I just got 2 pet rats and love them; they are so sweet natured. I want to get some advice.?

I feed mine Harlan blocks but they changed the name to something like nature's earth. I got a 40 pound bag for 35 bks and I froze a lot of it. I also add veggies, organs, fruits, yogurt treat. The yogurt treat I use are dog treat but are made for rats also by the same companies i checked the ingredient list was the same but it was more for a lot cheaper. I thought my rats in no time to turn with these.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/dog-biscuits-co...

I also add seed sometime, just avoid the thing that make the sick and balance the rest

.http://www.squidoo.com/what-not-to-feed-your-rat

I use cheap clothing as bedding I got to by the pound good will and so on use whats safe and rewash it. The blocks are a good basic add other protein as a treat and veggies should always be offer fruits are good but have a lot of sugar seed have a lot of fat. I love my ol girl freya shes 3 yrs old and going still loves running on the wheel and up the huge cage despite my worries for her age. I have bathed mine at 1st but they are cleaner than cats and i don't see a need to do so. My ol girl tho she feels dirt and crispy lol I guess cuz shes old and not as clean i do feel like cleaning her but I try not to because they do it them self and if its males they have buck grease washing makes them produce more.

Take a look at this website which shows the best nutrients for your rats. Yes they do need protein. Mine go crazy for canned oysters, and we feed them bits of cooked meat from whatever we are having at mealtime. They also get canned cooked beans of different varieties. On the weekend they get a hard boiled egg which is like their favorite thing.

I feed mine the molasses mix recipe (http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html), and give fruits and vegetables almost daily. They also eat Oxbow Regal Rat food which from what I read is one of the best for rats. Mine eat it as long as there is nothing better to eat! We also give them treats from our meals, but limit sugar and oils and never ever give citrus.

Make sure you read online the list of ok and not ok foods for rats, because there are some things that we can eat that are poisonous to your rats. For example: male rats cannot have citrus, rats cannot have raw sweet potatoes or raw/dry beans but cooked are ok. Here is a good website that lists what they can and cannot have: http://www.squidoo.com/what-not-to-feed-your-rat

try and get a book called The Scuttling Gourmet. it's a brilliant book on rat nutrition, and mine goes everywhere in my handbag with me for checking things in.

it's from the person that runs Shunamite rats. this part of her page details the basic version of the diet

http://www.shunamiterats.co.uk/diet.shtml

but the book has a lot more stuff in it.

if you go to the contact part of the site, or rat rations, or the rat warehouse, you should be able to order a copy

Fruits veggies little amounts of chocolate baby food bread just google foods they can't be fed its a shorter list

Feed them stuff u would eat. If u wouldnt eat it like blue bologna u pulled from the back of your fridge then dont feed it to your rats. Also dont feed them dog or cat food either. The dyes and preservatives in them arent good and will give them cancer.