Rat Feed

I do not sell rat feed, but I do keep some rats as pets.

Credit where credit is due, the recipe I use is based on and almost identical to Suebee's Mix.

I believe it to provide good variety while remaining nutritious.

Prices shown are "ball park" reference only and the vendors undoubtedly will change them over time. When I notice they have changed, I'll update this page.

Whevever possible, I prefer to purchase organic ingredients. Maybe that's silly, but the additional cost isn't that much.

Purchased from Raley's (Grocery Store)

Cost	Ingredient
$1.39/lb	0.5lb Organic Rolled Oats (from Bulk Foods area)
$1.88	12oz Wacky Mac Veggie Spirals (pasta)
$2.99	5.3oz box Quaker brand Puffed Wheat Cereal
$2.99	6.4oz box Quaker brand Puffed Rice Cereal
$3.78	10.6oz Total Cereal

Purchased Online from J&D Fine Foods

Cost	Ingredient	URL
$8.99/lb	0.25lb Dried Organic Cranberries	http://www.jdfinefoods.com/organic_fruits/cranberries_-_organic.htm
$3.99/lb	0.25lb Dried Organic Apricots	http://www.jdfinefoods.com/organic_fruits/dried_apricots_-_organic.htm
$2.49/lb	0.25lb Roasted Unsalted Soy Nuts	http://www.jdfinefoods.com/nuts/soy_nuts-beans.htm
$1.49/lb	0.25lb Large Raw Unsalted Sunflower Seed	http://www.jdfinefoods.com/seeds/sunflower_seeds.htm
$2.75/lb	0.25lb Raw Unsalted Pumkin Seed	http://www.jdfinefoods.com/seeds/pumpkin_seeds.htm

When ordering, make sure to properly select the options. The Soy Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, and Pumkin seeds default to salted. For rats, you want them unsalted.

The soy nuts should be roasted, but it is probably better for the Sunflower and Pumkin seeds to be raw (though perhaps roasted isn't so bad).

Purchased Online from Kim's Ark Rat Rescue

Cost	Ingredient	URL
$1.00/lb	Harlan Teklad Lab Blocks #2018	http://www.kimsarkrescue.org/content/view/35

They also sell it in 33 pound bags for a little less per pound, but don't buy it that way unless you have a lot of rats. Buy too much and the nutritional value will break down over time. I order 3 pounds per rat at a time, and like to add a box of Apple Sticks to the order.

If you choose to use #8604 instead of #2018 then you probably should not use the soy nuts in the mix. #8604 already contains plenty of soy. Many keepers feel that #8604 has too high of a protein content, which is why I prefer #2018.

If your rats are overweight, you may want to use Teklad Lab #2014 instead and make sure your rats get exercise. You also may want to reduce the Rolled Oats and reduce or eliminate the Sunflow Seeds in the mix. If your rats are severely overweight, contact your vet for the best way (including diet) to get them lean and healthy again.

Putting it all together

For the ingrediens sold by the pound, I buy enough for four batches and store the excess (via vacuum seal) for future use. That means I buy 2 lbs of Rolled Oats and 1 lb of the ingredients from J&D Fine Foods.

The other ingredients (Pasta and Dry Cereal) I buy enough for one batch and buy more when it is time to make another batch.

You will need a very large container to mix everything. My large mixing bowl was not large enough, I ended up mixing the ingredients in a plastic tub.

Cut the dried Apricots into quarters. Mix everything except the lab blocks together well, and store it in an air tight container. For feeding, put the mix in the food bowl first and cover it with the lab blocks. If you find your rats ignoring the lab blocks and eating only the mix, do not give them more mix until they consume the lab blocks. The lab blocks are the most nutritionally complete part of the diet.

Treats

Twice or Thrice a week I like to give mine some fresh fruit or vegetables. They particularly like Blackberries, Blueberries, Peas, and Bananas (but not green). I also like to throw raw organic carrots in from time to time. Too much carrot and their poo may turn orange.

Mealworms and Gerber Baby Food Meat also make excellent treats, but go easy on the meat - they get plenty of protein from this diet already, you do not want your rats to become obese.