Healthy Diet Continued

Water

Fresh clean water should always be offered to both rats and mice. Rats in particular are thirsty types. Our climate in Australia is often hot and/or dry and so a water supply is important. Usually bowls of water do not work well. The animals contaminate the water with bedding, food, and droppings. A bowl may be necessary, however, with a new animal or young animals which have not yet located the water. Typically a demand type water bottle is best. These have a metal ball in the tip of the nozzle which releases water when tapped. The best types are mounted outside the cage with the tip inside the cage. If the water bottle is plastic, or has rubber parts, and is mounted inside the cage it will eventually be chewed. Water should be changed at least once a week.

Food storage

Seed mixes and pellets do not go off easily, however there will be some nutrients, like vitamins, which will not keep for long periods. Some nutrients will evaporate out of the food also. Therefore it is best to only have enough food for a month or two. These should be stored in sealed airtight plastic/glass/tin containers to discourage wild rats and mice, cockroaches and weevils.

They should be protected from sunlight as this can destroy some nutrients. For long term storage (more than 3 months) seed and pellets can be stored frozen in sealed plastic bags. Freezing will retain some vitamins.

Vitamin supplements and fresh food should be stored in the refrigerator. Be sure to check 'use by' dates on bought foods. Some pet shops may have stock sitting on shelves for a long time.

Obesity

Obesity is rare in mice and rats. They tend not to overeat. An exception to this are mice of a red/fawn/ or sable colour. The gene which gives this colour is often found with a gene that gives a tendency to be overweight.

Occasionally albino mice or black-eyed white mice and some rats will get a little overweight. White mice may be carrying the red/fawn gene and hence also the 'obesity' gene. Overweight animals tend to look fine on top of the body but have wide spreading tummies.

Being overweight is not healthy and may lower the fertility (chance of getting pregnant) in females.

In the case of rats and mice never remove the food completely. Even fat animals need daily vitamins and so on. Reduce food to the minimum suggested earlier.

You can use 'maintenance' pellets (rather than one's designed for growth). Remove any oily seeds from the seed mix these are such things as sunflower seeds, nuts, linseed, peanuts and millet from the diet. Remove any other fatty foods such as dairy products and dog biscuits. They are best kept on a basic diet of seed/pellets/bread and fruit and vegetables.