And some more Rattus Rodentia for show

[Lady Ns]

Some new photos for 2010.

Mostly pictures of the girls, & they're "activeness" :)

Some of the pictures could've worked out better, but what can I say? It's like photographing Bettas.

[petluvr]

I am about to start keeping rats, what do you feed yours?

[jpappy789]

I think your house has a rat problem. :lipssealedsmilie:

[jooranda]

oh woooow love them i used to keep rats great pets !

[Lady Ns]

lol Jpappy.

They get a grain mix, fresh veggies & usually anything I'm eating, along with a cooked dinner when it's cold. I'm in a rush right now, but I'll make a list for you, Petluvr.

They are quirky little critters, for sure :)

[petluvr]

lol Jpappy.

They get a grain mix, fresh veggies & usually anything I'm eating, along with a cooked dinner when it's cold. I'm in a rush right now, but I'll make a list for you, Petluvr.

They are quirky little critters, for sure :)
That would be greatly appreciated. I have read so many different things on the net and they all seem to conflict :)

[Lady Ns]

For Petluvr - This is a quick summary of the foods I usually feed my rats.

First off - The Dry Mix
I have a home made mix, as store bought ones are generally a bit dodgey. Not saying they all are.

Any kind of large wild bird seed for a base is good (without grit)
Plain rolled oats
Puffed rice
Uncooked brown/whoe grain rice &/or Raw pasta - my rats don't always eat it
Bran & corn flakes
Dried fruits
Dry dog food

These aren't all the ingredients, but a good recipe to start off. You can take some stuff out & replace it with something else. Most low sugar (or sugar free) cereals are really good to add.
Umm.. The dog food only really needs to be added if they have no other source of protein - use a low protein one if you can. Also, lab blocks are good to add, but they might be hard to come by.


Vegetables & Fruits
Some general ones I feed - I'll put a note next to most for preference.

Spinach & Silver Beet - preferrably not frozen, but that's acceptable.
Cauliflower & Broccoli - steams & leaves are good to eat.
Green Peas & Corn - fresh or frozen, my rats love them. I float frozen in water when it's really hot & the rats have fun.
Beans - these have to be cooked. Uncooked can make rats sick.
Carrot & Pumpkin - Can change the colour of their poo is fed too often.
Potatoes - sweet/red spuds need to be cooked; eyes & greens are toxic.
Lettuce - lettuce can give them diahorrea (Sp?) if fed in excess. The darker it is, the better.
Choko Plant - fruit, leaves, the entire vine.
Zuchini - just the fruit, & make sure to wash before feeding

Some folks feed tomatoes, but I've only had 1 rat that enjoys them.

Apples & Pears.
Grapes, Cherries, Blue Berries, Mulberries & Strawberries - these can be really messy, but fun.
Rock melon & Water Melon (centelope?) - skins are good
Bananas - my rats go crazy for fresh & dried banana
Pineapple - only feed fresh pineapple if you can. It can be a bit acidic, but it's a better nutrition.
Peaches, Plums, Nectarins - most stone fruit are good. The stone is really good for their teeth, too.
Avoid citruc fruits, they can make rats sick.

____________

Other than that, my rats are fed table scraps - cooked bones, veggies scraps, bread, seafood (oysters & prawns are really good).
Also, whilst they get cooked bones I do give them smoked pork treats for dogs - it's something tasty & hard for them to gnaw on through the day. Also a protein source.
I never give them raw seafood or meat products of any kind as A) if you don't bath them, the bacterium stick to the rats & B) that makes it a potential health hazard for yourself.

Otherwise, they get sweet/savoury biscuits, tea & coffee, cake, a bit of chocolate, a mineral & vitamin suppliment for the older rats, & lactose free milk.
The cooked dinners are basically just pasta/rice/oats cooked in water with fruit & veggies/scraps/meat juice added to it. I have some recipes if you'd like me to PM you some - but I'll have to cut the amounts down, as I do feed nearly 20 rats.

I've posted some pics for visual reference.

[J double R]

wow, that's a pretty awesome diet. Can you feed me, too? :D

[petluvr]

Thanks for the GREAT tips.

[Lady Ns]

lol JRR. I wouldn't have a problem feeding you. I actually know some great human food recipes too :) Healthy & tasty at the same time.


It's no problem, Petluvr. It's a pretty sound diet, & they get good variation with it. Rats have basically the same diet as humans, after all. Feel free to PM me with a question if ever you feel the need.


Also, folks, those six little dishes on the left of the picture are actually for the mice hehe... I've got some big mice. Not fat, just big.