Getting grow outs to grow?

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

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.

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.

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...

There are NO feed stores around here.

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.

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

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.

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

There are NO feed stores around here.

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Where is "here"?

I guess I've never really found food to be that big of an issue in growth rate as long as there is plenty of it available at all times. I HAVE found water to be a big issue in growth, maybe check your water supply to make sure it's not partially plugged and is flowing well? If mom's not getting enough fluids she's not producing enough milk, not enough milk and babies will grow a lot slower.

Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Where is "here"?

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Sparks/Reno, NV. I forget I haven't customized my profile on this forum. :rolleyes:





Over the past week or so, I've found that turkey/chicken bones/scraps, yogurt, and canned meat seems to be doing some good. The male grow outs, especially, aren't as grabby with food now.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I guess I've never really found food to be that big of an issue in growth rate as long as there is plenty of it available at all times. I HAVE found water to be a big issue in growth, maybe check your water supply to make sure it's not partially plugged and is flowing well? If mom's not getting enough fluids she's not producing enough milk, not enough milk and babies will grow a lot slower.

Just a thought.

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Mom just made her nest for her new litter under a water bottle. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

Sparks/Reno, NV. I forget I haven't customized my profile on this forum. :rolleyes:

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Discount Pet Food & Supplies
520 East Prater Way, Sparks, NV 89431-4649 (775) 331-5500

Scraps Dog Bakery at Sparks Marina
325 Harbour Cove Drive #107, Sparks, NV 89436 (775) 358-9663 ‎

Leading Paws Inc
750 Freeport Boulevard, Sparks, NV 89431-6162 (775) 355-7297

Feed World
315 Spokane St # 6, Reno, NV 89512-3550 (775) 323-1533 ‎

Green's Feed
4701 N Virginia St # A, Reno, NV 89506-7000 (775) 323-1502 ‎

Sierra Feed & Saddlery
7460 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89511-1193 (775) 853-6700 ‎

ilu, so much. I suck at finding locations for things. What did you do? Google?

Discount Pet Food & Supplies
520 East Prater Way, Sparks, NV 89431-4649 (775) 331-5500

Been in this one and am pretty sure they have NO rodent food. I remember lots of bird seed and a crapload of dog food, but that's it.


Scraps Dog Bakery at Sparks Marina
325 Harbour Cove Drive #107, Sparks, NV 89436 (775) 358-9663 ‎

Leading Paws Inc
750 Freeport Boulevard, Sparks, NV 89431-6162 (775) 355-7297

Feed World
315 Spokane St # 6, Reno, NV 89512-3550 (775) 323-1533 ‎

Green's Feed
4701 N Virginia St # A, Reno, NV 89506-7000 (775) 323-1502 ‎

Sierra Feed & Saddlery
7460 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89511-1193 (775) 853-6700 ‎



I'll have to give the rest a call tomorrow. A good lab block as a staple would be wonderful, especially since my mom has regained interest in visiting my grandparents out of state.

Yes...that was just a quick google scan.

When you call....don't just ask what they have in stock...also ask if they can order Mazuri products and if they'd be willing to order the rat food for you.

Here's a solution, I too am not located near any feed stores. I live in the city not near farms lol, I buy my mazuri from ebay. Its not cheap but they grow great on it. something like $20 for a 15lb bag, shipping included. For my 2 1.3 groups and 20 or so babies at any given time, it lasts around a month, with a food hopper. I might go with cheap dog food in one tub to see if theres a significant difference