Nutrition for rats?

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Whats the recomended break down for feeder/breeder rat's diet? I need to know what too look for as a good diet nutrition wise. I was thinking a good chunck of calcium and protein like 30% of each. Please let me know

[xdeus]

Here you go:

LabDiet Nutrition

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Here you go:

LabDiet Nutrition

Thanks a bunch! Thats basically what I was looking for.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Also, would a 20 long be enough room for a 1.3 group of rats or would my empty 40 breeder be better?

[xdeus]

The 20 long should be enough, although it might be pretty cramped once they start having litters. Also, you might have to clean it more often than if they were in the 40 breeder.

[Bdadawg]

While the link posted is a good general link it is suggested not to get the protein above 24%. The one posted has a minimum of 23%, which means it could be even higher.

The reason for not going above 24% protein is scabbies. Scabbies are a skin condition that causes the skin to constantly itch. The rats will scratch until they have removed all fur and cut their skin ... causing scabs.

It is generally accepted to have protein at 16% for non-nursing and maintenance diet and 18% for nursing females.

The other thing you want to watch for is the fat content. Ideally between 7-12 percent.

As rats are omnivores they do need some animal content in their diet. Bone/blood meal and animal tallow will usually fill this requirement, as well as being high in Niacin and Thiamine (I think thats the 2). Bone meal also adds calcium.

I didnt have any good lab blocks that were available to me at a decent price, so I had a local feed mill make me some. I did all the research and found the diets I liked and then had my block modeled after them. A nutritionist finished it up for me. It was mostly modeled after Harlan 2018.

The above info is based on my research. It was derived from commercial manufacturers, pet rodent sites, and forums for feeder rodents.

Bryan

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

The feed store here has "rat blocks" for $16 for 50 lbs. so thats no TOO bad. I think I can go pick up my rats tomarrow