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As pet parents to rats, we take special care to keep our fur babies healthy and happy. This means we ensure our rats receive veterinary care when they need it, they have a safe, fun place to live, and that we buy high-quality food to keep them healthy.
In this article, we’ll review the qualities to look for in rat food, and then we’ll share a list of the 10 best rat foods around!
The Right Food for Rats
When it comes to your rat’s food, it’s essential to make sure it provides the right nutrition your rat needs. So, what do you look for in rat food?
First, it needs to be quality food. The best rat foods are those that come in pellets or blocks, and they should be lab formulated. This means the food contains all the nutrients your rat fur baby needs to stay healthy.
Next, pay attention to reviews of rat food. You’ll learn if the rats liked the food or not. When buying new food for your fur baby, it may be best to buy the smallest package. This way, your rat can try the food, and if he doesn’t like it, then you won’t be out a lot of money on a larger bag.
This leads us to the price of the best rat food. High-quality rat food usually runs between $10-$20 a bag. The quantity will vary by product, so try to choose a bag that lasts longer than a week or two.
Rat Food Nutrition
What exactly does a rat need in his food? Rats are omnivores, which means they eat a combination of protein, plants, vegetables, fruits, and more. They need to eat about six times a day to fulfill their nutritional needs.
Rats need a balanced, varied diet or to stay healthy. Rat food should have at least 16% protein, 4-5% fat. Rat food that has a higher amount of fat should be avoided as they can lead to obesity. The food should not contain high levels of sugar, as this is also bad for rats.
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Ask a Vet Live NowThe Best Rat Foods for Rats
OK, now we’re ready to take a look at our list of best rat foods for rats!
1). Vitakraft Vita Smart Rat & Mouse Diet
Vitakraft Rat & Mouse Diet is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your rat. This is a nutritionally complete diet for rats and contains grains, alfalfa, seeds, and veggies. It’s fortified with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and omega fatty acids. And this food is made in the USA.
The food also contains plenty of protein from peanuts, eggs, and peas.
The deal we found on Amazon includes two packages of rat food, each weighing two pounds.
We’re sure your rat will love this rat food!
2). Henry’s Picky Blocks
Here’s another rat food that’s nutritionally complete for rats. This is a tasty food that has been specifically formulated for rats. It contains pecans, wheat flour with a touch of sweetness, but without the sugar, your rat doesn’t need.
Henry’s Picky Blocks are all-natural and contain no preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, fillers, or soy. And this food is made in the USA.
This rat food is advertised as sure to please even picky eaters. So, if your rat is picky, this food might be a great choice for him!
3). Wild Harvest Daily Blend Rat & Mouse
Here’s a rat food that’s nutritionally complete and is made of large, hard pellets that are great to help keep your fur baby’s teeth from getting too long. This food is made with fortified nutrients, corn, and molasses, which is sure to appeal to almost any rat.
This formula also works well for mice. So, if you’re the pet parent to both mice and rats, they can both enjoy this food!
4). Harlan Teklad Rat Food Diet
Here’s a rat food that has 18% protein, which is what your rat needs to stay healthy. This rat food is made with 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, and more. Everything your rat requires in his daily diet!
This rat food comes in 33 lbs. bags, which means the food will last your rat for quite a while. This is a value rat food, which also offers all the nutrition your rat needs.
5). Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Rat & Mouse Food
Here’s another food that’s great for both rats and mice. The company only uses high-quality, natural ingredients. So, you won’t have to worry about artificial colors, preservatives, or flavorings in this food.
The list of ingredients is quite long and varied, but you will find red milo, oats, wheat, flaked carrots, beets, green peas, bananas, flaxseed, and more. The food is also fortified with vitamins and minerals your rat needs to have a healthy, happy life.
6). Higgens Vita Garden Rat & Mouse Food
This is another rat food made by Higgens, which is made with their proprietary fiber-biotic pellets. The pellets are scientifically formulated with multi-fiber, and they’re nutritionally fortified to keep your fur baby healthy.
This formula uses natural fibers that help to promote good health and boost the digestive tract. The pellets are also made with probiotics and plant-based DHA omega 3 fatty acids to boost your rodent’s immune system.
This is a nutritionally complete food for rats and mice.
7). Sleek & Sassy Garden Small Animal Food
We love the name of this rat food! Keep your rat sleek & sassy with this nutritionally complete food for your fur baby! It’s made with a combination of grass seeds, whole grains, carrots, legumes, and more. It also contains various protein sources, minerals, and essential amino acids to keep your fur baby healthy, sleek & sassy!
Rather than pellets, this is a food that is made with whole foods. You’ll find pieces of bananas, peanuts, and more in this rat food. Plus, the food contains no artificial colors or sulfites. Please note this is not a food that can be shared with rabbits or guinea pigs.
8). Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food
This is an all-natural food for adult rats. It contains all the essential ingredients that a rat needs each day for his active life. The food is made into pellets, which contain balanced protein, fat, and carbs that provide energy for active rats. In addition, the food contains antioxidants and prebiotics that support your rat’s immune system. Oxbow Essentials also contains all the vitamins needed to keep your rat healthy.
This rat food contains no refined sugars or artificial ingredients, and it’s made in the USA.
9). Exotic Nutrition Rodent Blocks
These rodent blocks are great for rats, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, and squirrels! So, you can feed almost your entire rodent family with this food!
Exotic Nutrition has been formulated to provide all the nutrients your rat (and other rodents) requires each day. Plus, the pellets are hard, which helps your fur baby’s teeth from growing too long. Your rat will enjoy gnawing away on these healthy pellets!
10). Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food
Here’s another food that’s great for both rats and mice and is made for all life stages. These pellets are formulated with only the highest quality ingredients that will ensure your rat’s health. What’s more, this is a brand that’s even trusted by zoos around the world!
These rat food pellets are formulated based on the latest research into rodent nutrition. Your rat will enjoy the taste of these pellets as he gets all the nutrition he needs each day.
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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