other items you can add to diet:

Use in small quantities~

           Sunflower seeds

           Split peas, legumes

           Vegetables

              Fresh

              Frozen
              Freeze dried can be mixed into homemade mixes

     May add too much sugar to diet depending on rat, use in limited quantities
              Fruits - Fresh & dried as a treat only

How much and how often?

   This has a lot to do with the size of your rat. 
   An average rat will eat approximately 5 grams per day per 100 grams of body weight.

10 oz rat will eat up to ½ ounce

    284 g /100 = 2.84 x 5 g = 14.2 g or ½ ounce

1 lb ¼ oz rat will eat up to 1 oz

    567 g / 100 = 5.67  x 5 g = 28.35 g or 1 oz

Treats and Snacks

   Chewies – Good for teeth

       Greenies

       Nylabone flavors – Carrot or others

       Dog biscuit bones  

    Treats – minimum use
       Yogurt treats, Yoggies
       Sugar free or low sugar cereal

       Dried fruit

Water

   Rats need 10 ml per 100 grams of body weight per day.  So for a 300 gram (10.5 oz) rat, they would drink approximately 30 ml of water or 1 oz per day.     Use plastic or glass water bottles that can be washed and cleaned at least weekly.  Water should be kept fresh.

What not to feed

   Carbonated sodas – rats cannot burp

   Sticky foods - peanut butter, can cause  choking

   Chocolate

   Candy, Ice cream, & junk food

       Rats are just like us and love to eat sweets.

Salty & spicy foods

Raw sweet potatoes

Raw: cabbage, Brussel sprouts, Artichokes, tofu

Green potato skin and eyes

Alcohol

RDA’s for a Rat

Based on information published in the National Academy Press 1995

* Based on information found on the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory online: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

  The nutrient components of most foods (if not provided on the package) can be found here.   By knowing the exact amount of each food you add to your diet mix, you can figure out the amount of various nutrients.  (math is a good skill to have!)

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