What do rats eat?
Rats in the wild are scavengers and will eat a wide range of foods. In captivity you should provide your rat with a varied diet. The basis of a good diet should consist of a dry rat mix containing a mixture of seeds, peanuts and biscuits. This should be supplemented with cooked egg and washed and dried vegetables such as sprouts, carrots, cress, tomatoes and apples. and once a week your rat should have a small peice of dark choclate like the size of ur nail
Feed bowls should be sturdy earthenware bowls as they are heavy, gnaw proof and easily cleaned and disinfected. Uneaten food should be removed daily, and the food bowl thoroughly washed. Remember your rat will drink a lot compared to other rodents so make sure clean, fresh water is available at all times.
Is a rat right for you?
Rats make extremely good family pets; they are very intelligent and become quite tame with regular handling. There are many different colour variations available such as white, black, agouti and chocolate. Rats are not very expensive to keep, but you should buy the largest and most interesting cage you can afford. Rats live, on average, between two and two and a half years.
Where are rats from?
Fancy rats are descendants of the brown rat, which are thought to have originated from Asia. The keeping and breeding of fancy rats became popular in the early 1900s. As a result of captive breeding there are now many different colours and coat types, such as the Rex and even Hairless!
Where should you keep a rat?
Rats need lots of exercise and stimulation, so buy the largest cage you can afford. There are many different types of rodent cages available, however it is essential that the cage you buy is designed for rats and not for smaller rodents such as hamsters. Perhaps the most suitable type of enclosure is either a large wire multi-level cage or an aquarium with a well ventilated, secure lid as rats are extremely agile and can jump up to two feet or more! The minimum size cage for one rat is 60cm x 37cm x 22cm.
You should provide your rate with an entertaining environment. Suitable items include apple tree branches, rocks, tunnels and pieces of rope. Nesting boxes suitable for birds can also be provided. The base of the cage should be covered with a layer of wood-shavings. Sawdust should not be used as it is too fine and can irritate eyes and noses, and cedar wood-shavings can cause an allergic reaction.
You can also provide your rat with paper nesting material for him to nest with. Straw is not suitable as bedding as it is too sharp and may injure your pet鈥檚 eyes and mouth.
The cage should be cleaned at least once a week with hot water and a disinfectant suitable for pets. Rats are very clean and normally do not smell. Your rat will normally use one area of his cage as a toilet; this may need cleaning daily to reduce any smell.
Breeding
Female rats are capable of breeding at an early age. She can breed from as young as 6 weeks, but should be at least 12 weeks;
Pregnancy lasts between 21-23 days;
Average litter size is 8, but can vary up to 18;
The young rats鈥?eyes will open between 12-15 days;
The young can be removed from their mother at 4 weeks of age.
How to handle your rat
When you first get your rat home it is best to leave him alone for the first day or two, to allow him to get used to his new home. Allow your rat to sniff your hand before you handle him, this will help him get used to your smell. Gently stroke your rat in his cage to reassure him, once the rat allows you to do this he will normally allow you to pick him up. The rat should be gently scooped up with two hands, never pick him up by his tail. Once your rat becomes tame he will enjoy coming out to play at regular intervals.
Remember your rat likes to chew, so whenever you let him out of his cage he must be supervised at all times.
Keeping your rat fit and healthy
Rats normally stay healthy throughout their lives. However, they can be prone to a number of common complaints, most of which can be avoided with correct care and attention.
Rats can be prone to breathing problems; if your rat starts sneezing and is scratching excessively and there are no signs of mites this may mean your rat is allergic to something. Cedar wood-shavings can sometimes cause allergic reactions in rats.
Your rat鈥檚 teeth are constantly growing, and if they become too long he may be unable to ear properly. Signs that your rat鈥檚 teeth may not be growing properly are weight loss and a reluctance to eat and chew. Providing your rat with treats and a mineral block will help him to keep his teeth in trim. If your pet鈥檚 teeth do become overgrown you must take him to your vet.
Do rats like company?
Rats can be kept singly providing that you give them lots of human contact, care and attention. However, they are probably happiest kept in pairs from a young age 鈥?but remember, mixed sexes will breed very quickly, if not neutered.What do rats eat?
fruit and most of the time the animal shops sell rat food
Rats are not picky, but you can buy rat food and pellets, some bird foods and even puppy food. What my ratties eat is all of the above.....I mix it all together and add peanuts, walnuts, pistacios, pecans, and cheerios, life, fruity pebbles, and more of the good cereals then blend the cereals and the other mixes together (and that can be out 24 hours) Then what ever the meal in my house has all my ratties each get a plate full of what my family and I ate. Rats can eat just about anything except not alot of gassy vegies, or carbinated soda, because rats can ';pass gas'; and that will bloat their stomach and could kill them. and yes rats can have chocolate, my ratties favorite is m%26amp;ms . If you have any other questions please dont hesitate to email me at: lil_emt_1@yahoo.com
fruit, veggies, seeds, oats, crackers... they'll eat anything u give them lol but those r the best 4 them
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071104225130AATYsgq%26amp;r=w%26amp;pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiDBXVVp4ZiNKSL0TM9ofWUR4_sZkphSXUQ--%26amp;paid=answered#Oa1tHmbFLGJQ7c77ruya
i just posted another similar response to a similar question... there are several things you should NEVER feed your rats, like the seeds from fruit. Their main diet should be rat specific blocks, not hamster/mouse/rat blocks. Choose a rat block with soy as the main ingredient instead of corn, it is much more healthy.
I hate to contridict people, but they dont need salt. Strict herbivores need salt, rats are omnivorous. 80% of their diet should be rat blocks, with the remaining 20% being vegetables, and occasionally fruits. Too much veggies or fruits can upset your rats stomach and cause loose stools. You can feed them raw nuts as TREATS only. They love raw sunflower seeds. Rats do not need cheese, or any extra calcium that is not provided in their blocks. Too much calcium can cause health issues. Rats cannot vomit, or burp, so never give them carbonated beverages. Sugar is not needed and will make your rats obese if fed too often. Dont feed them chocolate or other junk food. Use common sense. Go to Rattyrat.com and look in the ';guidebook'; for more detail. There are several things you should never your rats, like the green parts from potatoes, cabbage, pits or seeds from fruits, and more that I cant think of off the top of my head. The mentioned website will give you a complete list of things to avoid. Just another peice of advice, rats need a companion(another rat) to keep them company, groom each other, provide a sense of security and saftey, and it makes the bonding process with you alot easier. A single rat will often become neurotic, and develop health issues, and live a shorter life span. If you decide to go with one rat, you MUST spend at least three hours a day with it. A single rat in a cage is similar to solitary confinement. Hamsters can live alone, but not rats. Hope this helps.
Also check out http://ratfanclub.org/diet.html for lots more healthy diet info.
edit: Just becaue rats CAN eat chocolate doesn't mean they should.... An m%26amp;m is huge to them, two of them is like eating a small pie to us humans, and contains mostly sugar, which is not beneficial to them in any way.
you should pick up some pet rat food at the pet store. and you can leave the food out 24/7. they will eat when hungry. they also like little bits of apples and such, but not too much. good luck!
did you just say rats cant eat cheese????!!!really, my rat LOVES cheese! ive never read that you cant give it to them, in fact, its a great treat. you can also give them carrots, broccoli, apples, applesauce, yogurt, cucumbers, a little bit of chocolate(not to much, and not to often) corn, peas, yogurt drops that you find in the food section at your pet store, lots of things. Just make sure no oranges. Oranges are bad for them. O and banannas are great to
fruits and vegetables like the apple and cabbages are good for rats.u can go to a petshop and ask what do rats eat.
70% rat block like - Kaytee Forti-Diet for Mouse, Rat, and Hamster
20% supplement food like - Kaytee Rat %26amp; Mouse Diet with Dental Bites
10% treat food like - Apples or Vitakraft Mini Corn Pop
Ask the pet store what they are currently feeding the rat - that would be your best bet. Also, people food is typically not good for rats. They can have some things, like apples and oranges but stick with specially formulated rat foods. Also, buy a chew toy, made of wood. Your rat will need to keep his teeth in shape in order to have a healthy life. Rats tend to smell - try aspen bedding (It smells great!)
Keep the food in his bowl until he eats. Give him a little fresh fruit or supplement food in the morning ( a few times a week) and give him a treat about once a week. Replace water daily. Check for droppings daily - clean out the corners where they poop most often. Change the bedding weekly. Good luck with your new pet.
For more information,
lizglowark@yahoo.com
I have a rat of my own. Usually you should feed them what they have been eating but if u don't know here is a brand that mine loves
Sun Seed: Sunscription Vita Rat and Mouse Formula
And here is a treat that my rat hangs on her cage for!!!
Yogies: Hamster, Gerbil, and Rat Cheese Flavor
Hope everything works out!
A pet rat eats :(1.) unartificial food like corn,seeds from all kinds of fruits,.fresh wet flour.(2.) cooked food will be nice too. Like bread,but not with too much fat.(3.)vegetables are necessary.U can feed them some greengrocery.(4)sugar .
Feed them a little cheese every week.Remember that corn bread,saccharide ,water and vegetables are important.
JUST A LITTLE salt every day in their food. morning feeding or night feeding will
be nice.
Good days with them!
You can get a balanced dry food which you will need to give him on a daily basis, plus they will eat virtually anything else too! Obviously nothing in excess and make sure your not feeding many fatty foods, you'll soon find out what they like and dont like .... I used to give mine a picnic every couple of days, where they would have a big selection of foods .... Make sure you don't leave the un-eaten food in the cage as it will rot.
Rats are amazing pets and soo intelligent, your will make an excellent companion! x
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