Diet

Main Diet

Commercially available nuggets and mixes may seem like an easy option, but I recommend against feeding them. The nuggets currently on the market are nutritionally unbalanced, have poor-quality ingredients and are boring for the rats. Pets at Home/Burgess nuggets have also been anecdotally linked to an increased risk of tumour occurrence, which makes sense as they use poor protein sources that are known carcinogens. Pet shop mixes offer variety, but are also unbalanced and tend to rely on high-fat and "junk" ingredients. If you're going to feed your rats something from a pet store, use Science Selective as this is the best nugget available, though high in wheat content.

I recommend feeding rats a balanced mix. If you meet a rat fed on Science Selective, for example, and then a rat fed on a good mix, the difference in condition is noticeable! Rat Rations is one of the most popular choices for sourcing mixes. I recommend No. 7 or 11, with supplementary meals for kittens under 14 weeks (detailed below). When I was feeding my rats mixes from Rat Rations, I would switch between the options to change things up. Remember to store your mix in an air-tight container.

Another option is to make your own mix. Making your own mix is more expensive at the start, but tends to work out cheaper long-term. It's worthwhile if you have a larger group of rats. If you're making your own mix, the easiest thing to do is to make a Shunamite-style mix.

Some small businesses are selling Shunamite-style/Shunamite-esque mixes. Ratcessories sells a complete mix and it looks to be varied and high quality. I have some pet homes who feed their rats this mix and the rats are in great condition! Critter Happy Homes sell a mix that looks like a very good option, though I don't personally know anyone who has tried it. Lawson's Complete is a nice idea in theory, but most of the options are either fillers (alfalfa as a main ingredient), junky (high portions of mealworms/banana chips/sunflower seeds), and straights-based/unfortified with no mention of supplements (the base).

If you are aware of any other options from small businesses, please let me know so that I can look into them.

Supplements should ideally be given 2-3 times a week. I prefer using CaCuD3 from Rat Rations as it can easily be added to wet meals (or soaked normal mix). Supplements don't need to be given as much (if at all) if the ingredients of the mix are fortified.

Kittens should be given additional protein and carbs in the form of wet meals until they are ~16 weeks old. Boiled/scrambled egg or tinned sardines in tomato sauce with some oats/brown bread ends/pasta are my go-to options. Good quality tinned/fresh dog food can also work well.

I recommend starting off by feeding your rats ~15g per rat per day (more for kittens as I don't agree with restricting their food too much at that age). Watch their body condition, and alter how much you feed them in response to this.

I feed my rats once a day as there is some evidence that this aids longevity. I strongly suggest scatter-feeding your rats and even mixing their food into their substrate a bit as this encourages foraging behaviour and is good enrichment.

Fresh Food and Treats

Isamu Rats has a great A-Z list of safe fruits and vegetables for rats. Portion sizes should be relative to the size of the rat's head, so pieces of berries and veg a touch bigger than the size of a fingernail would be quite appropriate, more for leafy greens. I tend to provide items as and when I'm having them, with a focus on leafy greens (including herbs) and colourful vegetables. If I provide fruit, it tends to be berries.

Rats also enjoy treats! Malt paste is an easy and accessible go-to treat that keeps well. A boiled egg with the shell still on makes a great puzzle toy for 2-4 rats. I occasionally make banana and oat cookies for breakfast (mashed banana + oats baked for 20 minutes) and the rats love receiving mini cookies each! Meat scraps and bones are also much-appreciated treats.

They can also have junk food sparingly and in small portions. Favourites in my household include prawn cracker, banana dipped in some dark chocolate fondue (staple Christmas-only treat), Digestive biscuit and pasta that conveniently slipped off my plate. I'm quite strict with treats like this, and they tend to only be given once in a blue moon.