Breakfast
A small piece of fruit topped with a teaspoon of Green Mush and a half teaspoonful of homemade grain mix
Fruits rats especially enjoy are bananas, blueberries and grapes. Other fruits good for rats include melons, apples, plums and kiwi. (Please Note: It’s important to feed rats organic produce.)
Homemade grain mix recipe:
-
- 4 t shelled raw sunflower seeds
- 1 T flax seeds
- 3 T raw rolled oats
- 4 t millet
- 4 T toasted wheat germ
- 2 1/4 T nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 T raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 T lecithin
- 1 T hemp seends
- 1 T chia seeds
[Note: T = Tablespoon, t = teaspoon]
Dinner
A small salad-type meal which always includes broccoli, kale or bok choy as well as other vegetables and beans or tofu. Add in a tiny bit of whatever you’re eating for dinner—as long as it’s healthy.
In addition to broccoli, kale or bok choy, the following vegetables are enjoyed by pet rats:
• Avocado
• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Green beans (steamed)
• Peas
• Corn on the cob. Cut off a “round” from an ear of corn and let them chew off the kernels themselves. Can be served cooked or uncooked.
Throughout the day and evening have Envigo (formerly Harlan Teklad) lab blocks and/or Oxbow Essentials Regal Rat or Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food (depending on the life stages of your rats) available for free feeding.
I’m unclear on whether avocados are safe. They’re listed here as veggies that rats enjoy, buy they’re also listed on your Dangerous Foods page. Please clarify. Thank you!
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for asking your great question! Avocados are fine to feed your rat….although they are high in fat. If your rat is not overweight, it’s no problem to feed avocado to them. If your rat is underweight, it’s especially good to feed them avocados.
Some people say not to feed the portions of the avocado that touch the pit or the rind. However, I want to check with my own vet about this….but this is what most rat experts that I’ve seen online would advise. So, just scoop out avocado that’s not touching the pit or the rind and it’s a great food for your rat….as long as your rat isn’t overweight.
Hope that’s helpful!
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Can I supplement a commercial rat food diet with green mush as well? I don’t think I have the time to be able to make homemade rat grain mix frequently and I’ll probably get a commercial lab block mix and supplement it with fresh fruits, vegetables, etc., but should I add some green mush to their diet as well?
Hi There!
Definitely add Green Mush. Green Mush is excellent for all rats (unless they have diarrhea). The ingredients are highly beneficial and it’s a great supplement for any commercial (or even homemade) rat diet.
The homemade grain mix recipe on this page is not meant to be a substitute for a good quality commercial rat diet. Instead it is a suggested “topping” so sprinkle over the Green Mush and/or the fresh fruits and veggies you feed your rats. Keep in mind that this grain mix recipe is a bit high in calories/fat. If you have rats that are overweight or are in danger of becoming overweight then you would not want to use this grain mix recipe.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello, I’m in China and I’m Chinese. Is green mush available named “HealthForce Green Mush” online in China?They are somewhat different in packaging from the pictures in the article.
Hi Riley,
“Healthforce Green Mush” is exactly what you’re looking for. In the US it’s also labeled as “Compassion Circle” Green Mush. (See the photo on this page.)
If you’d like to supply a link, I can let you know if you’ve found the correct product. “Healthforce Green Mush” definitely sounds right, though.
You can find Green Mush on Amazon in case this makes it easier when shopping from China.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello，My mice don’t want to eat green mush，but they like coconut oil（crude fat99.5%，moisture0.1%）May I add coconut oil in green mush to feed them every day？Is coconut oil healthy for them?
(America coco Therapy coconut oil for pet）
Thanks.
Hi Riley,
I’m not familiar with the nutritional needs of pet mice so I’m not the best person to answer your question. I will say that my rats have often not liked Green Mush very much at first. They do usually, however, acquire a taste for it and even come to love it. It helps to use Green Mush as a topping for a food they really like such as a small cube of banana or apple.
It doesn’t sound to me like adding coconut oil is a good idea. The main reason is that adding fat to their diet will make them more likely to gain extra weight. The only fat I would add to a rat’s diet is a high quality fish oil. (However I don’t think they’d like the taste of this mixed with Green Mush.) I’m not sure if fish oil is something that would be beneficial for pet mice, though.
My overall answer is, I’d give it a little more time before mixing anything other than water into the Green Mush. You might find that they’ll develop a taste for it and soon come to love it.
I hope you find this response at least somewhat helpful.
Best Wishes to You & Your Mice,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi I know it’s a stressful time right now so please don’t hurry to answer this (as I plan on getting rats around April) but I just wanted to know, for young/baby rats (as in 5-7 weeks old and so on) would there be any changes to this diet. A smaller portion or certain foods they would need less and more of? And if so how old should they be when I feed them the full diet. I’m trying to gather as much information for me to find the right diet for my future rats. Also I’m in the uk so I’m trying to find a good diet that has the right ingredients/brands able to go ship or is in the uk.
Thanks a lot,
Ann xx
I’ve decided to use https://ratrations.co.uk/isa-mix-8-with-soya as their main diet while i’m still learning (i would prefer to make it myself but i won’t have the storage as it’ll be filled with their spare toys, beds etc). I have two questions,
1. I would also like to give them some salad every couple of days (kale, cucumber, pepper etc) so could I add green mush to it to or is that too much or not needed?
2. How much would you suggest feeding them with this diet?
Again, take your time with answering this as it’s not urgent,
Hope all is well, Ann xx
Hi Ann,
You are asking such great questions!
I notice you first asked about what commercial diets are available in the UK and then, later on, decided you’d like to feed the Isa-mix 8 with soya and garlic from Rat Rations.
I looked at the ingredients of the diet in which you’re interested and, although it’s hard to tell, it doesn’t look like there’s enough protein for babies in that particular diet. I’m surprised they don’t provide a breakdown showing percent of protein and other key nutrients.
Are you planning on getting your rats from a breeder? The reason I ask is that you could check in with the breeder and see what they recommend feeding your new babies. Also, another idea is to research what vet you’re going to use and ask them what they recommend feeding your rats.
Just so you know, although in my heart I’d really prefer to feed a homemade diet to my rats, I know how much research goes into making the commercial diets. I have come to believe they really are the most nutritional option we have for feeding our rats. That said, I think it’s still very important to supplement your rats’ food with healthy human food as well. Part of the reason I believe the commercial diets are our best option for the majority of rats’ diet is that I worked for over 15 years in veterinary hospitals and have been a pet rat owner for 31 years. While working in veterinary hospitals, I heard in great detail about all of the research and work that goes into designing a high quality commercial diet. In addition the best veterinarians I’ve consulted with over the past 31 years have also all recommended feeding a commercial diet over one that’s homemade.
Regarding how much food to feed your rats, I always recommend starting out with feeding them what you think they can eat in the period of time they’ll have until their next feeding. By this, I mean leaving out just enough commercial diet for them to consume while you’re away. I usually put out food for my rats in the morning and evening. If it’s completely gone by the next time you put more out, then try adding a little more for each feeding. On the other hand, if there’s extra left over when you’re ready to give them more food, you’ll need to cut back on the quantity you’re leaving out for them. Later on, if you find your rats are starting to become overweight, you can always reduce the amount you’re feeding them.
I looked up what commercial diets are available in the UK and this is what I found:
For babies, I would go with Mazuri Rat & Mouse Lab Blocks. Unfortunately, since I started writing this, I noticed that this diet is currently unavailable through Amazon. There might be a chance you can find it in a local pet store or from another online supplier. The reason why I think this diet would be best is because of the high level of protein protein. You can’t go wrong with getting a bag of this food to get started with and then, if your vet recommends something different, you can always switch to what they recommend. When switching foods, remember to do so gradually by mixing in the new food a little bit more every couple of days until they’re 100% on the new diet.
A diet that’s very popular in the UK is Science Selective. Unfortunately this one is not high enough in protein for babies. It’s definitely one to keep in mind for when your rats get older, though.
Regarding salads and human food in general: It’s best to give them just enough for them to eat right away so none of it is left out. You don’t want them saving human food to eat until later after it’s gotten old. I like to give my rats salads every day. I think it’s really healthy to give them organic whole foods on a daily basis, especially fresh vegetables. In the beginning you can start off with very small portions to make sure they don’t get diarrhea. Once you see they’re handling the food well (meaning no diarrhea) then you can increase their portion sizes gradually.
I hope I have answered all your questions and that you find my responses helpful.
If I remember correctly, you’ll be getting your new rats next month…..which begins in just a few days. I’m very excited for you!
Take Care,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Is there any way I can add more protein? Whether it’s in the way of extra veggies or something else?
Hi Ann,
I’m not sure if you noticed what’s at the bottom of this page: “Throughout the day and evening have Harlan Teklad lab blocks and/or Oxbow Essentials Regal Rat or Oxbow Essentials Mouse & Young Rat Food (depending on the life stages of your rats) available for free feeding.” These commercially available diets are where your rats will be getting their main sources of protein. Also, please keep in mind that their protein needs decrease as they age. The details on how much protein they need are spelled out on the commercial diets page.
If you need any further clarification, don’t hesitate to let me know. Also, my apologies on taking so long in which to respond. I’ve been working full-time while taking care of 2 sick rats. I’m all caught up now and should be able to respond much more quickly in the future, however.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi So you mean to feed 80% commercial rat food instead of natural food completely？Should commercial rat food be provided all day?
Thanks a lot,
Riley xx
Hi Riley,
Yes, 80% of your rat’s diet should be a high quality, age-appropriate, commercial diet designed specifically for rats. The other 20% should be high quality fresh, whole foods, preferably organic. And, yes, commercial rat food should be available in your rats’ cage at all times. You want to provide sufficient quantity so they don’t run out. You don’t want to leave out so much food, though, that your rats would be encouraged to overeat.
Let me know if you have any other questions any time.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello. I am first time rat owner. My babies are 4-5 week. J have them for free days and they are very shy. I gave him rat blocks. I have a questions. I use hemp seeds as a treat to help them get use to me. How many seeds daily is ok for them? Thank you for answer.
Hi Yelena,
Thanks for asking your great question. And congRATulations on your new babies!
When determining how many treats to give, keep in mind that you want their main diet (the rat blocks) to equal around 80% of the total amount of food they consume in a day.
Hemp seeds are a very nutritious and healthy treat for pet rats. Keep in mind, however, that they’re also high in fat. It’s hard for me to say exactly how many seeds to give them. I have only seen them sold as “hemp hearts” and haven’t come across them available as the entire seed. In fact, the ones I’ve seen available in stores are made up of tiny granules (the “hearts”) that are so small you couldn’t even give them just one at a time. I would imagine that giving them a couple a day of the seeds would be fine, though.
I also think it’s a good idea to give a variety of treats. For example you could rotate between hemp seeds, small bits of seaweed snacks and ¼ of a whole-wheat sugar-free cheerio. I do have a post on various snacks I think are good for pet rats. (Super Snacks & Healthy Treats for Pet Rats) I need to write a “Part Two” with my latest favorite treats for my rats. For example, sunflower seeds broken in half make excellent treats. (Again, though, they should be given sparingly due to the high fat content.)
Also, if you’re working on trust training, I recommend you read Bonding with Your New Rats in 3 Easy Steps as well as Transforming Your Rat: From Shy to Social Butterfly. Both of these posts have tips on developing a strong bond with your rats without using snacks.
Let me know if you have any other questions or need any clarification.
Thanks again for asking your important question—-sounds like you’re getting off to a great start with your new rats!
Best Wishes to You & Your Babies,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi! I am a new rat owner of my two dumbo boys Petrie and Gus. I’ve had them for 5 days now and they should be going on 5-6 weeks now. I usually feed them when I wake up. I give them a few pellets of oxbow baby rat food and then some fresh food ranging from a boiled egg, peas, green beans, celery, and carrots. As of what I have in my fridge right now. I usually choose 3 different things for variety. By the time it hits later on, the fresh food will be all gone and maybe some of the oxbow pellets. I’ll find them hoarded in their tunnel or lying around nibbled on. I will then give them more fresh food before I lay in bed for the night. I’m worried that they’re not eating enough of their oxbow food for their balanced nutrients and that I’m feeding them and spoiling them too much. I’m trying to think of a schedule for them but I can’t seem to figure out the best times to feed them and I read something about having them do intermittent fasting. I wouldn’t want them the get fat because they do love their snacks especially Ritz crackers which I use to trust train with them to climb on me and come to the front of the cage. I would love some advice. Thank you! <3
Hi Sophia,
Congratulations on your new family members. You’re asking an excellent question since good nutrition is such a key part of keeping your pet rats healthy.
Food other than the Oxbow should be kept to 20% of their overall diet.
To start out I would recommend a routine similar to this:
In the morning, place 4 of the Oxbow blocks in their cage in various locations for them to find. (Or give them each one to take right away and then hide the other 2 pieces.) Do the same at night before saying goodnight to them. That way they have the opportunity to eat about 4 blocks each per day. Hold off for a few days on any other food until they get the idea that these blocks are their main diet.
You should be leaving just enough food in their cage that they finish it by the time you’re ready to put more food in their cage.
Then, gradually introduce other foods. At their young age, they won’t be able to eat the volume of food that they will later on. It might be best to start out giving them 1 small serving of non-Oxbow food in the morning and then 1 small serving of non-Oxbow food each at night. The small serving could consist of 3-4 peas or about a ½” square chunk of carrot or a ½” of green bean. You could give them this first thing in the morning and leave out 2 blocks each (total of 4) for them to find in their cage throughout the day.
I don’t think rats need to do intermittent fasting. I think there should always be food available which matches how it is for wild rats.
I would hold off on too many snacks. Ritz crackers are not very healthy for them. There are lots of rat owners who would think Ritz crackers are no problem, though. I just like to feed my rats the highest quality of foods at all times. I feed only organic foods as well. It may help to remember that rats can develop so many health problems—-to me it doesn’t make sense to give them food that is artificially colored and highly processed. Again, there are lots of people who disagree with me….it’s a very personal choice and you need to do what makes you feel most comfortable too.
In my opinion, a better “snack” to use for trust training would be a single pea or half a garbanzo bean. A single sunflower seed would also work well. (Even half a sunflower seed would be sufficient.) Rats can gain weight very quickly so be careful when feeding higher calorie foods.
Congratulations again on getting your new babies. I bet Gus and Petrie are adorable.
It sounds like you’re doing a great job of taking care of them and learning about their needs. Feel free to ask any other questions anytime. I’m always happy to help.
Best Wishes to You, Gus & Petrie,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Probably a silly question – they’re my specialty ? – but does the lower case “t” by the sunflower seeds and millet indicate teaspoons, or is it Tablespoons like all the rest? Thanks!
Hi Sue,
Thanks for your question. It’s not silly at all and I really appreciate your asking it. The upper case “T” is for Tablespoons and the lower case “t” is for teaspoons. I’ve now placed a note underneath the ingredient list—thanks to your asking this question.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
What kind of lecithin do you use?
Great question! Until you this question, I didn’t realize there are both soy and sunflower lecithins available. I have been buying the soy lecithin granules. I try to always buy organic food for my pet rats, but I’m not sure it’s possible to find organic lecithin. I often buy it from the bulk food bins in health-food type grocery stores. It’s also available online and I see you can buy it Non-GMO. Here it is available from swansonvitamins.com.
You say “A small piece of fruit topped with a teaspoon of Green Mush and a half teaspoonful of homemade grain mix”. Is that per rat or for more than one rat?
It’s per rat. Also, I’m now placing more like a tablespoon of Green Mush on top of the fruit. My rats don’t always eat the whole dishful, but I like to give them this amount since they sometimes do eat the whole thing.
Here’s the Green Mush powder before adding water (preparing breakfast for two pet rats):
For each rats’ serving, I pour about one tablespoon of Green Mush (mixed with water) over a small amount of fruit:
On top of the fruit and Green Mush, I sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon grain mix:
Lol no she is ten months. No Peter pettigrew here.
Good to know…..ten years seemed well beyond the norm. :)
With your grain mixes and salads… how do you ensure your rats get enough protein? Currently, I have mine on a mix of adult and young rat food from oxbow (one is almost six months, the other is around 10). I leave it available to them all day and give fresh fruits and veggies when I have them available (I’m planning to give them more now).
Hi Kayla,
Great question and thanks for asking!
My rats always have Oxbow kibble available. I aim for them to eat 80% of the Oxbow and 20% vegetables and a small amount of fruit per day. I have found I need to give my rats extremely small portions of their breakfast and dinner meals in order for them to eat more of the Oxbow.
Sounds like you’re doing a great job nutritionally with your rats! I, too, have an adult and a baby right now and am finding it difficult to separate them for their baby vs. adult Oxbow diets.
Do you really have a rat who’s 10 years old? (Or was that a typo?)
Keep up the great work with your ratties!
Best Wishes,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats