Has anyone noticed a difference in smell when you feed your rats dog food vs Harlan Teklad, Mazuri or any other commercially prepared block food? I was talking to a pet store owner and he said there would be a big difference in smell, the same guy I will be selling my surplus to. He didn't seem to happy that I was going to feed my rats dog food. If there is a difference I would rather pay a little more and feed some sort of rat block.
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Is it wrong to pull on the food chain a little?
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Rats stink????
igottabigboid
Mar 05, 2008 06:12 PM
Replies (4)
FreedomDove
Mar 06, 2008 08:51 AM
If you are going with the cheap dog food then yes it will make a difference. And the dog food will make their fur greasy. I feed Mazuri and have always fed Purina products. Some people feed high quility dog food.
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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
0.1 Black rat snake
0.2 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend
diggy415
Mar 06, 2008 02:47 PM
i feed mine oats, with or without molasses, and no stink here. Very little dog/cat food and then alot of fruits/veges.
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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
petpoor
Mar 06, 2008 09:41 PM
I used to feed a "cheap" store brand dogfood then switched to purina dog chow and noticed a big difference in the rodents, they did not have that greasy fur look and they smelled less. So then I got talked into switching to the mazuri feed under the theory that they will stink less and produce more. Well according to the wife they stink more to her on the mazuri feed and honestly I cannot tell I am getting more per litter or that they are any healthier. As soon as I use up the last of the mazuri I am going back to the purina dog chow [much cheaper and easier to get],I also give my rodents sunflower seeds,milo,and sweet feed as treats. One thing I have found to help tremendously with the ammonia smell is using Sweet PDZ which is a horse stall product that I buy at the farmers co-op.
Sonya
Mar 09, 2008 04:50 PM
You may notice a smell difference from dog food to dog food too. I personally feed Dads most of the time but go to Blue Seal now and then for variety. Sometimes it seems to shift the smell and sometimes not. Humidity in the living area and air flow make much more difference IMHO.
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Sonya
I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny
