Kitten or Puppy Food?

Question
Hi Sandy,

I have all areas of the rattie world's spectrum here.  One old rat (my love) about 3 years 1 month - who needs some extra nutrition.  Two middle aged boys and  1 mommy rat with 12 little ratties 15 days old (too cute for words!!) just starting to try different foods.

I bough everything!
Kitten kibble chow
Nutro puppy formula
Nutro Dog kibble
Oxbow  Regal Rat
Human Baby food and human baby soy milk
Ensure vanilla

What do you think is best to feed each of my rattie age groups?  I'm so confused about their nutritional needs.  I've been reading your web page - beautiful by the way!  And lots of other pages about rat nutrition.

What is your suggestion?

Thanks again,

Heidi

Answer
One old rat (my love) about 3 years 1 month - who needs some extra nutrition.

Two middle aged boys and  1 mommy rat with 12 little ratties 15 days old (too cute for words!!) just starting to try different foods.

I bough everything!

Kitten kibble chow: Ok for lactating mother

Nutro puppy formula: I dont suggest it to be used on any of them.

Nutro Dog kibble: Momma rat, adult rats, senior rat. You can moisten them for baby rats that are just starting solid food until you can get the harlan teklad rodent blocks as suggested below OR if you plan on making the rat diet mixes and using this as as part of the diet that is fine too.

Oxbow  Regal Rat; rats over 4 months old ONLY.

4. Human Baby food and human baby soy milk
Ensure vanilla and chocolate is fine, too.
This is perfect for your special needs rat(the older rat) as supplemental nutrition. I owuld still continue to offer the rat mixes or the oxbow regal rat or harlan teklad blocks.

For the young rats as they get older and are starting to eat solids, you should provide them with lab blocks by harlan teklad. The only place I know to get them is on the internet.