Which lab blocks...

[Scratch]

Well, I went to Pet Supplie Plus recently to get more lab blocks, but I couldn't find the L/M Animal Farms brand. I had them special-order them (they usually have them!). I got a call from PSP today... they've discontinued the food!   Now what do I do?

I'm going to see if I can buy lab blocks directly from my vet, and if that's no good, then I'll just have to order them online. Which brands are the best? Of course I know about Harlan Teklad, but I've also heard about all the different kinds of HT blocks and I would have no idea which to choose...

Any help here?

[midnightsky]

tekland (sp) is the best out there, and has lots of forumals.  several ppl sell it online in theit stores (i know lonestarsrattery. lrs, does), or you can but it directly from harland tek.

[AngelZOO]

There is Harlen formulas..

2014
Ingredients---Wheat middlings, ground wheat, ground corn, corn gluten meal, calcium carbonate, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DL-methionine, choline chloride, niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium oxide, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, chromium potassium sulfate.

Protien 14.50%
Crude Fat 4%
Fiber 4.50%


Formula 2018:
Ingredients---Ground wheat, ground corn, wheat middlings, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, dried brewers yeast, dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DL-methionine, choline chloride, niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride,thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium oxide, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, chromium potassium sulfate.

Protien  18.90%
Crude Fat 5.70%
Fiber 3.80%

Formula 8604
Ingredients---Soybean meal, corn and wheat flakes, wheat middlings, ground corn, fish meal, dried molasses, dried whey, soybean oil, dried brewers yeast, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, liver meal, iodized salt, choline chloride, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, magnesium oxide, manganous oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, chromium potassium sulfate

Protein: 24%
Fat: 4%
Fiber 4.5%

A lot of people seem to like the 8604 formula best.
Right now Toshi is on the SunSeed Pellet Diet, cause it's what the store had, and it's what he was on, so I want to wean him over very slowly.

[Scratch]

Are those the only three formulas? The 8604 looks the best to me, but it has a pretty high protein content...

[AngelZOO]

I think they have some other formulas on their official website but don't quote me on that.

You can order them from.
http://www.rat-store.com
http://www.geocities.com/kimsarkrescue/store.html
http://www.harlan.com/

Those are the only ones I know of.

And how wonderful! I just realized I can order suebee's mix as well instead of me having to make it, tee hee

[Scratch]

Thanks for the links, AngelZOO! I checked them out... it doesn't seem as if you can order blocks directly from Harlan. I brought up an order form and I think it's just for lab animals.

Also, the Rat Store and Kim's Ark are sold out of 8604... so I'm not sure where I would look next to find this formula. (Ideas?)

What about other brands? I've heard that some are good, like Mazuri or Oxbow... what can you guys tell me about these, and where do you get them?

[BabyBlue]

Lone Star Rat also sells Harlen. Harlen Teklad is the best lab block out there hands down. My rats get 2018, altho 8604 is also good and I know that's what Kim from Kim's Ark use on all her rats. If I remember correctly, she has once said that the problem with high protein comes from WHERE the protein is coming from (ie in low quality dog food, commercial rat food, etc) rather than how how it is. I'm also thinking about switching over to a formula with higher protein since all my rats tend to be on the small side. Isn't there 8640 also? I thought that was what I used to get.

Oxbow is another good brand, my vet used to recommend it. My rats tho didn't like the taste so I gave up on it. I believe they have a new formula now which is supposed to be better overall than the previous ones.

Mazuri's ok, it's made by Purina which I'm not a big fan of. I used to be able to get it locally at a petstore but I've moved now and I haven't seen it yet. I would try a feed store (pet store that doesn't sell animals) which usually seem to carry more "unusual" brands and such.

[Dani]

I use #2018 and everyone here is at a good weight.

[Grace Jr]

I'm using 2018 here, and my boys are all doing great on it.  They also get a modified version of Suebee's mix, as well as all the normal treats and extras.

[Lone Star Rats]

Also, the Rat Store and Kim's Ark are sold out of 8604... so I'm not sure where I would look next to find this formula. (Ideas?)

What about other brands? I've heard that some are good, like Mazuri or Oxbow... what can you guys tell me about these, and where do you get them?

Actually both the 2018 and 8604 are good "general purpose" diets.. there is a difference in protein, but the 2018 actually has more fat.  Rats of any age will generally do well on either of them.  I like to use the 8604 myself, but when I run out I use the 2018 with no problems

I am out of 8604 because I ordered less this time since it seemed more people wanted the 2018, but it seems to have flip flopped on me this time.

Oxbow is "ok" if your rats will eat it, but it's currently undergoing a product redesign and it's not available right now.

Mazuri/Purina makes a decent lab block as well, if you can find a feed store that carries Purina they can probably order you some of either, if they don't already keep it in stock.

On a side note, Harlan makes MANY formulas of food, but most are special order only in large amounts.  The 8640 diet is VERY close to the 8604 diet.. just slightly different amounts of protein and fat.

[kim]

we can get any version of the harlan foods, but we only stock the 2018 and 8604 normally because this is what the people want the most often.

we normally dont have many people opting for 8604, like LSR, but all of a sudden everyone wants it. i dont even have any for my OWN ratties!


i do feed 8604 to ALL my rats, including rescues, and including males. the protein problems are IMHO pretty rare, and most seem to be related to low quality sources of protein, etc.

(and psssst scracth, we will be restocked for 8604 in a matter of 2 weeks!)

[AngelZOO]

My quarell with Mazuri and Oxbow is I believe they both use BHT or BHA in there foods, I don't like to buy foods with that in it.

Tis a shame really, they make an extremely cheap (and not half bad) ferret food sold in my area, but once again, the BHA is in it.
Not something I would want to feed life long, but that's just my opinion.

[kim]

oxbow uses neither BHA or BHT -- their tagline is no additives, artificial colors or preservatives. while i dont have their new version around at the moment (it should be coming in the mail), i cant imagine much has changed. oxbow does a pretty good job with foods and is well respected in most any light.

[menagerie]

I've used Ace-Hi lab blocks, they are soy based. Everybody liked them, especially the dogs.

[AngelZOO]

Kim: Sorry you were right, I wasn't sure. I just looked again and now I remember, Oxbow was the really expensive food haha, but the Mazuri DOES have it.

menagerie: I've never heard of Ace-Hi. Where do you buy them, and can you post their ingredients and nutrition levels? Thanks

[menagerie]

menagerie: I've never heard of Ace-Hi. Where do you buy them, and can you post their ingredients and nutrition levels? Thanks

I found it at a local feed store. I had looked around and these were the best lab blocks that I could get locally. Unfortunately I don't have the package. Next time I go to the feed store I'll check it out and report back.

Right now I'm using Harlan Teklad 8604, I bought a bag from the RMCA at the Costa Mesa Pet Fair.