How to choose food for decorative rats?

It is no secret that the decorative rat is an omnivorous animal. In this regard, many owners of this pet have the false impression that the rat can be fed with leftovers from his table. It is worth noting that such actions can lead to serious health problems in the animal or even to its death. Therefore, it is extremely important to familiarize yourself with the principles of feeding decorative rats with a grain mixture and store feed.

It is worth noting that a domestic rat can sometimes be pampered with a slice from “its own” table, but the pet’s main diet should be balanced and responsive to the needs of its body. But still, you should not feed the animal with salty, fried and fatty dishes. By and large, the basis of rat food is grain. Nutrient additives are in the form of animal protein, vegetable and fruit slices, dairy products and various special treats sold in the format of vitamins.

Rat food today is presented in a huge assortment in any pet store. An alternative to food is a self-made grain mixture. The main advantage of industrial feed is a balanced composition.

The manufacturer has already done everything himself, selected the necessary ingredients and even calculated the daily rate for the pet, depending on its age and weight. In the case of the grain mixture, you will have to spend some time looking for the necessary grain and other components. But a self-prepared product will be much more useful, since the rat will not receive the chemicals processed by the chemicals.

It is conventionally accepted to divide industrial rat food into 3 groups.

• Deluxe Suite. This is a perfectly balanced product, the manufacture of which uses exclusively high-quality ingredients. For the manufacturer of such products, the main task is to use high-grade grain (usually wheat). The food of this segment is often supplemented with animal protein, the fat content of which barely reaches 15 percent. Following the norms is the main indicator that all the needs of the animal's body have been met and taken into account.

• Suite This is a segment characterized by average product quality. This product does not have such a diverse composition as in the case of superlux. As a rule, the manufacturer adds more rye, oats, barley and millet to the product, which are considered to be inexpensive grains and “poor” for useful substances. Therefore, rat owners often have to mix an additional portion of grain into the feed. In addition, animal protein is absent in such feeds, which is actually not so critical, provided that the rat nevertheless receives it in the form of complementary foods.

• Economy. Such a product is extremely scarce on additional useful substances and minerals, it can not be called balanced. Therefore, it will be a mistake to give it to the animal as the main food. In fact, economy class rat food is intended to dilute excessively fatty foods, as it is based on grains and “sticks” obtained by processing grass.

Rat lure should be chosen not only for reasons of quality composition, but also for an affordable budget. There is no need at all to spend fabulous money on a bag of industrial grain mix for a pet.

Feeding a decorative rat with dry cat food is permissible, but only very carefully and without getting carried away. The fact is that the protein content in cat food is much higher than the daily allowance necessary to meet the needs of the rat organism. To overdo it is quite simple. It is recommended to use cat food as a treat, giving the pet a few pieces.

According to the prevailing number of reviews by holders of decorative rats, it is best to give preference to imported products, since their composition is more balanced, high-quality and has a lower likelihood of an allergic reaction in the pet.

Do not forget about the finicky decorative rats. A fairly common situation when a pet begins to "rebel" if it ceases to receive a treat. Dry cat food is addictive not only in cats, but also in domestic rats. Therefore, excessive addition of cat food to the diet can cause the animal to be whims and refuse normal food. In the latter case, hardness is recommended.

If the rat after eating cat food began to refuse to take the usual grain mixture, it is necessary to ignore and wait until the pet ceases to be capricious and eats the old food.

There can be several reasons for the transfer of decorative rats to a self-made grain mixture, namely:

• an allergic reaction to store food;
• desire (or need) to save money, as sometimes making a grain mixture at home is cheaper than buying a finished rat feed;
• Be sure of the quality of the ingredients involved and the absence of chemical treatment.

With the right approach, you can make a completely balanced composition that can completely replace dry food. Various cereal crops must be taken as a basis without fail, the presence of wheat, rye, oats and barley is useful. A great alternative can be the majority of cereals located at home. A kilogram of rice, millet or buckwheat will be enough. Sometimes, sunflower or pumpkin seeds are used.

The main requirement in the preparation of homemade food for a decorative rat is that cereals serve as the basis. There are many options for recipes for the grain mixture, they can vary depending on the needs of the rat organism or the wishes of the owner. The following are some good homemade rat food formulations.

For the first recipe, you will need to acquire the following ingredients:

• wheat in the form of whole grains;
• dried fruits (if desired, you can take several varieties at once);
• pearl barley;
• oatmeal;
• millet;
• small rice groats;
• buckwheat;
• corn or pea flakes;
• pumpkin seeds;
• food for cats Purina Pro Plan (you can give preference to another brand, the main thing is to pay attention to the composition that the manufacturer offers).

The cooking procedure is incredibly simple - measure in equal proportions all the previously mentioned ingredients, mix them. The balanced rat grain mix is ​​ready. It is recommended to store it in a dry, damp room for 12 months. However, it is advisable to prepare the mixture in small parts, each time noting the pet's reaction to the prepared food.

For the second recipe, you will need to stock up with the required amount of the following ingredients:

• wheat;
• oats;
• rye;
• barley;
• buckwheat grain;
• peas;
• meat feed;
• sunflower and pumpkin seeds;
• cornflakes;
• hemp seeds;
• a bag of dried fruits.

The following recipe does not contain animal protein, which means that there is a need to maintain it in the rat diet in the form of complementary foods. So, from the ingredients you need to get the following:

• wheat (it is she who forms the basis of the whole grain mixture);
• peeled oats;
• sunflower seeds;
• pearl barley;
• dry medium-sized pasta;
• corn flakes;
• pumpkin seeds;
• dried banana chips;
• buckwheat;
• unroasted peanuts;
• barley.

It is advisable to prepare the grain mixture with a volume that is enough for the animal for one or two months. You can calculate the required amount of feed yourself. To do this, consider the required daily intake of food. So, a decorative rat of medium weight will require 10-15 grams of a grain mixture.

The involvement of a large number of cereals in the preparation of homemade food raised the controversial issue of the introduction of cereals in the diet of domestic rats. Porridge is not capable of causing any damage to the animal’s body, but it is a source of easily digestible carbohydrates, which the pet does not need at all. Therefore, if you want to pamper it with gruel, slightly steam the cereal with boiling water, but in no case do not boil it and do not add seasoning. The body will still absorb the necessary vitamins, and the animal will be satisfied.

You can learn about what rats can and cannot be fed from in the next video.