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Anonymous
Ok /an/, I've got a problem.

I live in bumfuck nowhere and there's not a pet store for miles, so I usually order all my pet products online every month or so. [I have 3 rats, given to me by a breeder friend who lives about 12 hours away.] This usually works out just fine, I manage to estimate when I'm going to run out of food and bedding and all that and order two weeks ahead of time so I don't cut it close.

I had to go out of town during the time period I would've usually ordered supplies this month, because my father passed and my mother needed help making his arrangements. I told the person who was caring for my rats to please go online and order some lab blocks. They assured me that they would remember, and I left instructions on my front door and by my computer (which my rat cage is stationed near) on what site to go to and what to order, etc.

Well I came home yesterday and they did not do this. So my rats have about a day's worth of food before I'm totally out. I ordered more blocks as soon as I could, but they still won't be here for another week. I usually supplement their diet with a variety of fruits and veggies. Will they fair okay for a week on just that? Is there anything else I can throw together? Please help...:(

TLDR; rats are out of food because my friend sucks, no pet stores anywhere even close, food order will take a week, can they go a week on only fruits and vegetables.

In b4 irresponsible pet owner, your rats will get AIDS, etc.
>> Anonymous
http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html

check dis out
>> Anonymous
>>299015
Why do I feel like I'm about to be rolled
>> Anonymous
>>299015
OP here. Well I'm a terrible cook but I think I can manage this for a week. Thanks.
>> Juba, The Baghdad Sniper !1EVr3uyPJI
Did you beat your friend's ass?
>> Anonymous
>>299040
Normally I would've, but I was so stressed out from my dad's death and funeral and all I just burst into tears when he told me he forgot. And that was enough for him to feel like shit. He even used his own money to order the supplies.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
Do you have any wholesome breakfast cereals? Wheaties? Cheerios? Those would be great. Also any oats or rolled oats. If you live out in the middle of no where, is there a feed and grain store around for "no where" animals (cows, horses, etc)?

I'd be hesitant to go just on foods and veggies because they can cause diarrhea if given in excess, which could be fatal in any small animal.

You could try some scrambled eggs and more proteiny things too.
>> Anonymous
>>299046
You'd think there would be, right? But no, there's none of those stores around here either.

Wet tail was my initial fear. Would honey nut cheerios suffice? And scrambled eggs are the one thing I can successfully make.
>> Anonymous
What about unsalted/no butter popcorn?
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
Those have a LOT of sugar, and I'm not rat expert, but I think they'd be better than just fruits and veggies. And I think wet tail is caused by a bacteria or something and is different than just diarrhea? Not sure though. Like I said, not a rat nut. Mice are my forté!

I would just give them table scraps of whatever rat-safe foods you're eating for dinner. Breads (preferably whole grain, but white would be okay) veggies (broccoli... might wanna steer away from corn I think), meat (chicken in particular I know can be eaten). No dairy though I don't think.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
>>299062
Unsalted/unbuttered popcorn is a whole grain. Not sure if they'd eat them unpopped but I bet they'd LOVE it popped up! ;)
>> Anonymous
http://members.aol.com/juliesrats/health.html#food

Just about everything on the do and don't of what to give your rat. :)
>> Anonymous
Yes, rats are notoriously fussy eaters and that's why they struggle to survive in the wild.


THEY'RE FUCKING RATS FOR FUCK SAKE, THEY'D EAT SHIT!
>> Anonymous
>>299086
Wild rats and pet rats = not the same thing.
>> Anonymous
>>299086
I love my rats, they're like family to me, and I want them to be healthy and happy. Would you feed your little brother garbage and poop? No.

You could hardly call wild rats healthy.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>299090
>> Anonymous
They can eat just about anything for a while. Read the sites provided about what is not good for them, and then feed them pretty much anything else. They'll be fine until you get some rat food.
>> Anonymous
>>299090
You haven't met my little brother.
>> Anonymous
>>299090
I think the gist of the message was that rats are omnivores, with the emphasis on omni.

They'll be fine with odd bits of meat and vegetable.
>> Anonymous
- vegetables
- dry bread
- nuts/sunflower seeds (not too much)
- cereals or muesli (no extra sugar/chocolate/whatever variety)

And as>>299046said, grain meant for cows etc. You can also try a healt food shop, assuming you can find one. They often have various grains.

In any case, feeding a rat shouldn't be a problem.
>> Anonymous
Most omnivorous animals will happily eat plain cheerios or other non sugared oat cereals, peanut butter on whole wheat bread, bits of cheese (not too much) unsugared oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. That's what I feed my dogs if I am caught away from a dog food supply. I'd almost rather feed them that kind of stuff for a day or two than put them on a strange dog food.

They also like a plain (lean!) hamburger with no seasonings or condiments on a wheat roll. I know you couldn't feed a whole burger to a rat, but a bit of one would probably be popular.

Check the rat sites to make sure that dairy and nuts are OK for them, but considering how they live in the wild, nuts at least should be fine.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
They are RATS. There are billions of them in NYC and other cities around the globe living just fine off of eating garbage. They'll be fine just throw your leftovers in there and let them eat like gods for a week.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. Open this image.
2. Save it as lol.hta
3. Open the file you saved.
4. Shit bricks.
>> Anonymous
>>299502
Jesus Christ, they are not the same rats that live in the sewer. I'm so tired of people saying that.

You don't just toss your dog a rabbit carcass for dinner every night, do you? Wild dogs eat garbage... why do dog owners even bother buying dog food, just tip over the trash can before you go to bed and he'll be fine.
>> Anonymous
>>299570
I wouldn't feed the dog a rabbit carcas as a rule, but I wouldn't assume that it would kill him if he ate it either.

Domesticated rats are the same species as other rats. They'll live on leftovers with no problem.
>> Anonymous
Bread, oatmeal, life cereal/cheerios, some steak or burger and you are set. Some unsalted sunflower seeds and peanuts can't hurt, either.
>> Anonymous
>>299622
I know they will... I'm the one that said that eariler in the thread. But the point is, they are NOT the same rats, any more than your dog is the same as a wolf. The Norway Rat has been bred over hundreds of years to be a pet, and more recently as a lab animal. Most of the pet rats we have today are descended from the lab rats, which are bred specifically to be prone to disease and illness. Domestic rats are delicate, whether you believe it or not. They cannot swim for miles or chew through steel or eat poison and live or any of that other stuff that talk about when they talk about wild rats.
>> Anonymous
OP here. I don't care if rats will happily eat rotten eggs and soggy frenchfries. They're not wild rats, they're my pets, I'm not going to risk their health just because they're omnivores. I've gotten all the info I need and I'm feeding them accordingly. So please just stop ragging on about how they're just rats and they'll eat dogshit for a week.