Anything but Mazuri

[4theSNAKElady]

Mazuri is a good food, just difficult to find around here. I feed a good quality dog kibble, IAMS sensitive naturals. Who else out there feeds other feeds like dog, cat, bird, hamster, other rats feeds, etc.,? And why?

sent from my incubator

[Mephibosheth1]

How big of a colony do you have??

Mazuri had really good shipping deals earlier in the year...but I dont know if their still going on now. We ordered directly from them and got a real good deal.

[Aes_Sidhe]

http://www.reptilebasics.com/diet

???

[D&G]

I feed out 40lbs of dog food a day.

[4theSNAKElady]

What kind?

sent from my incubator

[4theSNAKElady]

I only have three colonies of about 1.4, plus some just weaned babies.

sent from my incubator

[satomi325]

Just putting it out there, but anything IAMS isn't quality.
:what:

Harlan Teklad is a quality rodent diet if you can't get Mazuri.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[John1982]

I fed hog feed when I started and my rodents thrived. Only reason I switched to 6f is I found a supplier closer to me that carried the stuff. My rodents continue to thrive on 6f, I wouldn't say they do any better than when they were on swine feed though.

[I-KandyReptiles]

I feed 16% hog feed mixed with a bird seed that has peanuts, corn and sunflower seeds.

And x2 on IAMs.

I wouldnt feed that to anything

[Konotashi]

Honestly, it seems like a low quality dog food would be better than a high quality one when it comes to rats, if you decide to go with a dog food.

Mazuri (6F)
First five Ingredients:
Ground Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Porcine Animal Fat Preserved with BHA,
Cane Molasses, Wheat Middlings

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein not less than..........................16%
Crude fat not less than................................6.0%
Crude fiber not more than ...........................6.0%


General conclusion: High in grain, little to no meat content. Low protein, very low in fat, fairly high in fiber.

Next up - low quality dog kibble.

Purina Dog Chow
First five ingredients:
Whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn gluten meal, meat and bone meal

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (Min) 21.0%
Crude Fat (Min) 10.0%
Crude Fiber (Max) 4.5%

General conclusion: High in grain, mid-meat content (from vague/questionable animal sources). Mid protein content, slightly higher in fat, low in fiber.

Next up - high quality kibble (with grains).

Nature's Variety Prairie (Chicken Formula)
First five ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Barley

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min): 22.5%
Crude Fat (min): 13.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 6.0%

General conclusion: High in meat content, mid grain content. Mid protein content, high in fat, mid fiber content.

Just looking at the first food, it would seem rats do best on a diet with no meat (fat is not considered a meat product), high in grain, low in fat, and low in protein. A high quality dog kibble is the exact opposite of that. It seems that if anything, if you're going to choose a dog kibble, it'd be best to go with a LOW quality kibble. They're full of grains as cheap fillers, they're low in meat content, and lower in fat. Seems to be closer to a rat's diet than a good quality dog food. Not to mention cheaper.