Just curious to know what everyone feeds their feeders. I am new to the breeding world and have 2 female rats and 1 very happy male. I began breeding my own because I became frustrated with the quality of food I was getting for my snakes. The feeders I was getting came ridden with mites and all my snakes continued to get pinworms year after year. Sometimes my snakes flat out refused to eat the prey. Since I began breeding my own food my snakes are parasite free and the food they are getting is better. My rats are fatter, their coats are softer and cleaner. I know most pet stores feed dog food because of cost. I feed a mixture of Harrison's Bird Diet coarse grind and Pretty Bird Parrot kibble. It is a bit more expensive but well worth the nutrition it provides for my snakes.
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Miami Hurricanes #1
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What do you feed your rats?
Replies (6)
Ol' Roy dog food, in the bag.
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www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net
40# bags.. $6.00
i sometimes mix in whole corn, peanuts and even black oil sunflower seeds.. they seem to produce pretty good (12-15 pups per litter for rats, and 17-22 per litter for mice).. 
if i could find rodent chow cheaper in the seattle area i'd mix some of that into the mix also, but its pushin $25-30 for a 25# bag.. and thats just insane 
This stuff may be a little bit more expensive than other feeds but I love it. And my rats love it more and stay healthy and seem to constantly produce big litters for me! I have also used Lab Diet 5001 or 5002. But Mazuri is the brand I prefer.
As long as they have a high amount of protein and essential other nutrients that are varied you should be okay!
Hope that helps!!
Go Gators!!
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Michael
I feed mine a mix of Diamond lamb and rice dog food and a five grain mix as well as fresh fruits a veges, mostly mini carrot stix and leaf spinach with the occasional leftovers from the table..This may sound extreme but I once had the most unhealthy male I bought at a pet store. He had diarria and big scabs with missing hair and was just a mess I only bought him cause I felt sorry for him and he is my absolute best breeder now I can always count on him to do the job..My rats are all very healthy.I never thought about using bird food for the grain mix though it might be cheaper.
At the time I am feeding them Ol'Roy dog food and twice a week the following mixture.
oil: 1 part sunflower seed
carbs: 1-2 parts corn (cracked or whole doesn't matter)
protien: 1 part cat food (I don't remember what brand but its at least 20% protien)
fiber & minerals: 2-3 parts rabbit food (16% protien)
I plan to go to block food soon because it is larger and is formulated rodents, but I still plan to feed the above mixture at least once a week.
Josh
0.1 het albino
0.3 25% het caramel glow (50% het caramel & 50% het orange goast)
3.0 WC Normal
0.5 CB Normal
np
