What really is the best rat food?

[Rattie Mom]

I know this is an older thread, but wanted to add my two cents as well.

Oxbow regal rat really is the "best" for ratties. However, mine HATE it. Many of my other rat friends have not had much luck in interesting their ratties in it either. It actually smells a bit "funny" to me.

Harlan is EXCELLENT. And although Oxbow is technically a little better, the rats will eat the Harlan blocks.

Mine do love their Nutro's natural LITE dog food best...I've tried to stop feeding it, but there were rumors of mutiny

I feed my own variation of Suebee's mix with the blocks and nutros.....but I always get "that" look from my vet.....then blamed for it being the cause of my "chubby" ratties. They do love their grains, dried pasta and chex/cheerios!

[CoppsCavies]

Sorry to keep adding to the old thread but I was reading this and wanted to ask if anyone had opinions on Mazuri's rat food? We have been using that with a lite dry dog food and Skittles loves it! Anyone have concerns over this brand?

[AneesasMuse]

It seems this thread has been re-surfaced quite a few times from the "archives" ...haha... so I'll add my own $0.02

I use Mazuri 5663 because it's what I have available (for reasonable costs) and what my ratties will eat. There are other Mazuri formulas, but they are mostly for commercial breeders that raise "food" The 5663 has the ingredients my mixed group (sexes, ages, etc.) needs. I purchase 25# bags from my local feed store for about $15 ..it's $14 something or other, actually. (They weren't carrying it on a regular basis at first, so I asked the right person nicely and now they carry it for me )

If you can get Harlan Teklad blocks for reasonable costs, go that route cuz it really is the best block ......but Mazuri is a good quality block, as well, and usually doesn't require shipping. Also, if your ratties are very different from my gang... try to get them to eat the Oxbow "Regal Rat". I tried, but mine fling it at me

Be careful feeding the Suebee's to your gang, especially if they are already chunkabutts ...I've seen it lead to obesity in LOTS of rattie kids. And rats are like children, for the most part, in that they will eat all the yummy stuff and hold out for more before they will eat the nutritionally balanced blocks and/or kibble. I make up a customized version of Suebee's or I just randomly offer them a yummy treat to go with their regular rations.. the blocks! I also make a HUGE salad for all my lizards, tortie, piggy and the rattie kids every single day ...my backyard is an organic garden just for them (and us, a little)... so they always get fresh foods to supplement the blocks.


In my opinion, it is best to avoid artificially colored, sweetened, and preservative ridden "treats" that you can pick up at the "big box stores" ..cuz our rattie kids are already predisposed to so many cancers and sparse longevity..... these things just have the potential to add to all of that.



And btw, porphyrin is not an "ailment" or "disease" ...it is a natural occurence with rats. Their tears are red and when they have excessive allergens, etc. to make them tear excessively.. their little feet and faces get more stains from all the cleaning attempts (alarming to the unsuspecting, I'm sure ..cuz it resembles blood), especially if they have lighter colored fur. Check your bedding choices. Also, pay close attention to their food items... what are you feeding when they have more noticeable porphyrin episodes, etc.





..okay, done now! Didn't mean to turn this into a novel