Basic Diets

A wild rat's diet is usually varied, as rats are omnivores and can eat almost anything. Grains, fruits, vegetables, insects, eggs, even small birds or lizards are just some of the things a wild rat will eat. Domestic rats do not have such a hard time finding food, but they have much the same nutritional requirements a their wild counterparts and their diet should reflect this. Here are some of the most commonly available diets and their advandages and disadvantages.

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Commercial Diets

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Laboratory blocks, sold under many different brand names, are generally the best commercially available rat diet. Harlan Teklad and Oxbow Regal Rat are two great brands. They are large greyish blocks, which the rat must gnaw on to eat. They don't contain the 100% nutrition that a rat needs, however, and your rats should still be supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables to make up for what this diet lacks. When choosing a brand of lab block, look for one where corn is not the main ingredient.

Seed-based diets, also sold under many different brand names, are not a good diet for rats. They are made up of many different parts, which cause the rats to pick and choose what they like and leave the rest to become soiled in the cage. These mixes are usually made up of a lot of different kinds of nuts, which can be fatty and not provide your rats with a complete nutritional diet.

Diets marketed for other small animals such as rabbit pellets, guinea pig pellets, hamster feed, or dog or cat food are not suitable diets for rats and should not be used.

Home Made Diets

There are many recipes out there for home made rat diets, often incorporating several different types of cereal, grains, pasta, fruits, and meat. These diets, while more nutritionally complete, are generally more expensive and more time consuming, as you have to buy all the products separately and then mix them yourself. Since they often contain fresh produce and meat, they have to be made shortly before feeding and therefore are difficult for people who don't have a lot of time to do so. If you have the time, the money, and the energy, however it can be very beneficial to your rats and can even help them live healthier and longer. Here are some things you want to look for when choosing a home made diet recipe:

Variety
Rats can get bored of eating the same thing over and over again, just like people can, and having a diet that contains many different foods from all the food groups can give your rat a more balanced nutrition and they will also enjoy it more.

Soy
Soy products such as soy milk, soybeans, and soybean meal are very beneficial for female rats, as studies have shown soy reduces the risk of mammary tumors which are unfortunately very common in female rats.

Meat
Rats are omnivores, and require meat as well as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Make sure the home made diet contains at least a small portion of cooked, preferably organic, meat.

Fresh Fruit / Vegetables
Home made diets have to contain more than just cereals and grains, make sure the diet includes (or recommends you supplement with) fresh fruits and vegetables including broccoli, purple grapes, carrots, kale, parsley, peas, bananas, and berries.

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