Fresh Foods
Serving sizes are pretty small (as in a teaspoon or half-inch cube) for
a rat, so avoid giving large amounts of fruits or vegetables, or
diarrhea may result.
Treats...
- fruit: apples, cherries, grapes, banana, strawberries, other
berries, melons, plums.
- vegetables: broccoli, potatoes, peas, carrot, cooked sweet potato,
kale, parsley, bok choy, squash.
- cooked liver, other very lean meats (cooked)
- whole wheat pasta and bread
- cooked beans (including soya)
- yogurt (especially with live cultures)
- brown rice
- unsweetened breakfast cereals
- mealworms
- small dog biscuits
- some leftovers from your meals are okay in moderation, but avoid
fatty or sugary scraps and items off the list below.
- special treats (given only occasionally): whole nuts in the shell
(almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts), sunflower seeds (high in fat),
carob chips
What Not to Feed
- chocolate
- raw beans
- raw sweet potato
- cabbage, brussel sprouts
- green potatoes
- sweet sugary treats, any other "junk food"
- caffeinated beverages
- carbonated drinks
Store-Bought Foods
Look for a diet made especially for rats. A pellet or block (essentially
a large pellet) type diet is generally considered best. The rat blocks
can be available at all times. A commonly recommended diet is Oxbow
Hay's "Regal Rat." A rat and mouse diet that meets the
same general requirements (e.g low calorie, low fat) is a good
compromise if you cannot find a good rat diet
Store-bought Treats
Many pet store treats, such as yogurt drops or the treat sticks are
quite high in sugar and/or fat and should be given very rarely if at
all. |