Food Mix

I use rat lab block for my rats and on cleaning day I treat them to a few pieces of dog kibble or dry pasta. I notice that the sticky above mention "Becky" had a mix but I don't see it and I'm too new to know who Becky is. (Sorry Becky . . . I hope to figure out who you are very soon).

So, I'm curious to see what others are feeding their rats?

I feed only Becky's mix

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28391


they love it!

Yep, same here. I feed the mix and throw in some treats such as biscuits, baby food, and fresh stuff every now and then. They're all healthy and produce well. :)

I ust started useing Beckys mix and they seem to love it!

I couldnt afford to use Becky's mix full time. Mine get Mazuri 6f 24/7 and treats every week or so.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I couldnt afford to use Becky's mix full time.

---

thats my only dilemma!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I couldnt afford to use Becky's mix full time. Mine get Mazuri 6f 24/7 and treats every week or so.

---

I haven't gotten around to pricing the difference, I know we currently feed something similar to Becky's mix several days a week, but not fulltime. How much more expensive is it I wonder to go to straight mixes? Anybody ever done the math between the 2 or would it vary too much region by region?

well, I look at it as $2 for each item on the list... I dont know how much it makes, but I'm already spending $25 for a bag of Mazuri... i dont know how much i can spend on them on top of that.

With six rats the mix I can tell will last a LONG time. I filled up a large bowl and they hardly have put a dint in it a day and a half later. After mixing everything together I got alot of the mix too.

I can definitely see it being worthwhile with 6...

We are currently over 100 though, if you include littles, and over 30 breeders...and not planning on stopping adding to that anytime soon, so it becomes a juggle between ideal and profitable.

I'll be getting many more soon, so the mix will go in as fillers so the LBs will last longer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skittles46

I can definitely see it being worthwhile with 6...

We are currently over 100 though, if you include littles, and over 30 breeders...and not planning on stopping adding to that anytime soon, so it becomes a juggle between ideal and profitable.

---

When you get into those kinds of numbers, I don't think it is cost effective to use. I only have my 30 breeders and I can't see it being worth it for that amount.

I find Mazuri and scraps just about does it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

When you get into those kinds of numbers, I don't think it is cost effective to use. I only have my 30 breeders and I can't see it being worth it for that amount.

I find Mazuri and scraps just about does it.

---

Well, currently I haven't added the Mazuri, as its $30 a bag the closest we can find it, so I've been depending on the closest dog food I could find, the mix, and sunflower seeds liberally to the mom's and babies. I haven't had much success finding decently priced lab block at all, so the food debate has become a struggle here.

Also, I'm in a food coop where I can get most of the ingredients (emphasis on most) for around 50 cents a pound, so I'm once again considering it, as Mazuri would cost me over that.

My mother raised an interesting question..if the grains and beans the rats would eat in the wild are raw why aren't they in the mixes? I've read more than one place not to do raw beans.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Patrick Long

I feed only Becky's mix

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28391


they love it!

---

Thanks Patrick. I could not find that link.

We get our lab block from the rat breeder that supplies all our local pet stores with rats. My husband said it's about $20 for 50#. We also get our bedding from him and it's way better than what we use to get from the feed store and way less expensive.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skittles46

My mother raised an interesting question..if the grains and beans the rats would eat in the wild are raw why aren't they in the mixes? I've read more than one place not to do raw beans.

---

I believe raw beans destroys important digestion enzymes.

Edit:
Okay, not that yahoo is all that scientific, this is the only source I've found that talks about why not to feed it to them.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...AAguRq0&show=7
OTHER OFF LIMIT NEVER EVER FEED are
raw dry beans/Peanuts (contain anti-nutrients that destroy Vit. A & digestion enzymes, causes red blood cell clumping)
raw sweet potato
green bananas (inhibits digestion of starch)
green potato skin and eyes (contains a toxin)
wild insects
raw bulk tofu
mouldy Cheese
liquorice (suspicions of neurological poisoning)
raw red cabbage (contains anti-nutrients that destroys thiamin)
raw artichokes (inhibits digestion of protein)
raw olysters/clams

Edit again!:

Found the source
http://www.pxrats.com/diet2.html

Thanks again Connie, that does help explain why :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I believe raw beans destroys important digestion enzymes.

Edit:
Okay, not that yahoo is all that scientific, this is the only source I've found that talks about why not to feed it to them.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...AAguRq0&show=7
OTHER OFF LIMIT NEVER EVER FEED are
raw dry beans/Peanuts (contain anti-nutrients that destroy Vit. A & digestion enzymes, causes red blood cell clumping)
raw sweet potato
green bananas (inhibits digestion of starch)
green potato skin and eyes (contains a toxin)
wild insects
raw bulk tofu
mouldy Cheese
liquorice (suspicions of neurological poisoning)
raw red cabbage (contains anti-nutrients that destroys thiamin)
raw artichokes (inhibits digestion of protein)
raw olysters/clams

Edit again!:

Found the source
http://www.pxrats.com/diet2.html

---

Raw oysters and clams? Wow I thought I spoiled my rodents, LOL

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Raw oysters and clams? Wow I thought I spoiled my rodents, LOL

---

Just in case it was misinterpreted, that is a list of items that should NOT be fed to rats.

Of course, it does raise the question of who would think of feeding them raw oysters & clams, which I think it what you were getting at but I thought it was best to be sure it was clear.