Posted by:
WALL2WALLREPTILE
at Thu Apr 5 01:26:16 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by WALL2WALLREPTILE ]
Ahh, the old Dog food debate!
First of all, I can say without any doubt that the statements made about red food coloring in Dog Food being a cause of renal failure are entirely FALSE. These types of rumors are often started on forum boards...and who knows where else? There is NO basis of fact in these statements.
Just because you read it somewhere does NOT make it true. This is an inflated false opinion.
Perhaps Dave was just misinformed...so no offence to him.
And as for the protien content...it will vary from one brand to another and (even in the same brand) from one variety to another.
If you do not prefer to feed a high quality...and more expensive rodent feed to your rats and mice, you CAN safely feed dog food ....but use your head.
For example:
If you purchase a bag of Mazuri Rodent Feed, Harlan Sprague Dawley's - Teklad Rodent Diet...or LabDiets Rodent Chow, you can then read the guaranteed analysis on the bag.
Now, compare the percentages of the ingredients as well as the actual ingredients themselves...
(You may be surprised in the considerable variation of percentages in each Brand of similar style rodent diets.)
No compare this information to the guaranteed analysis on several different brands and types of dog food.
Then, select a Dog Food that will most closely match the percentages and ingredients of your prefered brand or variety of diet that was actually formulated to feed rodents.
You may be surprised to see that some types of dog food are very similar to rodent feed.
Of course, some is very different. Just get as close as possible.
Other things to take into consideration...
You might want to select the larger "Chunck" style dog food...as it will not fall through the feed hopper bin.
(The small stuff will fall through and simply be fouled or wasted by the rodents.)
When you compare the prices of Actual Rodent Diets to the prices of a nutritionally similar Dog Food, you will need to compare the price by weight...not by the volume of each bag.
Dog food is not compressed as tightly as that of rodent chow.
So the rodents will consume almost any dog food more quickly by volume.
But the the weight is fairly similar.
The cost difference is considerable! For the budget herper a good, nutritionally similar, dog food will certainly save you some money.
And for those who would rather use the Real Rodent Chow...
Good Dog Food will also come in hand if you keep a bag or two on hand, in case your supplier is out, or your shipment is delayed. The rats and mice still have to eat! In a pinch, the dog food will be fine.
Your rodent production will remain just as high.
The feeders will be healthy and strong.
And the food is safe...red colored or not.
In fact, in my experience, the rodents seem to prefer the red colored feed over the brown feed.
(Perhaps that would be a great science project for some kid on the psychology of rats!?!? LOL)
But seriously....think about it. The red food coloring will be metabolized by the rodents. They will be healthy...and so will the reptiles you feed these rodents to.
How many Bearded Dragon or Iguana foods are manufactured with red food coloring??? A LOT. Red Food Coloring will not harm your reptile's kidneys, brains or sex organs!
You probably even consume red food coloring at least once a week... and Unfortunately, Your Children will Not be Sterile either! < laugh, that was joke.
Hope that clears a few things up. Great topic by the way!
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
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RE: Rat food/dog food - WALL2WALLREPTILE, Thu Apr 5 01:26:16 2007