Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 1.5 in a cement tub together doing very well. I noticed one of the females looks pregnant and probably has another week till she's due. I am very new to breeding rats. Just wanted to know if I should feed the mom something other than rodent blocks? Maybe something higher in protein? Any suggestions or is just feeding rat food fine. thanks

Kyle

>>I have 1.5 in a cement tub together doing very well. I noticed one of the females looks pregnant and probably has another week till she's due. I am very new to breeding rats. Just wanted to know if I should feed the mom something other than rodent blocks? Maybe something higher in protein? Any suggestions or is just feeding rat food fine. thanks
>>
>>Kyle

You can. Don't know that you must. I can't get good blocks here and don't bother paying for cheap blocks. That said, I get better production out of mixed diet. If your doe has tons of pups(over 8) and you want her to raise them all then I would supplement. Generally I throw stale breakfast cereals (esp. cheerios) oatmeal, cooked rice, raw or cooked pasta, yogurt and veges and this helps with milk production and are good foods to wean babies to starting at two weeks.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

As far as I can remember, this is the only thing Sonya and I disagree on. Good lab blocks are a complete balanced diet. I think the addition of supplimental food unbalances the diet. There are lab blocks especially designed for breeding colonies. They are higher in fat. For instance, Mazuri (www.Mazuri.com) Rodent Breeder 6F, 9F, and 11F are all 16% protien feeds. They differ in the fat content (6%, 9%, 11%). Strains that are able to produce very large litters, are able to utilize the extra calories. Otherwise it is not nessecary. To much protien can cause skin rashes in rats. Lab Diet (www.labdiet.com) produces two feeds that are 23% protien, 5001 with 4.5% fat and 5008 with 6.5% fat, so I assume 23% is still OK. BTW, I think Mazuri and Lab Diet are both owned by Purina.

That said, we both get great results. Which proves rats are very addaptable.

DeMak

I use a mixture of Lab Block (yes DeMak your right Purina owns it) and dog food. The lab block I put in a mixture of 1:2 ratio (in other words, I use 50#'s of lab block to 80 lbs. of dog food). I have very large robust litters. The lab block is complete in and of itself however, can be a little on the costly side if you have to feed many Rats. Hence why I use the dog food as a "filler" so to speak. Method of dispensement is of great importance also so as to not "waste" any food by the little guys soiling it. Look some pictures (DeMak's I believe) of the "drop in" feeder trough/bin. This method saves me "tons" of wasted food every year (no kidding).
-----
"New strategy R-2, Let the Wookie Win!!!"

thank you for all the info

Kyle