Dipstick and Sprinkles. (Rats)

Question
QUESTION: I have owned Sprinkles (female) for about two days she was a gift from my moms boyfriend who is the previous owner. He lives with us so the transaction was easy, she still seems a little afraid with me handling her but is getting better. Her 'sister' just died and she instantly became depressed so I bought her a 'little sister' named Dipstick (female). Dipstick is young and I only had her for about two days as well and already loves me she rides on my shoulder and in my hood of my jacket and wears a harness and leash. However she is very energetic and sometimes twitches and jumps and runs all over her cage. Also she makes all kinds of squeaking noises, is she ok? And is this normal?

ANSWER: Totally normal. She's being a baby - they popcorn and spazz out, complete with funky noises. She's just fine! :)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much. I was kind of worried she had like ADHD or something lol. I have one more question, in my hours of research I have not been able to find a list of other foods rats can eat other then store bought rat food. I want them to be healthy and have a variety. I am a first time rat owner as you can probably tell and everything online contradicts the other. I called the pet shop to ask them but they don't really seem to know either. I just want to know what fruits,veggies and meats are OK for them. Also I hear very small quantities of chocolate OK fine but then heard no. Is this true? If you can let me know what is and isn't OK to the best of your knowledge that would be great. Like I said I am a first time rat owner and am trying to learn as much as possible. Thank you.

Answer
To clear it up; chocolate CAN be fed. It isn't harmful, but it is fattening, so just like you wouldn't want to eat a ton of it everyday, your rat needs to stay away from high sugar/high fat foods too, to stay trim and slim. Here's a list of what can & cannot be fed, to the best of my knowledge --

Fresh lunch meats (all sorts, as long as it's cooked, which most are)
ground beef/chicken/pork
Cooked shredded chicken/beef/pork
Tuna & other fish (although I've heard rumor of too much leading to issues digestively & I'd steer away from the fish high in mercury personally)
Carrots
Sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes should be cooked, never raw. They have a natural enzyme which when digested is basically cyanide)
Peas
green beans
corn/corn on cob (cob & all)
strawberries
melons (all kinds)
Blueberries
Raspberries
Plums
Apples/applesauce (lower the sugar the better)
Bananas
Grapes
Broccoli
Squash
Cucumber
Zucchini

Things to NEVER feed:
blue cheese = contains toxic mold
licorice = contains a suspected neurotoxin
raw dry beans or peanuts = contain antinutrients, cause red blood cell clumping (note: the peanuts that you buy in stores are almost always roasted so are okay.... frozen beans from veggie mixes are okay because they've been pre-cooked)
raw sweet potato = contains cyanide-forming compounds
raw red cabbage and brussel sprouts = contain an antinutrient that destroys thiamin
raw artichokes = inhibit protein digestion
green bananas = inhibit starch digestion
green potato skin and eyes = contain solanine (toxin)
wild insects = could carry parasites
rhubarb = high levels of oxalates which bind up calcium
raw bulk tofu  = can contain bacteria (packaged tofu is safe)
orange juice = contains d-limonene which can cause kidney cancer in male rats [females are okay]
raw onion = can lead to anemia and an upset stomach


Hope that helps!