What Do Rats Like To Eat?
5 Constituents Of Your Pet Rats Diet To Answer The Question “What Can Rats Eat?”
1. Recommended!! Good Healthy Food
Mixed vegetables–cooked food is always better carrots, peas, cooked squash, kale, cooked oats, cooked beans, celery, cooked corn, zucchini, cooked pasta, cooked salmon, sunflower seeds (do not feed daily), cheese (do not feed daily), cooked rice, cucumbers among others. Always check if your pet rat has hoarded any of this as it can go bad. You can also give sparingly to avoid hoarding.
2. Fruits
Apples, completely ripe bananas, grapes, moderated citrus fruits to ONLY female rats. Give sparingly to avoid hoarding.
3. Treats
(Not To Be Fed Daily/ can be used during training)-sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, yoghurt drops, popcorn, cheese, chicken bones and cheerios
4. Commercial Food or Lab Blocks
The age of your pet rat matters when considering commercial food. We will give the best rat food options derived from pet rat experts and owners’ opinions:
Before mentioning the commercial food, it is important to know rat ages. We have:
- Young rats– 2 months and below
- Young adult rats– 2-6 months old
- Adult rats– 6+ months old
It is also good to note that a majority of fancy rat or dumbo rat (pet rat) owners and experts prefer the oxbow brand.
Young Rats/ young adult rats (-6 months old)
Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food
Where Do You Get This?
Oxbow Essentials Mouse and Young Rat Natural Pet Food Pellets 2.5 Pounds Bag
Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food (Ideal for female rats)
It has high protein, therefore, don’t give it to adult rats.
Where Do You Get This?
US#1. Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food, 2 lbs.
UK#2. Mazuri Rat and Mouse Nutrional Complete Vegetarian Formulation Pet Food 2lbs
CANADA #3. Mazuri Rat and Mouse Nutrional Complete Vegetarian Formulation Pet Food 2lbs
Envigo (Formerly Harlan) Teklad Global Rat Food Pellets 2018
Where Do You Get This?
1. Envigo (Formerly Harlan) Teklad GROWTH Rat Food Diet Global 2018 (5lbs)
2. Harlan Teklad Rat Food Diet Global 2018 (33lbs)
Envigo (Formerly Harlan) Teklad Rat Food Pellets 8604
Where Do You Get This?
1. Envigo (Formerly Harlan) Teklad Rat Food Diet 8604 (5lbs)
2. Harlan Teklad Rat Food Diet 8604 (33lbs)
Adult rats (6+ months old)
Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food
Where Do You Get This?
1. Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food, 3-Pound Bag
2. Oxbow’s Essentials – Adult Rat Food, 3 lb
3. Oxbow Essentials – Adult Rat Food 6 Pound (2 x 3 Pound Bags)
Oxbow Animal Health Essentials Regal Adult Rat Food
Where Do You Get This?
US#1. Oxbow Animal Health Essentials Regal Adult Rat Food, 20-Pound
UK#2. Oxbow Animal Health Essentials Regal Adult Rat Food, 20-Pound
Envigo (Formerly Harlan) Teklad Global Rat Food Pellets 2014
Where Do You Get This?
1. ENVIGO-Harlan Teklad Global Rat Food Pellets 2014 (15LB)
2. Harlan Teklad Global Rat Food Pellets 2014 (33lbs)
3. ENVIGO-Harlan Teklad Global Rat Food Pellets 2014 (5LB)
4. ENVIGO-Harlan Teklad Global Rat Food Pellets 2014(2LB)
5. Fresh Clean Drinking water
You need to make sure your pet rats have access to clean fresh drinking water always in a clean water bottle. Some people have had some problems with various water bottles but these have been found to have the least or no problems at all.
Living World Eco + Water Bottle
Where Do You Get This?
US #1. Living World Eco + Water Bottle, 6-Ounce
UK #2. Living World Eco Plus Water Bottle, 177 ml
UK #3. Living World Eco+ Water Bottle 769ml
CANADA #4. Living World Eco Plus Water Bottle, 12-Ounce
Choco Nose H128 Patented No Drip Small Animal Water Bottle
Where Do You Get This?
In the US, you can get it at Choco Nose H128 Patented No Drip Small Animal Water Bottle. Best Water Bottle for Small Pet/Bunny/ Ferret/Hamster/ Critter. BPA Free. 11.2 Oz. Nozzle Diameter: 10mm (Blue)
What Not To Give
DO NOT GIVE- Excess cheese, poppy seeds, red meats, onions, garlic, rhubarb, almonds, raw peanuts, raw beans, raw squash, raw sweet potatoes, raw Brussels sprouts, unripe bananas, citrus fruits to male rats, iceberg lettuce, candy, no junk food- chocolate, fries, cake, pizza…, pet food not meant for rats, CONSIDERED BAD Kaytee and Wild Harvest!!
How Often Should I Feed My Pet Rat?
If you acquire your pet rat from a breeder, ask him or her about the feeding schedule. He or she will be in a position to give you the right meal schedule.
If you acquire your pet rat from a pet shop or you end up adopting or rescuing one you have 3 options:
- Option 1: For 4-10 weeks old pet rats. Give lab blocks or commercial food in the morning (9-10 am), fruits or vegetables at lunch time and commercial food or cooked food for dinner (9-10 pm)
- Option 2: For 10+ weeks old pet rats, only feed once at 9-10 pm. (considered healthy). You can give commercial food, cooked food or lab blocks it is up to you. In addition, give vegetables and fruits sparingly.
- Option 3: Free feed, this means that their food bowl will never stay empty (it encourages overfeeding and hoarding).