Friday: rat diet

The highest priority when keeping a rat is a healthy diet. They rely on you to keep them healthy! Every thing you need to do to be a good rat care taker is in your hands. If you don't take good care of them there is just no reason for you to get them; that is a simple fact that is true no matter what. So, what is considered heathy diet for rats?

A healthy diet includes vegetables, fruit, protein, and a variety of rat blocks or seeds. You can easily give them the protein they need by feeding the a small slice of cooked meat. Remember that protein is the most important piece of the meal for humans, rats, and most other animals too. 

Here is a nice homemade recipe for rats: (Of course you don't have to use this. You can use many other things like Rat blocks, variety food (seeds and such), etc...

Recipe for Molasses Mix:
(This will last two rats about a week depending on size--for more than two rats, you can multiply the recipe) 

*(Not needed) 1500 mg calcium from chewable tablets or *(Not needed) liquid calcium with vitamin D
*(Not needed) 2000 mcg chromium picolinate (yes, 2000 mcg is correct, the dose is based on their metabolism, not their weight)

*(Not needed) 250 mcg vitamin B12
*(Not needed) 40 mg manganese
*3/4 C Total cereal
*1 lb packaged (not bulk) soft tofu
*4 teaspoons shelled raw sunflower seeds
*1 tablespoon flax seeds
*3 tablespoons raw rolled oats
*4 teaspoons pearled barley
*4 teaspoons millet
*3 tablespoons cooked brown rice
*4 tablespoons toasted wheat germ
*2 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes (5.6 g)
*2 tablespoons blackstrap (dark or full flavor) molasses

Directions:

(Soak the tablets in a tiny bit of water and when soft, crush.) Coarsely crush the Total in a paper bag or bowl with hands. Mash the tofu in a bowl with a spoon. Add all ingredients together with warm molasses and mix thoroughly. Store covered in the refrigerator or freezer.

Rats like most of the foods that we like. But of course, though we wish, lots of food that we eat isn't good for rats. Some vegetables or fruits they don't like for more than a day and others get them sick if you give them too much of it. There always seems to be an excuse! :D 

Vegetables:
Vegetables are another very important part of their meal. I have been giving my rats vegetables every day for the past month or so. They really don't mind unless you switch from no vegetables all the way to vegetables everyday. I used to give them vegetables every other day but I recently found out that it's better for them to have them everyday. With my rats I have noticed that they seem to like lettuce more than other vegetables. So don't forget to make a slow transition with vegetables. But don't get lazy an not give them any vegetables. 

Fruits:
Fruits are just like vegetables besides on thing, rats seem to like fruits better then vegetables. At lease mine do. They love apples, coconut, grapes, strawberries (not more then two days in a row) they even like oranges! 

Protein:
Protein is just as important as fruits and vegetables are. They keep you bones and body strong and healthy. Rats can usually get all the protein they need with just rat blocks or seeds. But to stay on the safe side you want to give them more. You can give them more protein when you feed them liver and oysters. You can also give them other types of meat or steak. Just make sure that it is always 100% cooked. It can give them heart worm or different diseases by give meat and steak to them raw. Also, don't give them meat with spices on it; rats are very delicate when it comes to tastes and it can cause them to get sick or even just get uncomfortable. 

Here is a suggested menu for fruits, veggies, and other things:
One serving of fruit and vegetables: 1/2 inch cube
One serving of beans: 2 teaspoons 
Canned oysters serving size: 1 oyster
Liver serving size: 1 inch x 3/4 inch x 1/4 inch
Grape/ raisin serving size: Raisin: 3-4 raisins 
Grape: 1 grape

Monday:
*Berries
*Kale
*Sprouts
*Beans (cooked) (can be dried)

Tuesday:
*Banana 
*Broccoli
*Tomato
*Sweet potato 
*Cod liver oil soft gel (if they wont eat it plain cut it in half and pour it over molasses mix)

Wednesday:
*Grape or raisin
*Beans
*Bok choy
*Parsley

Thursday:
*Melon
*Broccoli
*Corn
*Liver or oysters

Friday:
*Apple 
*Kale 
*Squash
*Beans

Saturday:
*Banana
*Broccoli
*Peas
*Sweet potato

Sunday:
*Orange
*Bok choy
*Asparagus (cooked) 
*Liver or oysters
Also here is a more direct guide of how much to give the rats:

Daily:
About 3 T molasses mix (see recipe)
one serving of fruit (see menu)
2-3 servings of vegetables (see menu)

Twice a week:
1 serving cooked beef liver (organic is best) or canned oysters

Serving sizes:

Fruit: about half the size of their head
Veggies, beans, liver, oysters: about the size of their 

head

Of course remember that you don't have to use any of this! I don't usually. I just give them rat blocks, variety food, a yogurt treat (you really can't forget that one! :D) and fruits and vegetables. That's all you need really. Sometimes I use the molasses mix just to give the rats a bigger variety but I usually don't. 

Thanks for reading everyone,

Coco
Here is my drawing of rat food: