Do Rats Eat Lab Blocks?
WouterWhen you are considering purchasing lab blocks for rats, make sure you choose a quality brand. Lab blocks should be made from high-quality ingredients and should not contain hay. Hay is a source of fat and is not nutritionally beneficial for rats. It is also a relatively uncommon substance for animals to digest, and rats are no exception. Moreover, few animals can digest different types of grass, so it is unlikely that they will develop blockages or gain any other benefit from it.
Keeping your rat’s food bowl full is a good idea for preventing hoarding and food-based aggression. It is important to give your rat an adequate amount of lab blocks, because they will stop eating once they are full. It is also advisable to maintain a consistent feeding schedule, so that your rats do not develop habits of selective feeding. A common feeding schedule for rats is around 1pm.
Rats require two kinds of food: a staple diet and an enriched diet. It is best to keep a lab block in the cage at all times, and supplement it with fruits and vegetables from the table. A good quality lab block like Mazuri has a great blend of ingredients. It can be purchased for around $20/pound.
Rats’ diets vary depending on their breed and age. A typical diet for a baby rat will contain up to 23% protein, while a geriatric rat will only get about 5%. Rats can also be fed a specific diet that contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. If you are unsure about whether or not your rat should be eating a certain type of food, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
