Getting grow outs to grow?

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

So my first litter born on Oct 7th that's being grown out is still awfully small. With the same mother having a second litter already, I've noticed that it seems that as soon as they stop getting their food from nursing, they stop growing so fast.

My two female keepers from Oct 7th are only about a RodentPro small size, even though they're 56 or 57 days old (something like that, mind is screwy right now). The boys from the same litter that are full siblings to each other and the girls are even smaller! Only weaned size, though they do have little guts that make them look pregnant, even though they're male and not fat.

It feels like it's taking forever to grow once they get passed about 4 wks of age... any ideas? Instead of giving the HIGH energy food to them that I give my breeding girls, I was giving them a low protein and low fat food, which rats, I thought, were supposed to have if they weren't breeding.

Also, unless you direct me to a place where I can directly order lab blocks online without having to special order via email or pay outrageous shipping, don't even mention it. "Go to the local feed store" doesn't work for everyone.

[RichsBallPythons]

So my first litter born on Oct 7th that's being grown out is still awfully small. With the same mother having a second litter already, I've noticed that it seems that as soon as they stop getting their food from nursing, they stop growing so fast.

My two female keepers from Oct 7th are only about a RodentPro small size, even though they're 56 or 57 days old (something like that, mind is screwy right now). The boys from the same litter that are full siblings to each other and the girls are even smaller! Only weaned size, though they do have little guts that make them look pregnant, even though they're male and not fat.

It feels like it's taking forever to grow once they get passed about 4 wks of age... any ideas? Instead of giving the HIGH energy food to them that I give my breeding girls, I was giving them a low protein and low fat food, which rats, I thought, were supposed to have if they weren't breeding.

Also, unless you direct me to a place where I can directly order lab blocks online without having to special order via email or pay outrageous shipping, don't even mention it. "Go to the local feed store" doesn't work for everyone.

THen your SOL. Shipping a 50lbs bag will NEVER be cheap and most time will not ship unless you order more than one bag.

When not feeding proper foods they will grow slow and or stunt their growth.

I feed Kent 23% rodent diet. 12.99 per bag

[jarradw]

I dont know where you are but the Southern States store here sells Mazuri for a good price. Not sure if you have any farm supply shops near you but it may be worth a shot.

[SquamishSerpents]

i have the same problem with just "going to my local feed store" lol. it's a 4hr round trip! but it's worth it, I get a 50-ish pound bag for around $20 bucks, and the last one lasted 7 months! We kept it in the deep freeze to ensure freshness.

mind you, we only have 2 colonies of 1.3 ASF's right now.

[Powerspythons]

If you're having trouble finding a store that carries good lab block, you can go to the mazuri homepage click on dealer locator(upper right hand corner) and then enter your location and see if anyone near you has mazuri products, then if you go to that store, more than likely if they dont already have it, they will accommodate your needs, aka good rat breeding food usually at no extra cost...at least thats how it worked out for me...

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

There are NO feed stores around here.

[SquamishSerpents]

that really sucks. what about pet stores? sometimes they order from suppliers that carry feed, perhaps you could ask to special order. but yeah, unless you can get your hands on some, shipping is ASTRONOMICALLY expensive. if you can't, in that case i would just buy frozen rats. (providing that's what you feed) it won't be worth the time or money to breed your own if you're having to pay shipping.

[snakesRkewl]

It feels like it's taking forever to grow once they get passed about 4 wks of age... any ideas? Instead of giving the HIGH energy food to them that I give my breeding girls, I was giving them a low protein and low fat food, which rats, I thought, were supposed to have if they weren't breeding.

I feed all rats equally, lowering the content of fat to a growing baby is the opposite of what you should have done, hence the small babies.
My 4 week old rats average 40-45 grams and at 10 weeks old are around 175 grams for males and 150 grams for females, eating Mazuri 6f and getting regular treats of meats and veggies.

[tomfromtheshade]

I feed all of my rats the same stuff. Maybe you're not feeding them enough?

[JLC]

There are NO feed stores around here.

Where is "here"?