Diet is such a large subject - there are commercially available nuggets, muesli type diets, home made mixes, different diets to support different medical issues e.g. kidney failure.
Diet is a very important factor for health and enrichment. It is important to provide a nutritionally balanced diet.
There are a few options for feeding rats;
- Shop bought nuggets
- Shop bought muesli mixes
- The shunamite diet (either home made or purchased from Rat Rations)
A dry diet, one of the above, should be the main component of a rats diet.
Alongside this, fresh fruit and vegetables should be given to provide variety, and nutrients. This link provides a list of rat safe foods, as well as the percentages of each type of fruit/veg: http://www.isamurats.co.uk/vegetables-and-fruits.html
Supplements of certain vitamins can also be given. A short breakdown of these are below;
- B vitamins - helpful for elderly rats. Assists with neurological function.
- Vitamin C - promotes a healthy immune system
- Vitamin D - associated with neurological health
- Omega 3 oils (e.g. hemp and flaxseed oil) - associated with all round condition, aiding kidney health, and boosting the immune system
- Calcium - healthy bones
Most mixes you can purchase in pet stores come in nugget form. These are designed to contain all of the nutrients needed to provide a balanced diet.
The best available pellet in the UK is science selective. In terms of nutrition, it contains everything a rat needs. However, it does have a slightly high wheat content which isn't great for rats with kidney issues (especially males, who are prone to kidney failure). It also, is not enriching. Rats are opportunistic scavengers in the wild, so providing a bland nugget daily isn't very enriching and provides little variety. Nuggets also do not have the ability to adjust the mix based on lifestage, disease status, gender, reproductive status, activity levels. A lot of people say that nuggets are better for rats as it prevents them from selectively feeding, however this is incorrect. Rats will only selectively feed if they are fed too much.
Another form of commercially available complete mix is a muesli based mix. These provide much more variety, and are more enriching and natural.
They are, however, usually composed up of cheap ingredients. Definitely edible, but again, no flexibility in regards to different factors (age, disease status etc).
The Shunamite Diet (home made mixes)
Home made mixes are becoming increasingly popular, however it is not as simple as throwing a few rat friendly foods together.
There are, 'homemade' mixes available to purchase online. These have been created by people well versed in rat nutrition, and you are able to purchase different types depending on the rats age, disease status, reproductive status. The website is; ratrations.co.uk
I highly recommend taking a look at the available mixes on that website if you are not confident making your own mix.
If you are interested in making your own mix, I highly recommend the website links below:
Isamu rats - Options for Dry Mixes (isamurats.co.uk)
Shunamite Rats;
The Scuttling Gourmet (shunamiterats.co.uk) (a very good book all about rat nutrition and making your own mix)
Feeding your rat Archives - The Scuttling Gourmet (shunamiterats.co.uk)
Diet is a very important factor for health and enrichment. It is important to provide a nutritionally balanced diet.
There are a few options for feeding rats;
- Shop bought nuggets
- Shop bought muesli mixes
- The shunamite diet (either home made or purchased from Rat Rations)
A dry diet, one of the above, should be the main component of a rats diet.
Alongside this, fresh fruit and vegetables should be given to provide variety, and nutrients. This link provides a list of rat safe foods, as well as the percentages of each type of fruit/veg: http://www.isamurats.co.uk/vegetables-and-fruits.html
Supplements of certain vitamins can also be given. A short breakdown of these are below;
- B vitamins - helpful for elderly rats. Assists with neurological function.
- Vitamin C - promotes a healthy immune system
- Vitamin D - associated with neurological health
- Omega 3 oils (e.g. hemp and flaxseed oil) - associated with all round condition, aiding kidney health, and boosting the immune system
- Calcium - healthy bones
Most mixes you can purchase in pet stores come in nugget form. These are designed to contain all of the nutrients needed to provide a balanced diet.
The best available pellet in the UK is science selective. In terms of nutrition, it contains everything a rat needs. However, it does have a slightly high wheat content which isn't great for rats with kidney issues (especially males, who are prone to kidney failure). It also, is not enriching. Rats are opportunistic scavengers in the wild, so providing a bland nugget daily isn't very enriching and provides little variety. Nuggets also do not have the ability to adjust the mix based on lifestage, disease status, gender, reproductive status, activity levels. A lot of people say that nuggets are better for rats as it prevents them from selectively feeding, however this is incorrect. Rats will only selectively feed if they are fed too much.
Another form of commercially available complete mix is a muesli based mix. These provide much more variety, and are more enriching and natural.
They are, however, usually composed up of cheap ingredients. Definitely edible, but again, no flexibility in regards to different factors (age, disease status etc).
The Shunamite Diet (home made mixes)
Home made mixes are becoming increasingly popular, however it is not as simple as throwing a few rat friendly foods together.
There are, 'homemade' mixes available to purchase online. These have been created by people well versed in rat nutrition, and you are able to purchase different types depending on the rats age, disease status, reproductive status. The website is; ratrations.co.uk
I highly recommend taking a look at the available mixes on that website if you are not confident making your own mix.
If you are interested in making your own mix, I highly recommend the website links below:
Isamu rats - Options for Dry Mixes (isamurats.co.uk)
Shunamite Rats;
The Scuttling Gourmet (shunamiterats.co.uk) (a very good book all about rat nutrition and making your own mix)
Feeding your rat Archives - The Scuttling Gourmet (shunamiterats.co.uk)