Got me some rats!!!

Look up Harlan Teklad or Mazuri rodent diets. A 16-18% protein diet is all that they will need to provide large healthy litters.

I guess I'm lucky. Our local pet store has bulk lab block (as well as other sorts of bird, hamster, rabbit type dry foods) for a decent price. I think I pay about 89 cents a pound and no shipping of course....buy what I need basically.

I'll have to check the brand name, ingredients and protein percentage but so far the rats seem to do really well on it.


~~Jo~~

Thank you SatanicIntention. That was what I needed. A name. Got a couple good hits here and there.
I got my sterilite containers today, and the wire mesh and zip ties. Now I will get them set up tomorrow, and perhaps get the actual rats and/or mice sunday. I am fairly excited, and if it turns out that rats/mice are too much work or too messy, well, then my snakes get fed more often for a while.
Thank you so much for all the advice.
Wolfy

Oh one trick I picked up Daniel that works well is this. With your breeders if you are handling them it's nice to keep their nails not quite so sharp. With mine I just picked up a couple of common builders bricks from Home Depot, cost me about 50 cents a brick I think and put them so that the rats climb on or over them to get to their food. Works really well for next to nothing and saves my hands/arms from getting scratched when I handle the rats (they are somewhat pets as well as potential breeders).

If you provide them with things to chew on as well they won't tend to go after their enclosure as much. I toss mine the occasional milk bone type dog snack as well as bones from dinner to keep their teeth in good shape as they grow continuously so I've always been told.


~~Jo~~

jo that brick idea is awesome! my 2 big females are a bit wild as i didn't handle them when they were young because they were originally intended to be food and i just ended up keeping them and now they are breeders. one of them in particular just freaks out when i have to pick her up and those nails are pretty sharp. i'm adding bricks to my list. :P

I buy a crap load of the kaytee Forti Diet online. This place only sells the 2lb bags but at $2.50 or so a bag you can't beat it. I first saw it in stores and only got it minimally as it goes for upwards of $6+. Anyway with 3 bags or more you get 10% the total cost, and shipping is a flat rate up to a certain weight...I can't recall off hand but I got over a dozen bags this last shipment and could have added a couple more without adding more shipping charges.

The site is www.thatpetplace.com I found it by chance in just searching one day...nearly all of their stuff is MUCH less than you would find in a regular store but you have consider shipping and see for yourself. I've always had great service through them and very fast shipping times.

Rat breeders tell me forti-diet is no good. Most pet store rat food is crap.. except for harlan-teklad lab blocks.

Dog food and cereal mix is much much cheaper. My rats do great on it.

I used to pick my rats up by their tails ... Thats a real easy way to rip skin off the tail or even break it. Plus it seems that they dont trust you much when you do that all the time.

I have a pair of good leather gloves that I use whenever working with the rats. Pick them up around the middle. They are by no means pets ... but I really dont want the breeders to be wild. Also as i have nephews that think rats are cool i dont want the rats biting them.

I have an abundance of fish tanks so i set my breeders up in a 50g fish tank. I replaced part of the canopy with plexi-glass that i drilled for ventilation.

The vanilla does work, i was so impressed i made my wife sniff their tank ::grins::

A high quality dog food is as good as rodent feed. I use purina pro plan (I also have a dog so it works out well). The main things to look for on dog food is that corn isnt the first ingredient, and that the protein isnt above 24% 16-18% is better. I think dog food aimed at older dogs has a lower protein content, and then tend to use soy instead of corn. I also give them sometype of fresh vegetable every day (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, potatoes, etc.) As a calcium supplement i give them chicken and turkey bones (my dog gets upset if i give them pork or beef bones). Table scraps such as pasta, small amounts of cooked meat, buttered or olive oil dipped bread (this will help with their coats).

I cut down an apple tree last summer so for chews i give them a 2" thick branch to chew on. They have a similiar problem to reptiles when using pine or cedar bedding. So i try to make sure nothing put in there is of made of those 2 items. For bedding I use shredded cardboard and paper (I raise worms as well so this is a good way to get rid of excess). Nest boxes are 12 pack cardboard boxes, tissue boxes, or cereal boxes.

I think that pretty much covers all the things i found out the hard way.

Bryan

How much vanilla do you put in there?

Oh I'd like to know that too...how much vanilla and are we talking real vanilla or the vanilla extract stuff? (my gawd I just had a visual of Martha Stewart and rats! LOL Vanilla...your piddle won't smell...it's a very good thing!)

~~Jo~~