Rat food: a complete basis for clever omnivores

Rats are omnivores. In the wild they eat seeds, grains, vegetables, herbs and occasionally something of animal origin, such as an insect. Good rat food brings that variety together in one daily basis, so your rats get what they need every day without you having to put together a menu yourself. On top of that you give small amounts of fresh food and now and then a protein-rich extra.

In this category you will find a deliberately small range from Zooply, our own premium brand. Zooply came about because the products that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands. We feed Zooply every day to the animals in our shop in Bodegraven and in our breeding facility. For each product group we only choose what we ourselves think is good. For rats that means: Zooply Rat Food as a specific rat mix, and two general Zooply rodent mixes for anyone who keeps several kinds of rodents.

In short

• ✓ Zooply Rat Food is a complete mix made especially for rats and suitable as a daily staple food.
• ✓ Only top up the food bowl once it has been properly emptied, otherwise rats only eat their favourite bits.
• ✓ Rats quickly become overweight: weigh them regularly and adjust the portion to their weight.
• ✓ Alongside the food, give small amounts of vegetables and now and then a protein-rich extra.
• ✓ Always switch to new food gradually, spread over 1 to 2 weeks.

What will you find in the Food for Rats category?

Zooply Rat Food

Zooply Rat Food is a complete diet tailored to the daily needs of rats. According to the product information it contains, among other things, wheat, maize, milo, barley, pea, carrot, parsnip, pumpkin and dried banana, supplemented with a flower mix of marigold, chamomile, rose and cornflower. That mix of grains, pulses, vegetables and flowers provides different textures and smells, which suits the way rats naturally eat: sniffing, choosing, holding food in their front paws and nibbling.

The label states about 50 grams per animal per day, preferably in the evening. Rats are mainly active at dusk and at night, so an evening portion fits in well with their rhythm. See that amount as a starting point and adjust it to your rats: a small, calm doe needs less than a large, active buck. You can choose a 550-gram small pack, handy for trying it out or for a pair, or a 1.6 kg tub for a group. The tub closes well, so the food stays dry and fresh.

Zooply Rodent Food

Zooply Rodent Food is a complete mix for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats. According to the product information it contains, among other things, wheat, grass and lucerne pellets, malt sprout pellets, oatmeal pellets, linseed, barley, oats, maize, milo, peas, sunflower seeds, safflower, peanut, carrot pieces and mealworms. The pellets and grains together form a varied basis, and the mealworms add some animal protein to the mix. This food is interesting if you have other small rodents as well as rats and want to work with a single food. The label states about 10 to 15 grams per 100 grams of body weight per day, to be adjusted to species, age and activity. It is available in 1750 grams.

Zooply Rodent Food Excellent

Zooply Rodent Food Excellent is also a complete mix for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats, with grains, seeds, vegetables and mealworms. The product information lists, among other things, wheat, carob, barley, maize, maize flakes, sunflower seeds, vegetable chips, pea flakes, carrot chips, pumpkin seeds and mealworms. Here too the label states about 10 to 15 grams per 100 grams of body weight per day. Because it contains sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, it is wise to keep an extra close eye on the portion for rats that put on weight easily.

How do you choose the right rat food?

If you only keep rats, Zooply Rat Food is the most logical choice. This mix has been formulated especially for rats. The two Zooply rodent mixes are intended for several kinds of small rodents at the same time. They are also suitable for rats, but have a broader set-up.

How much rat food should you give per day?

Start with the amount stated on the label and watch what happens for a week. If the bowl is completely empty the next evening and your rats are slim and active, you have it right. If a lot is left over every day, or you find large stores in the house or the hammock, the portion is too big.

Weigh your rats every few weeks on a kitchen scale and write down the weight. That way you notice a change sooner than by eye. Also feel along the back now and then: you should be able to feel the vertebrae and hips under a thin layer. A rat with a round belly and a roll of fat at the neck or base of the tail is too heavy.

Selective eating with a rat mix

With rats, a varied mix of grains, seeds, pellets and vegetables is completely normal. Searching and choosing is part of their natural behaviour and keeps them busy. The only thing to watch: do not keep topping up the bowl when only the less popular bits are left. If you do, your rats eat only the tastiest parts every day, often the fattier seeds and the sweet bits, and leave the rest. So wait until the bowl has been properly emptied before you give a new portion. That way your rats get the whole mix.

Fresh food and protein alongside the rat food

Rat food is the basis, but rats benefit from a little fresh food. Give a small piece of vegetable per rat every day, for example a piece of broccoli, cucumber, bell pepper or carrot. With a new vegetable, start with a very small amount and build it up slowly. Fruit is tasty but contains a lot of sugar; only give it now and then and in small pieces.

As omnivores, rats can also have something of animal origin now and then, such as a piece of boiled egg or a few dried insects. In the snacks for rats category you will find, for example, Zooply Crickets, Grasshoppers and Silkworms. Keep this small as well: a few pieces is enough. Remove fresh food that has not been eaten the same day, including from hiding places, so that it does not go off.

Feeding as enrichment

Rats are clever and curious. A full bowl in a fixed place is easy, but you can also use their food to keep them busy. Scatter part of the daily portion around the enclosure, hide some in a cardboard tube or a snuffle spot, or put a few pieces on different levels. Then your rats have to search, climb and work together, just like in the wild. Do always give the largest part in a sturdy food bowl, so that you can keep seeing how much is really being eaten.

In a group it is smart to feed in two or more places. That way a dominant rat cannot keep everything for itself and the calmer animals can also eat at their leisure. A heavy food bowl made of ceramic or stoneware, or a bowl that you fix to the cage, prevents the food from being thrown around the cage.

Switching to a different rat food

Rats are naturally cautious with unfamiliar food. They first taste a tiny bit and wait to see what happens. A switch therefore takes time. So mix the new food gradually into the old food, spread over 1 to 2 weeks. Start with a small amount of new food and increase it every few days, until your rats are getting only the new food.

Useful combinations

These categories go well with Zooply Rat Food:

• Snacks: small rewards and insects from Zooply to tame your rats and play with them.
• Dried herbs: Zooply herbs, vegetables and flowers to scatter around the enclosure as a foraging game.
• Chew material: to gnaw on without extra calories.
• Food bowls: sturdy bowls that do not tip over, also handy as a second feeding spot in a group.
• Water bottles: so that fresh, clean drinking water is always available next to the food.

Frequently asked questions about rat food

How much Zooply Rat Food should I give per rat?

The label states about 50 grams per animal per day, preferably in the evening. Use that as a guideline and adjust it to your rats. If a lot of food is left over or your rats are getting heavier, give less. If they are very active, still growing or rather thin, a slightly larger portion may be needed. If you weigh your rats regularly, you will quickly see whether the amount is right.

My rats are getting too fat. What can I do?

First look at everything your rats get in a day, not just the staple food. The problem often lies in treats, nuts, seeds or leftovers from your own plate. Limit those extras, give the rat food in a weighed portion and only top up when the bowl is empty. Scatter part of the food around the enclosure, so your rats have to move more to find it. Also make sure they get daily time out of the cage and plenty of opportunities to climb. If in doubt, talk to a vet with rat experience.

My rat is suddenly eating less. Should I be worried?

A rat that leaves its food, is lethargic, loses weight, has a hunched back or a fluffed-up coat, or breathes audibly needs help. Rats can deteriorate quickly, especially with respiratory problems. In that case contact a vet with rat experience straight away. If your rat is eating well but only leaves one particular food, it is more likely a matter of preference or too many extras.

Can rats eat hay too?

For rats, hay is not a staple food as it is for rabbits and guinea pigs. Many rats mainly use hay as nesting material and nibble on it now and then. So you can certainly offer it, but the staple food remains a good rat mix such as Zooply Rat Food, supplemented with a little fresh food.

How long can I keep rat food?

Check the packaging for the shelf life. Store the food dry, cool, dark and well sealed, and it will stay tasty for longest. Preferably use up an opened pack within a few weeks. So choose a size that suits the number of rats: the 550 grams for a small group or to try it out, the 1.6 kg tub if you have more rats.

Buying rat food at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you choose rat food that we stand behind ourselves. Zooply is our own premium brand and we use it every day for our own animals. Combine Zooply Rat Food with a little fresh food, a protein-rich extra now and then and plenty of challenge in the enclosure, and your rats have a good, varied basis every day.