13/01/2025
I love experimenting with new grains, pastas, and processed grains. It keeps them interested in their dry mix. I test the mixes on my own rats and see what they like and don't like. All my rats have silky soft fur, are at healthy weights, and are the picture of health (disclaimer: excludes rats who have genetic problems like Violet).
Why is it so important to feed your rats a good diet? The rat mixes sold in stores are usually high in fat, protein, and sugar. This causes poor fur quality, obesity, kidney problems, and tumours. It also lacks variety and enrichment by mostly containing pellets and sunflower seeds.
I first started taking an interest in their diets after I got Pan, who had an inflamed liver. Initially, I fed a poor quality commercial mix with a few extra grains to make it more diverse, but it didn't help. I read up, discovered the Shunamite diet, looked what was available to me, and adjusted their food to accommodate his needs. Not only did his overall health improve, but the other rats also benefited. My Russian Blue and black rats weren't rusty anymore, all the rats were more energetic, and they didn't stink!
It is quite daunting making your own mix in South Africa with how difficult it is to find good quality grains and processed grains in store. We don't have any good quality dog food that is appropriate for rats, so the protein section is always a struggle. It is also important to feed your rats fresh food daily for vitamins that can't be supplemented into their dry mix.
My favourite recipes:
1. The straight grains recipe on the Shunamite Diet FB group.
2. The Pretoria Rattery recipe is available for free on their website.
Want to buy pre-made mixes instead?
1. I sell 1kg for R150 😊. All human-grade grains with veg I dehydrate at home. I follow the straight grains recipe from the Shunamite Diet group.
2. Oliver's Burrow is also a highly recommended mix.
