Purina Lab diet #5008

Searched everywhere for Mazuri 6F, No place can get it for me. Best result a feed store called a lab place to see if they could get me Mazuri,No but they use #5008 and said its just as good. I ordered 2 bags of 50lb for $27 each

I just looked up the 5008 and seen that its protein is 23% ????????
Isnt that too high

Has anyone tried this diet for rats and ASF? How did it work out

It is quite a bit high for rats.

I'm surprised they cant get it for you. Generally, any store that carries Purina brand will be able to order Mazuri. I think they didnt try hard enough. :P

yea I was pretty upset, the only thing I could find was the Mazuri Rodent Diet- which comes as pellets 25lb for $25, I need lab blocks to hold in my hopper

If the lab uses it I figured "SURE it must be pretty good, order me 2 bags". Now Im concerned as I just seen protein 23% :confused:

Anyone near Boston Mass that can get their hands on mazuri or harlan or anything that you recommend lol

I called the 1st 4 dealers on the mazuri dealer locator all of them said NO 6F or 9F, and the last one recommended the purina 5008..........SHOULD I CANCEL THE ORDER?????:confused:

Have you tried any feed stores? I did a google search for "boston mass feed store" and got a lot of results. I would call around to them and see if they are Purina dealers.

Tractor supply stores can order Kent Rodent feed.

I did a search here for your area...
http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...AndResultsView

23% should be okay for babies and lactating females but it's a bit high for your other rats. You might want to feed it only to those first two groups and look for something else to feed your adults, feeders and non-lactating females. Too much protein over a long period of time tends to end up with horrible skin and coat protein sensitivity issues. Probably doesn't hurt them as feeders but it's nasty to look at and not really nice for the rats to live with as they scratch a lot. I'd avoid that happening.

I was able to get a bag of that stuff and will never use it again. Halfway through, my rats are losing hair and digging at themselves constantly. Back to the way more expensive Harlan I go.

WOW really, its that bad?? I have ASF and rats, so this stuff would only be good for the preggos and the babies until they are grown only? Why would the lab use this as their primary food and suggest it?

I have no idea on that one. Maybe they have rats that are somehow more resistant to the extra protein? Anywhoo..Yes, it's that bad. (for me) I had nice shiny smooth coats on the Harlan, and jumped at the cheaper product when it presented itself because I'm always looking for something that will get the job done equally as well but at less than the buck a pound I currently pay. I've been breeding my own feeders since last year and this is the first issue I've seen with coat and skin problems. My mice are seeming to be okay with it, but the rats and asfs aren't so happy.

The 5008 is (i believe) geared towards mice.

If you have any labs around you call and see if they use rats, if they use rats i am sure they are buying the mazuri 6F from a local seller and find out who they buy from!

I really got to check my local feed store as I bought a bag of kaytee fortidiet rat/mouse/hamster food and it costed $7.99/3lbs!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rebeccabecca

I really got to check my local feed store as I bought a bag of kaytee fortidiet rat/mouse/hamster food and it costed $7.99/3lbs!

---

Bet you got that at a pet store. Check out TSC stores or wherever your local farmers go. Think outside the box. If you know what your particular feeders need nutritionally start reading labels. Some folks here are successfully feeding certain horse feeds, pig feeds, etc. It might not be fed as an only food source but helps round out their rodents diets. Also remember mice are not rats and ASF's are somewhere sort of inbetween. What works for a small hyper mouse may not work for a large, more sedate rat.

Jo, I love that you are back in the house! :love:

Aww thanks! I missed this crazy place and you crazy folks in it a whole lot!

Ive been using the labdiet 22% protien on my ASF's.seems ok but the Harlen was better never used Mazuri its way more expensive I pay $19 for 50lb bag of labdiet.Harlen was $20 a bag for 30lbs.

is there a way of my mixing something else into their diet which contains no protein to balance the high with the low?? or is that just a stupid question

I can get free loafs of bread everyday from work, what if i always threw in bread with the purina daily?

I feel bad rejecting the order of the purina, the warehouse is going out their way for it, maybe they can cancel it if I call early tomoro morning, but then I still need another rodent food

Ill add the info on it as well http://www.labdiet.com/5008_frame.htm