How much to feed?

[ithinkican]

I haven't had any ratties since Buddy- about 15 yrs ago. Last week I got 2 rattie girls and will be adopting 1 or 2 (still undecided) girls from a rescue. I've been reading a lot about what to feed my girls, and talked to a knowledgable guy at the pet store. I've decided to go with the Regal Rat blocks and also fresh fruits/veggies and different treats I've read about. One thing I have read many times is that I shouldn't put more food in for my rats than they will eat in a day. My girls take the blocks and hide them all over the cage so I haven't been able to see how much they are actually eating.

Can anyone give me an idea of how many blocks 2 female rats approx. 4mo. old will eat in a 24 hr period?

[Addicted2Rats]

I'm definitely not as big of a rat expert as alot of people on here.  But I'm thinking of two suggestions to give you.  First, stick with the two rats that you've just gotten before you get two more.  If you add two more rats from a different source, you have to go through a three week quarantine to make sure that the rats don't get the other rats sick.  And plus, I think that your two new rats need some time to adjust to their home before they're introduced to two more strange rats.  The intro process can take a little while too sometimes.

Also, about the food to feed.  I've tried Regal Rat with my rats and they absolutely HATED it.  They wouldn't eat it. So I ended up getting Mazuri's lab blocks from Petsmart and they seem to be ok with that.  So, just pay attention to whether your two new rats are actually eating it or not.  Also, you should combine it with fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and other stuff.  There's a "Rat Guide" website that gives a list of foods that rats can and cannot have.  I don't have that link right now but hopefully someone else will post it for you.

I'll see if I can find the links about intro's and food and post it here.

Deb

[~*ChaoticSerenity*~]

Forbidden foods
http://www.petratscanada.com/forbidden_foods.htm

[Addicted2Rats]

http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,11256.0

This has a BUNCH of info about rats -- quarantine, intro, etc.

Deb