bananstasiya
New Member
Hey guys, I’m looking for tips on how to create a diet for pet rats that would help them live a long and healthy life. Before learning what I have now, I previously had rats and primarily fed them oxbow food block with additions of fresh vegetables and fruit. Now I’m on the process of getting rats again and began looking at different food formulations for rats and they all have soybean oil, canola oil etc. which is completely unreasonable, these oils are also present in variety mixes. Many rat owners have actually found an increase in tumors in rats that were fed oxbow, connecting it to the soybean oil present (unsurprisingly). I have decided to create my own food mix but many of the recommendations still include flax seed, chia seeds, roasted unsalted soy beans, and sunflower seeds as healthy fats, although shredded coconut is also listed. They also suggest wild rice, and different grains that I don’t really have a huge problem with, considering this would probably be a food they would eat in the wild. I’m just looking for the best options to include in their diet for carbohydrates, protein (although lean meats, eggs, dehydrated shrimp, chicken with bones, yogurt) are what I’m leaning towards although I’m also considering adding gelatin as well, and best sources of fats for them.