Reptile & Amphibian Forums

thanks for all your respones

Anthony

I think a lot of folks here don't just use one source. Some tend to vary it up like myself. I just buy a chipmunk feed that has sunflower seeds and corn kernels that weighs totally about 15lbs. Then I buy 10lbs of peanuts, and a 20lb bag of high endurance/active breed formula for the higher protien. The peanuts and sunflower seeds also have a considerable amount of protein as well. Then to add fresh veggies, fruits, lunch meats like turkey or chicken (rarely, usually to moms who are working overtime), and egg shells for extra calcium to lactating moms and the other ones who just want to crunch on them..... .
For me that's about it.....Nothing special.....I have heard of so many different variations of feed and so many successful litters that I think there is no 100% perfect food to feed to them. I have been really busy but I was going to try feeding some cattle feed for lactating cows. I want to get this group going and then I will go and get a bag. It is 5.75 fo a 60lb bag. So if it works I'll let the room know....But until then I stick to my ol' mix.......

My rats and my gerbils get the same mix of food.. I vary stuff by whats available usually.

My bases are a Wild Birdseed mix (mostly the smaller seed stuff is eaten by ther gerbils..only some by the rats) which contains, corn and sunflower seeds basically. 20 lbs of cheap, grain based dog food.. 1 extra 8 lb bag of black oil sunflower seeds, about 10 lbs of Rabbit pellets and 2-4 bags of puffed rice or wheat cereal or bran flakes from the grocery store. Sometimes I mix in uncooked rice...raisins, peanuts or walnuts. They get left over food too.. chicken bones, vegetables.. breads..cheese.. Whatever we have around the house.

There really is no correct mix.. since their dietary requirements can be met so many different ways with so many combinations of food.

Anthony

I feed rodent chow from a local breeder in Los Angeles or the cheapest grain based dog chow without red dye. To this I add a cube of cabbage once a week. Don't feed to much cabbage or their poops will be deal soft and sticky and ALL over the place. I make sure that the dog chow has at least 16% protien and 6% to 10% fat.

Match the feed to your feeding system for the most efficiency. I don't feed grains because I don't like using bowls that get pooped in. I made hoppers that fit down through the tops of the tubs out of 1" X 1/2" non galvinized wire. This size hole works perfectly with the rodent chow. There is almost no waste when I clean tubs. When I first put the hoppers in my feed lasted almost twice as long. Now I hardly ever throw out feed when I clean. The dog chow works almost as well as long as I remember to put a piece of cardboard in the bottom of the hopper (except with one tub of pups, they think emptying the hopper is a game and the dog chow will fit through the holes when they play with it a little).

DeMak

I dont know where you are at but when I lived out east (PA,NJ area)I used to get lab diet from Agway, i use the 2018 harlan diet now, I have always had the best luck with the lab diets as compared to anything else, if you only have a few rats mixing veggys and bird diets works well but I have to many, hope this helps Jason
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SMILE SMILE

I use micedirect.com, good prices the mice are very clean and healthy looking, the best thing is the shipping cost, you can use UPS ground my mice take 4 days to get to me sometimes in very hot weather, they package them so well that the dryice is still there and the mice are always rock solid i think it is one of the best deals i have found

Tim

I give mine dog food and hamster diet as a staple, and I try to give a fresh fruit and vegetable at least every other day. I also give them the heals of our bread as we have them.

I never give them meat, bones or dairy.