So you think Dog Food = Rat Block?

I am rat sitting for a friend for a month while she is on vacation. She brought her rats to my house and they are in the same type rack mine are in. I have even purchased some rats from her.

The first thing I notice about her rats is that they look... horrible. They are greasy, they lack the shiny coat and bright eyes and ears, little body muscle. The very next thing I notice, and this was an extremely close second, they STINK! They smell like an old oily dog with a skin allergy plus the regular rat smell.

My rats look like Grand Prix show rats compared to hers, even my male Siamese who is a litter brother to hers. Mine looks like a Studly Manly Man! Hers just looks sad.

I will let everyone know about her production numbers later when more litters start popping out.

So you think that dog food is just as good as rat block? Are you wondering why your rats stink like a mangy mutt?

I order rat block five bags at a time. Looked at hog feed and dog food, but always stick with the rat block because I keep reading things just like this. At $85 for 200 lbs, the reduced smell alone justifies the extra couple of dollars for me.

I agree, I have some family in Florida and they feed their pet rat dog food. Poor thing looks horrible too. Dog food does NOT = lab block. Just because they are "just rats" doesn't mean they shouldn't be getting the food/nutrition they deserve.

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Originally Posted by Don

I order rat block five bags at a time. Looked at hog feed and dog food, but always stick with the rat block because I keep reading things just like this. At $85 for 200 lbs, the reduced smell alone justifies the extra couple of dollars for me.

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Yep. I think I can buy a large bag of generic dog food for $18. Rat block costs me $23. It is definitely worth the extra little bit. My rats HATED the Doggy Bag.

On a similar, different note. I am sometimes shocked to see how people care for their animals. Makes me realize how good ALL of mine have it.

My feeders look way better than any pet rats I've ever seen. I feed only Native Earth Lab Block and I also mix up a variety of dried foods that I know they like and that are healthy for them. Any time I'm snacking in the snake room I generally share with them and they LOVE pizza night. I would never feed them cheap crappy dog food, I don't even feed that cheap crap chain grocery stores sell to my dog.

I agree dog food is definitely not the quality of rodent block. We feed kent but also offer sweet mix horse feed and hog feed as well. Occasionally my rats get a bag of doggy bag if I'm out of rodent block but it's kinda funny how they will only eat it when nothing else is there.

On a side note we feed grain free to our dogs and I have often wondered if this would be good for the rats but at 50.00 for 30lbs I'm not likely to try it out anytime soon. Lol

Don't get me wrong, my rats also get dog food when I am out of rat block, and they get scraps from food we don't eat.

But just goes to show how gross (to me) it is long term.

Zeigler rat block and their dog food ingredients are so close, it pretty much comes down to a difference in shape. So I feel this type of posting is very biased and unfair.

She is using Publix Brand dog food. Sorry should have specified.

I was aiming this to the people who think they are going to save money with cheap generic dog food and have the same smell/quality of rats who are on fat formula.

I can't find their dog food, but I don't think I will be feeding my dog any rat comparative food either.

I'm not sure whats in zieglers but Mazuri 6f makes a huge difference in their appearance compared to dog food i will never go back. Oh and larger litters for sure.

I am using Mazuri 6F too. Also should have said that in my original post.

I heart Native Earth 4018.

Regards,

B

I agree w/ the OP about the dog food.
I use Mazuri 6f for my rats. Their coats are shiny and soft. And they don't smell at all.

I've gotten a few feeders from someone who feeds his rats Walmart brand dog food. They smelled awful and their coats were rough and greasy. I saved one female for my breeding stock and after she started eating my food, she went through a significant physical transformation.

I would never feed dog food to my rats.
I wouldn't even feed my rats low quality rat food. Both are garbage...

Harlan and Mazuri 6f are specifically formulated for breeding and growing rats.

I feel that you wouldn't feed dog food to a horse and expect it to look healthy, so expecting a rat to do well on cheap dog food isn't intelligent.

I know some people who seem to do well feeding a dog food WITH other additives, but to me, the price would mean they could just as easily feed the lab block. Even the FRM rodent block sucks next to the Native Earth.

Ive never used dog food ever, When i get bags of Rodent Block at 13$ per 50lbs in store or $10 per bag when i buy a 40bag pallet.

The health of your snakes starts with what you feed your feeders.

I'm with Rich. We pay 13.75 per 50lb of rodent block. I can't even find TSC doggy bag that cheap so why bother.

I've used doggie bag, mazuri 6f and 9f, harlen, kent and zeiglers throughout the years.

Doggie bag goes quicker but at half the price of Mazuri, I had zero complaints.

Unfortunately I live in CA, where everything is expensive. Mazuri here is like $30+ for the 50# bag. However, its worth keeping my rats healthy.



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Wish I could find the lab block at $14 for 50 lb!

Where I order all my rodent food from.

see if you have this store near you, if you do they will get the $14 kent for you or already have it

https://www.familyfarmandhome.com/in...chstore&search[searchfor]=rodent

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I feel that you wouldn't feed dog food to a horse and expect it to look healthy, so expecting a rat to do well on cheap dog food isn't intelligent.

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This is because of the huge difference in nutritional needs of the 2 animals. :)
Horse food is actually great for rodents, as is hog food, because both animals have very similar nutritional needs that involve grains and protein levels. :)

Most dog foods aren't even healthy for dogs.. My rats get a high quality swine feed, they seem to be thriving on the stuff.

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

I heart Native Earth 4018.

Regards,

B

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I love this, my rats love this, everyone loves this!

I feed mine Native Earth rat block. They are healthy and they reproduce well. One of my girls is just weaning off a 16 pup litter and she's in great shape, slick and fat.

The only doggie thing they get is a Milkbone puppy biscuit as a treat. They get a few kitchen peelings, the occasional raw peanut, and thawed out peas and carrots mix or occasional thawed corn as a treat. They look ten times better than the rats I've seen raised on a dog food diet. They don't stink as bad as dog food rats either. I donate my surplus feeders to a local reptile rescue and they have remarked about their good condition as compared to some of the other feeders they have used.

I would like to try Native Earth but like Mazuri, I just can't justify the cost. I think you guys said 80ish for 200lbs. I get 300lbs of Kent for 85ish with tax.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Where I order all my rodent food from.

see if you have this store near you, if you do they will get the $14 kent for you or already have it

https://www.familyfarmandhome.com/in...chstore&search[searchfor]=rodent

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Will these guys deliver?? I'd be all over that if they did. I don't have a store near me though. I'm in south FL

I just bought 40 lbs of Native Earth lab block from petfooddirect.com. $33.00 shipped. :D

Yea no way kent is 13.75 for 50lbs

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Originally Posted by Amon Ra Reptiles

Yea no way kent is 13.75 for 50lbs

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Your Kidding me Right, You want me to prove you Wrong. I buy it weekly for $13.99 per bag off shelf of $10 a bag if i oder 40bag pallet.

Actually I dont need to prove it, Call this Number for the Store I go to, and ask them what a bag of Kent Rodent Diet is. And you will be told 13.99

586-727-4364

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Originally Posted by Amon Ra Reptiles

Yea no way kent is 13.75 for 50lbs

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If rich pays 13.75 for 50lbs thats the same as you paying $85 for 300lbs

The native earth they buy fro 85 is only for 200lbs.

Im paying only 59 with tax for 200 lbs

I wish I could get the Kent near me, I'd give it a try. Is there a link to a listing of Kent dealers? The stores you linked to are all in Michigan.

Heres List of all the Plants and produce the Kent Products.

If you can Find dealer willing to order it for you, you can buy a pallet worth. Some Plants wont allow you to pick up directly from them

http://www.kentfeeds.com/locations/locations.php

None near here so I guess I'll just have to stay with Native Earth. Just got another 200 lbs today. Gives me a few months to keep looking for something better.

I go though 200-250lbs a week which is why I switched to Kent over Mazuri. For price of Mazuri i got 2 bags of Kent. Production stayed the same and some increased litter sizes.

No no Rich I was saying that there is no way I'm paying 33.00 for 40lbs of Native Earth when I get my Kent for 13.75. Sorry for the confusion. I'm with you I use around 400lbs a month and can't justify mazuri or Native Earth.

Oh sorry guys, i sorta jumped in and just read that one post and was like wait a minute thats the same thing..? lol

Amon was missing a comma somewhere in his other post. :P

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Originally Posted by Rhasputin

Amon was missing a comma somewhere in his other post. :P

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Lol indeed I was :)