Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need to come up with a cheaper rat food.These guys are eating too much.I cant get labblock here unless I order and dont like those shipping prices.
I make my own food because the males cant eat high protien without getting itchy skin.I use my dogs dry food mixed with puffed wheat, oats, pasta, soynuts and sunseeds.I also add in the odd leftover cheerios or shredded wheat.And they get leftover people food like salad,applecores, greenbeans, etc...
BUT I need to trim my budget.
What can I feed them thats mostly readymade that wont compromise their health..
any suggestions?
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my feeders get those large bags of OATS with and without molasses, mixed with cat/dog food and then i buy those bags of mixed frozen vege's at a outlet store or a cheap place and feed that and other human food 2-3 times a month and it works wonders, large litters, no sores, and faster weaning time for me anyways. Rice is good for weaning.
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1.4 various boas(Flicka,Felony,Nova,Alias,Alibi,confessa,custody,Ms.Demeanor)
0.1 BRB Abalone; ABBI
1.0 Rott X (OSO)
2.0 cats (Simba, Morris)
fish & feeders

Im sure someone will think Im off base but I have raised rodents for 30 years feeding them about 95% on the cheapest bags of dog food I can buy and they are still doing fine. I may miss out on a couple babies a litter sometimes but I havnt noticed it.

I currently get 50 lbs of 'pardner" brand dog food for 11.00. Im buying it mainly cause the kibble size is big enough not to fall through the cage tops. If my wire were smaller I could get 50 lbs at kroger for 9.98..

I do try to avoid the "ole Roy" brand from Walmart since it is such a malignant shade of red/orange. It looks like it might be colored with Chinese industrial sludge scraped off a lagoon somewhere.

The only supplementing I do is with some dry bread now and again. I did try a couple years ago feeding one mouse rack on Purina lab chow to see if it made any difference but the only one I could observe was that my feed bill went up. So, it was back to the doggy chow.

Peter
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Peter and Sara
Beouf River Reptiles

That's true, ol' roy is crap.
I know of a couple people that make their own mix for rats. A HIGH quality dog food, like senior's choice that is low in calcium is a great base for rats. Add some oats, peas, lentils, pasta, and table scraps now and then, and you will have some fat an happy rats!

Ol' roy was a good horse......But malignant is a very good word to describe the crap that passes for dog food.
I use purina dog chow, $15 for 55 lbs, and they all seem quite healthy. They get a little human food leftovers and whatever's laying around every now and then..........
I tried a few different kinds of lab block, and they may have had an extra litter during their lifetime or maybe not, they ate more pricey food and didn't seem any happier. I cycle breed them now so they get enough rest where they don't pop out a litter every 21-24 days, it's better for them. Rest is what they need, not more expensive food.

I never knew Ol' roy, but he musta been a fugly horse.
I would use a dog food mix for my animals, I just find that mazuri and the table scraps is easiest and convienant. I'm thinkin about trying some Harlan in the future, but as it is, it's just way easier for me to get mazuri right now. Everyone is on a long schedule now too, 3 weeks mating, 4 weeks birthing, and 4 weeks of R&R. Can't beat that!

Any feed or farm stores in the area that could order from Purina? Any feeder breeders or reptile shows?

>>Any feed or farm stores in the area that could order from Purina? Any feeder breeders or reptile shows?

I feed SOuthern states Hog Cube. In Fl it is 10 dollars a bag. I have not noticed any difference. I supplement with leftyovers. What ever my wife or mom would have thrown out. The only supplement I put in once or twice a week. Is a sunflower cracked corn mix. That I make from supplies at the feed store. I switched part of a rack over and never had any problems. Of course the guy the told me about the food has used it for years. ANd produces tons of rats each week.

Thanks for all the suggestions.I will check out the hog cube and look at the ingredients.I might also go with the big bags of frozen mixed vegies, thats a really good idea too.
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i use KENT feed rodent lab block,comes in 19 or 23% protein and cost about $10 per 50# bag.

all tractor supply stores are KENT dealers and can order it.have fun!

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Hi, would you be able to post the manufaturer's name and address or your dealer's phone number? I didn't see anything online about Kent feeds. Thanks!

kentfeeds.com is the web site,for some reason the rodent food is not on the site,it's considered a special order.any kent dealer or tractor supply store can order it for you.have fun !