Nutrition Rats, Mice, and ASFs specifically need/do well on?

So in my quest to get awesome breeders, it's clearly understood they should get great food. However, rather than just throw in whatever I think they might like, I'm curious about what all three mainly bred rodents do best on. I'm mainly looking for:

Min/Max Crude Protein
Min/Max Crude Fat
Mix/Max Crude Fiber
and whatever ingredients they can't/don't handle well (already know not to go with anything with food dyes)

I hear most rat and mouse breeders use some sort of Mazuri, but I'm certain there's gotta be something that's just as good/better that's also not expensive, but I would rather search for myself, so while saying you use a hog feed or something works for you, it ain't gonna cut it for me and others. Over here, there are no Tractor Supply Co stores, and trying to order stuff online is impossible unless someone supplies a link to an online store (not e-mailing the owner). Rather than post the name and type of food you use, do that, AND post the nutrition facts it offers on the label. Ingredients on the label are helpful as well.

Remember, I wanna know all these things SPECIFICALLY for rats, specifically for mice, and specifically for ASFs.

Soft Furs - Hog Feed
15% Protein
3% Fat
4% Fiber

Rats - Dog Food
18% Protein
6% Fat
12% Fiber

Ive used both these types of food for both rats. They both do good on it. I use the Hog Feed with the soft furs cause there kept in large tubs and i just dump it on the floor and let them eat it. The dog food is used on top of the wire of a rack setup.

I don't know the nutrition facts of my mix, but i feed my rodents all the same thing and they all thrive.

Random main mix of:
Grain (oats mostly)
Millet
Black oil sunflower seeds
Holistic dog food (about 1/5 of the mix)
Puffed rice or dry rice

Special:
Cheerios are good treats
Milkbones are good for nursing mothers

Fresh:
Carrots
Melon
Apples
Grapes
Bananas (can be messy though)



I have mice that from tip to tip are as long as my fore-arm, so my mix has to be pretty damn good. :P

Mice as big as your forearm? I want a picture of that.

will do. :)

Separate note before I get those pics

Max protein for mice would be around 20%-25% for nursing females. The LOWEST I'd go, is 13%.

Large amounts, or too little protein can have negative affects on litter size, and fertility.
Here's some great and accurate information about feeding: http://mousefancier.com/care.php

http://iaza.com/work/101010C/Length26908.png

There is a photo of some of my mice. The first two, have a coat type called fuzzy, fyi.

The first one, is longer than the second.
The third one is pretty long, but is an example of an obese mouse. :P

LMAO that mouse is super fat!!

I know! LOL.
They get worse than that, too. :(
Brindles get the worst. They never stop getting fatter until it kills them sometimes.

Yeah I watched a documentary on obesity in mice, it was pretty interesting.

They are big. A forgot how long there tails are. My soft furs are pretty big in that respect too.

Mazuri makes a mouse breeder diet that is i think 18% protien 9% fat. I use Mazuri 6F 50M30 Rodent Diet (rat ovals).

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/LastScan.jpg

Some things to look out for when you use food not formulated for rodents is high levels of phosphorus. It causes kidney stones. Also antibiotics are common in pig foods and you don't want your healthy rats eating antibiotics (in quantities meant for pigs) or to feed your snakes rats loaded up with antibiotics.

IMO if you want to breed rats you should call around and find a feed store that sells purina products and have them order you some rat food.

antibiotics cant hurt anything if they eat it, same thing like a human cant overdose on them, its just not possible. there could be other types of medication to watch out for though

A lot of anti-biotics can cause sterility in mice and rats, though.

Lots of good info! Thanks guys!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BAMReptiles

antibiotics cant hurt anything if they eat it, same thing like a human cant overdose on them, its just not possible. there could be other types of medication to watch out for though

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Uhh, I once was prescribed too much augmenton. That was NOT a pretty picture. It also didn't help I became tolerant of it.
Also, meds meant for one animal can cause problems for another.

hmm interesting, i was always under the idea that you couldnt OD on antibiotics, or well that "too much" couldnt really harm you. interesting to hear though

They're like pain pills. Just enough is perfect, too much is either fun or bad, and way too much is BAAAAD.