Rat Food for Thought
There is endless conversation and debate among ratters concerning diet and feeding. One of the reasons is that, currently, there is no commercial diet available for pet rats. Lab Blocks and Rat Chow are geared to keep a likely short-lived research subject in top shape but it is not formulated specifically toward the condition and longevity of a companion animal. Put a pet rat on Lab Chow and in a year you may have a fat rat.
Another reason is that we (veterinary dieticians included) don't exactly know what is the best thing for rats to eat. This isn't as dramatic as it sounds: the truth is, we don't know what the best diet for humans is, either.
Wild rats living in the NYC subway have a life span of about 6-9 months. That's partially because their diet is so poor: they're practically living on Dunkin' Donuts. And it can't be the Honey Dip because I'M living almost exclusively on those and I'm doing okay. For those of us with pet rats, greater health and longevity is always on our minds.
In college, I fed Purina Rat Chow because I got it fom the lab. When I started ratting again 4 years ago, I fed like this: a base diet of Milk Bone Dog Biscuit available to them all the time, plus fresh fruits/vegetables/grains/people food/treats/etc. A lot of ratters howled that the MB's weren't an ideal diet, but my vet -- an expert with regard to pet and lab rats -- liked their condition and approved of it. But even in my mind that diet was suspect, so when Dr. Donnelley later suggested a revised diet, I was eager to switch.
He liked Kaytee Exact for Hamsters and Gerbils PLUS a can of Lefebers Nutriberries Cockateil Food, which are sweet little whole-seed balls. Only then Katee discontinued Exact for H&G!
At one point, many Ratlisters put themselves to studying the subject and many recommended Nutro Lite Dog Food as a dry base food and that's how I feed now. But I'm open to change. Note: if you try Nutro -- has to be the LITE: it's got a nice low protein ratio. Too much protein gives them the itchies so watch those sunflower seeds! .
I believe the very best diet you can put your rats on are those you mix up yourself, like the SueBee or the Debbie Ducommon diet. Debbie D's recipe is in your copy of her Rat Health Care booklet. If you don't already have this book, order it right now while I look the other way: http://www.ratfanclub.org/books.html
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