What I feed my rats

[JennaBoBenna]

Hey Jenna!

They run around and Nezumi actually CHASES Thumper (the bunny) around the room and they eat each other's food ('Zumi took Thumper's apple one day and it's been "on" ever since with them snatching food from one another and chasing one another...REALLY cute!) I think my daughter has some video footage of "the chase" so if/when she uploads it to the 'net, I'll show it to you!

Rawkie,
Wow! That sounds just like what my rats do to the guinea pig! we can't keep the rats out of the pig cage, they love to take his little dried corns and peas. They also love to jump on him and chase him. They'll even drag huge carrots out of his cage haha

[Soka]

These people want me to take my rats to the vet every week to monitor their health and nutrient levels if I plan on feeding raw just so I make sure I'm not depriving them of anything. Is there a chart somewhere that states how much of each nutrient a rat needs?

[RawkinOnSunshine]

Your babies are adorable :) I'd love to feed my rats raw...maybe when I have more time, but with 13 animals it's difficult ;) Though they get tons of fresh fruits and veggies etc so I don't feel SO bad.

I have boys so I don't risk citrus with them either. Sucks that ratties are so prone to cancer...my females lived over 3 years and never developed it, so I'm hoping the four boys will be as lucky.

What are your ratties' names? Also, curious, ever give them bee pollen?

[JennaBoBenna]

Your babies are adorable I'd love to feed my rats raw...maybe when I have more time, but with 13 animals it's difficult Though they get tons of fresh fruits and veggies etc so I don't feel SO bad.

I have boys so I don't risk citrus with them either. Sucks that ratties are so prone to cancer...my females lived over 3 years and never developed it, so I'm hoping the four boys will be as lucky.

What are your ratties' names? Also, curious, ever give them bee pollen?

Hey! Wow, I know exactly what it's like to have a whole litter of rats! in 2005 I had my rat couple give birth to TEN BABIES! I had no choice but to feed them pellets and supplement with raw. When they were younger, they were 100%, but 6 boy rats eat a buttload of food and we could barely afford to feed ourselves.

The rats in the original post are both gone now(their names were Weetzie Rat and IttyBitty), but my bf and I have two new ones :) He bought Eleanor in Fall 2008, and I bought Margot this past January. In the pic you can see some raw foods(oranges and avocado) AND the new glass bottle I got!
Margot is the blue one, Eleanor is the tan one

They are sooo mischevious! They hide their food all over my apartment and hide in the guinea pig cage. They climb all over stuff, too. But they are very smart. They can leap super far and run really fast. their coats are beautiful, strong, and soft. We haven't ever had to take them to the vet. They eat 100% raw when I'm watching them. When they sneak into the guinea pig cage, they will eat his pellets. I also found out they had been chewing on a wax candle, rubber from their old water bottle holder, and the carpet(we are SO not getting our deposit back!!) When Eleanor gets scared, she runs to my boyfriend and hides in his pockets, neck or hood. Margot also comes to me when she's scared. They LOVE raw buckwheat cereal and will hoard it away or eat in from my hands. They are such a delight :)
They LOVE bee pollen! I give it to them when I remember to. They also enjoy honey. I usually give them some almond pulp with cinnamon, honey, and bee pollen, and green powder on top. they love that stuff

[RawkinOnSunshine]

I've never had a litter? Unless you thought that's what 13 animals meant. (it actually means: 4 rats, 3 parrots, 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 bunny, 1 snake, 1 tarantula hehe).

That sounds great, that's how my ratties have been except they have had to go to the vet. One of the ratties in my first pair had chronic URIs and my second group was already sick when I got them. They've always been on a homemade, nutritionally balanced and superfood enhanced diet...but raw would be so cool to try. Then I'd feel guilty for not feeding everyone raw =P Still, I'm intrigued, always looking for a way to improve their lives..