What should I feed my pet rat as she approaches two years old?

Oxbow, Mazuri and Kaytee all make excellent rat chow. Being omnivorous, they can eat almost anything. They should eat mainly a pelleted or block diet supplemented with fresh fruits, greens and vegetables.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Your new pets are so precious! Female rats do tend to be a little smaller than males, but I agree that your girls are a little bit thin. I’m not sure how old they are, as juveniles can be a little smaller. I recommend making sure they have plenty of pelleted food formulated for rats and plenty of water. There are many supplements available in pet stores for rats and mice, some of which can be added to the water or food as well as separate gel type diets. In my experience, rats tend to love Cheerios as treats. You should also keep an eye on their stool to make sure it is consistently formed. I hope this helps!

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. This food is the best for pregnant/breeding/nursing rats: ( https://www.animates.co.nz/vetafarm-origins-rodent-food-350g.html ) You can offer small amounts of fruit and vegetables (such as: apples, bananas, peas, broccoli, sprouts and carrots). Cooked egg, cooked chicken and cooked pasta are also fine to give. If she is being a good mother you should not have to do anything to feed the pups. By about 3 weeks of age they are fully developed and will start eating solid food, though they are still being fed by their mother for about another week. Remember, after 4 to 4.5 weeks, the males should be separated from the rest of the pups and mom since they could impregnate their mother. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, thank you for asking your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not as critical to provide an additional chewing substrate for rats as it might be for other rodents, so if Roux does not seem to enjoy the sticks, you do not have to provide them. You might offer her another type of rat food made by Mazuri. This comes in a biscuit form that she might enjoy gnawing on. In addition, a treat such as yogurt or dried fruit treats manufactured specifically for rodents should be provided 2-3 times a week. If Roux has normal dentition, then the teeth will naturally keep in alignment. Hope this helps. Take care.

A few things you can try are using a smaller dish for your rat and make sure to wash it weekly, daily if need be. One just big enough to hold one feeding block is plenty. And feed fortified food. These foods can be found in either “block” or “seed” type forms, and a mixture of both is recommended. If you’re trying to help your rat lose weight, feed it no more than 3 tablespoons per day. Rat blocks contain a complete supply of vitamins and minerals. And avoid the generic “rodent formula” foods available at pet stores, as these often don’t provide an adequate amount of protein for your rat. Limit treats. One tablespoon of chopped fruit or vegetable is the best treat for your rat. Including apples, strawberries, bananas, and squash as treats rather than regular part of your rat’s diet will help support its weight loss. Feed treats in a separate dish from your rat's regular food and make sure to clean the treat bowl daily. Feed her at night, when she is most active, and if you notice her stashing food in her cage, you're giving her too much. Rats are intelligent animals who need a great deal of mental stimulation and activity. If you’re trying to help your rat lose weight, making sure it has plenty of activities will help it stay healthy and happy. If you have room, buy or bulild a multi level cage so she has to climb from level to level and feed her at the top or bottom and put her nest area at the other end. Play with her, they love interaction with their people. Provide an exercise wheel, tunnels, igloos, ropes, ladders, blocks, and child or baby safe toys for your rat to play with. Wooden gnawing blocks make great chew toys. You can also offer rawhide chew sticks or hard dog biscuits. Old soup bones or chicken bones are fine for a rat to chew on

If she will allow, check her teeth. Rats need to chew to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown. If necessary, have your veterinarian trim the teeth then provide plenty of chew toys to prevent recurrence. Feed a commercial pelleted or block diet supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also offer food such as pasta, beans and boiled egg in small amounts. Take her out of her cage for some playtime several times daily. This will give her a break from a small cage as well as provide a bonding experience for the both of you.

Hello. Yes, your rat can have a little pasta ( & the key here is a little ) every now & then. Rodents are omnivores & will eat practically anything. I would stay away from any sauces, but a strand or two once in a while is fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.