What Do Pet Rats Eat?
5 Constituents Of Your Pet Rat Diet
This caters to how you should feed a dumbo rat or a fancy rat and answers the question “What Do Pet Rats Eat?”
1.Best pet rat food | Cooked food for fancy rat |Cooked food for dumbo rat
Mixed vegetable-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, fancy rat or dumbo rat has hoarded any of this as it can go bad. You can also give sparingly to avoid hoarding.
2. Fruits
You can give your pet rat, fancy rat or dumbo rat apples, completely ripe bananas, grapes and moderated citrus fruits to ONLY female rats. Give sparingly to avoid hoarding.
3. Treats
(Do Not feed your fancy rat or dumbo rat treats Daily)-sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, yoghurt drops, popcorn, cheese, chicken bones and cheerios.
You can feed your fancy rat or dumbo rat treats during training and maybe twice or thrice a week.
4. Commercial Food or Lab Blocks for your dumbo rat, fancy rat or pet rat
The age of your pet rat matters when considering commercial food. We will provide the best rat food options derived from pet rat, dumbo rat and fancy rat experts and owners’ opinions:
Before mentioning the commercial food, it is important to know rat ages. We have:
- Young pet rats– 2 months and below
- Young adult pet rats– 2-6 months old
- Adult pet 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 Pet Rats/ Young adult pet rats (<6 months old)
Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food
Where Do You Get This?
US: Oxbow Essentials Mouse and Young Rat Natural Pet Food Pellets 2.5 Pounds Bag
US: Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food
US: Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food, 25 lbs.
US: Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food
UK: Oxbow Essentials – Mouse & Young Rat 2.4 Pounds by OXBOW PET PRODUCTS
Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food (Ideal for female rats)
It has high protein, therefore, don’t give it to adult rats.
- Crude Protein (min) 23.0%
- Crude Fat (min) 6.0%
- Crude Fiber (max) 4.5%
Where Do I Get This?
US #1. Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food, 2 lbs.
UK #2. Mazuri Rat and Mouse Nutrional Complete Vegetarian Formulation Pet Food 2lbs
US: Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food, 2 lbs.
US: Mazuri Rat & Mouse Diet 2 lbs | For All Life Stages | Nutrional Pet Rodent Food
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)
If you can’t seem to find this rat food from the links above, try the ENVIGO official website.
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)
If you can’t seem to find this rat food from the links above, try the ENVIGO official website.
Adult pet rats (6+ months old)
Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food
Where Do You Get This?
1. US: Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food, 3-Pound Bag
2. US: Oxbow’s Essentials – Adult Rat Food, 3 lb
3. UK: Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food – 3 lb.
4. U.S.: Oxbow Essentials Regal Rat Adult Rat Food
5. U.S.: Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food
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)
If you can’t seem to find this rat food from the links above, try the ENVIGO official website.
5. Fresh Clean Drinking water
You always need to make sure your fancy rats, dumbo rats or pet rats have access to clean fresh drinking water 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: Living World Eco Plus Water Bottle, 177 ml
CANADA Living World Eco Plus Water Bottle, 12-Ounce
There is an important read about pet water bottles here that can be very beneficial, especially if you are encountering some problems.
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 fancy rat, dumbo rat or 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 fancy rat, dumbo rat or 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).
Examples of Good fancy rat or dumbo rat Food Bowls
1. Marshall Snap ‘N Fit Small Animal Food Bowl 2 cups
2. Living World Ergonomic Dish
Where Do You Get This?
US #1. Living World Ergonomic Dish, Terracotta, Small
UK #3. RC Hagen 61685 Living World Ergonomic Dish, Pink Large
UK #4. Living World Ergonomic Dish, Blue, Small
UK #5. Living World Ergonomic Dish, Pink, Small by Living World
UK #6. RC Hagen 61685 Living World Ergonomic Dish, Pink Large
3. Petzilla Cat Ceramic Bowl for Food, Heavy Base Feeding Dish, Prevent Tipping or Spill Over
4. Kaytee Paw-Print PetWare Bowl, Colors Vary
