Baby Rat Diet

Question
Hello,
i just got 2 baby male rats from Petco.
I was wondering about a good Diet for them so they won't catch anything.And i want to know what kind of treats they could have that may be around the house.
Thanks,
Kate

Answer
 There are several diet options out there, depending on what is available to you and how much time you want to devote to it.  If you are going for a commercially made diet, the best thing to get are blocks (rather than the seed mixes), with Harlan Teklad and Oxbow Regal Rat being the two best brands.  With a block type diet, make sure that corn is not the first ingredient and the protein content should not be too high (recommended not higher than 18%).

 Mixing your own diet can be fun and easy to make and the rats do appreciate it.  Here are some links to good recipes:
http://www.shunamiterats.co.uk/diet.html
http://www.boardmanweb.com/rattery/nutrition.htm
http://ratfanclub.org/diet.html
http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/recipes1.htm
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/recipes2.htm

 No matter what they eat, it is beneficial for them to get fresh food daily, including fruits, veggies, grains, and cooked meats.  As for treats, almost anything you can eat, they can eat, but keep in mind that junk food is just as bad for rats as it is for humans, and it is better to stick to healthier snacks.  Here is a list of foods that can be harmful to rats: http://careguide.evergreenrattery.com/unsafe_foods.html

 For more information about rat care please visit my website at http://careguide.evergreenrattery.com .  Good luck with your rats!