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. The mixes have 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.
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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 astounding! The best place to purchase mix currently is through Rat Rations. I recommend No. 7 or 11, with supplementary meals for kittens under 12 weeks (detailed below). When I was feeding my rats mixes from Rat Rations, I would switch between them to change things up. Remember to store your mix in an air-tight container.
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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. ​
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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 want to try it, order the base + dog food + veg medley + pumpkin blend then supplement with something like CaCuD3 from Rat Rations 3 times a week. 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.