Question about lab blocks

I was wondering if feeding mice/rats on a 100% lab block diet is healthy and well balanced?

It's supposed to be, although some people would disagree. I've been feeding primarily lab blocks to mine for about a year and all of them seem very healthy with average litter sizes around 15. :rat:

I think a pure lab block diet would be okay but there are a lot of difference in quality of lab blocks out there so if you go that way, I'd find a top quality block. I feed a dry homemade mix that includes lab block (as well as table scraps fed seperately).

I feed 100% Sun Seed lab blocks and have healthy, happy rats :)

So it wouldn't be necessary to mix lab blocks with small animal blend (grains, seeds, nuts, etc.) . I have been mixing the small animal blend with lab blocks as well as dry dog food and dog biscuits as treats. All of my breeder animals are healthy on this diet, i was just curious as to why the reptile stores i go to feed only lab blocks and why the full-line pet stores that i go to only feed the normal small animal blend.

Pet stores do things because it's cheap and easy on the staff. A lot of "small animal blends" are wasted by the rats. There's a great sticky on Becky's dry rat mix in the Feeder Forum if you're interested in checking it out.

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

So it wouldn't be necessary to mix lab blocks with small animal blend (grains, seeds, nuts, etc.) . I have been mixing the small animal blend with lab blocks as well as dry dog food and dog biscuits as treats. All of my breeder animals are healthy on this diet, i was just curious as to why the reptile stores i go to feed only lab blocks and why the full-line pet stores that i go to only feed the normal small animal blend.

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You might want to watch the amount of dog food you feed your rodents.It has a red dye number 3 in most dog foods that when the rodents are feed to the snakes it is lethal to the snakes over a time.I feed lab block to my mice and rats and have not complaints,neither does my snakes lol(healthy food).

Thanks everyone for the information. My question was answered :D

i agree i feed lab blocks and anly lab blocks because of the dyes in other foods

So if rodents are fed only on a lab block diet, is it necessary to provide them fruits, veggies, and dog biscuits once in a while?

I don't know if it's absolutely necessary Boid but I figure they are omnivores and very curious busy creatures that are sort of programmed to find food of various sorts. I toss in other stuff in my dry mix and then give them kitchen scraps since that's just waste so why not make rat baby rats out of it LOL. Gives them something to do picking through the dry mix all day.

I do like to toss in some corn cob, etc, once in awhile. And they always have some wood to chew on. :)

A good lab block should have everything your rodents need to stay healthy and producing. But that doesnt mean you cant supply other things.

I live in a farming community so I get fruit and vegetables fairly cheap. Because of this I feed a fruit or veetable every other day.

Next time you go to your grocery store (one that actually has a produce section) as to speak to the produce guy ... ask him if he has any extra trimmings. Trimmings are produce that have wilted, dont look appealing, or have been trimmed off of something. As they are normally thrown away you can get them for free.

Bring them home ... toss out any citrus ... anything rotten, potatoes, and cabbage. The rest can be used ... if to much toss extras in the freezer.

Bryan