New colony questions

[JohnNJ]

You asked what we use. I don't use stuff I have around the house. I buy mouse food.

Rats can eat stuff that's around the house.

[jasbus]

Ok uNo mas time I'm asking what kind of stuff can I use that I have at home. I live too far to go back to petco and after I seen how bad there animals were I may never go back.

Well, you can listen to the advice we are trying to give, or you can spend tons of money and fail...
I think you've made your choice already.

[Rhasputin]

You can find a feed store, and they can almost certainly order lab block for you.

You cannot feed your mice solely on things from your home. You can go to the grocery store and make a mouse mix, but it will be more expensive than lab block.

A basic simple grocery store mouse-mix: Quick oats (50-60% of your mix), brown rice, brown or green lentils, dry whole grain pasta, pearled barley, wild bird seed, holistic dog chow.
This isn't a list of things you can give individually, it's a list of things you would have to mix together to meet the nutritional needs of your mice.

This is not cost effective for a feeder breeder, though.
But you will have to meet the nutrition needs of your mice if you expect to breed them successfully.

Mice, do not eat cheese.

[jasbus]

Mice, do not eat cheese.

Since when??? you mean all those cartoons were wrong!?

[Rhasputin]

Since when??? you mean all those cartoons were wrong!?

Well, mice shouldn't eat cheese.
Just like cats shouldn't drink cream, go figure!

[Jessica Loesch]

Oh boy ...
A can of worms has been opened!

You should order some lab block from national pet pharmacy if you dont wanna drive. It's $4.99 shipping.

[Thom Noble]

you can give them mealworms, shredded carrots, dog food without red food coloring, apple slices, spinach for part of there diet but i would invest in the lab block.

[Naginibellatrix]

i have 1male1female mouse for my two snakes. its worth it after you get the hang of it.

whatever your measurements are, half should be grains (i use cheerios)
and half dog kibble, they loove dog kibble. cheap brand is fine but momma needs lots of protein so make sure its got a a lot.

i usually throw in a peice of whatever im eating at the moment.

usually either
apple wedge (they never eat the whole piece but every mouse is different)
lettuce (always gone the next day)
3 sticks of baby carrots cut ( they'll eat 75% i'd say in one day)

[jasbus]

Mouse protein should be between 16 and 19 %.
That's why commercial rodent diets are so important...