I have two adult rats whom I love very much, however I think they might be a little over weight. What's the healthy weight for a rat, and are they're any diets i can put them on.
2006-08-06 06:26:20 · 7 answers · asked by Anne 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
The average adult weight for rats is between 200-300 grams, with the males being on the larger side.
What kind of diet are you feeding your rats now?
Rat nutrition has come a long way, but the knowledge isn't as well-known yet. Many 'complete' rodent food mixes contain lots of grains and seeds but aren't the best diet for pet rats. Rat blocks that are specially made for rats are a more complete diet. Look for rat blocks that have soybean meal as one of the first ingredients. Soy products are important because they help prevent mammary tumors and decrease pain deception. But because high-soy blocks are processed, most experts recommend you also feed some fresh foods (80% Blocks, 20% Fresh). Rat blocks can usually be fed free choice.
If you think your rat may be overweight, the first step is to figure out why. Do you feed them too many fatty treats? (junk food is as bad for rats as it is for people) Or is your diet in general just too fatty (seed diets can be especially fatty)? Try feeding your rats a diet more like listed above, and see if things improve.
2006-08-06 12:11:34 · answer #1 · answered by All is On 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to disagree with the person who said the average weight is 200-300 grams. My little girl who is a 2 years old but still the size of a baby weighs that, the average weight of my boys is around 450g.
The best way to tell if a rat is overweight is to look at its belly when it stands up. If the belly sticks out, then its overweight.
I have one rat that weighs almost 800g and his sibling weighs 375g! Yet they are both the right weight for their frame.
2006-08-07 08:42:08 · answer #2 · answered by kiffie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my two large male rats weigh 1.2 lbs. something slightly less than that should be good. putting them on a strict diet varies. i even asked my vet about it. he was hesitant to help set one up. i have had them for a little over two years and they are still on the same diet. so it might be hard on them if you make a drastic change. if you find one add a little of the new diet in their usual food of the coarse of two weeks.
their diet should include fruits and vegetables and other recommended treats. make sure to consult a professional before starting you rats upon this.
do not feed them human foods like meat, cheese, chocolate, or anything else that can be harmful.
i give my rats a piece of cheese now and then, but it's rare. it will make them very, very fat. that's whey are have fat rolls right now. it's hard not to resist their cute faces.....
2006-08-06 06:53:46 · answer #3 · answered by werewolfpixie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only feed them one time per day.. no more than a 1 /16 cup of grain or what ever. Even that might be too much..
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Hey, I knew a male rat that was about 30 that weighed about 165 pounds..
2006-08-06 06:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not much some rat,s don`t weight that much
i know i have one he is smart to
love a rat and thay love you back
2006-08-06 08:18:24 · answer #5 · answered by treesnake2009@yahoo.com 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to see their ribs and feel their spine. If you can't then they are overweight. Feed them less food and have them play more and they will slim down. A pet that is slimmer will live longer. Good luck.
2006-08-06 06:32:36 · answer #6 · answered by bcringler 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what? I don't have a clue, but this was one of the funniest questions I've seen on Yahoo Answers and I wanted to give you credit for making me laugh! Thank you.
2006-08-06 06:31:20 · answer #7 · answered by Polly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋