Food questoin

[September555]

Hi everyone......

Quick food question. Peanuts? The kind in the shell, unsalted of course. Good or not? I seen on the forbidden list of foods that "raw dry beans or peanuts" were forbidden. I feed the girls both a rat mixture of food and the brown nugget things, plus other stuff like some fruits and veggies and treat etc. Mixed in with the bag of rat food I have, there were some peanuts, and I gave them each one and they went NUTS, loved them, tore them open and wanted more. There are not that many peanuts in the bag of food, maybe 4-5.

So I wondered, can I just buy peanuts at a store unsalted? Or is that not a good idea. They just liked them so much I thought maybe I can get them some more and feed in moderation. But if it is a forbidden food, then I wouldn't dare. Just didn't know if raw peanuts meant the kind in a shell or what. If not, can I just get regular (unsalted) human peanuts in a shell and give them some once in a while?

 

[user 78]

Forbidden Food List:

note: the peanuts that you buy in stores are almost always roasted so are okay

90% of the time peanuts available in stores have been roasted. Even the peanuts in the shell. Roasted is fine. If you shop in an organic type of grocery store, just make sure you check the label. Definitely feed them the peanuts in moderation. I'd even keep them in the shell, that way they have to work for it.

It's like sitting down and eating a bowl of popcorn for humans, lots of protein and fat but not a whole let else. So, use your best judgment as to when to give it to them.

 

[jorats]

Definitely in moderation, it's very high protein and fat.

 

[September555]

Thanks again Java. Yeah I would keep them in shell, they love that, they rip them open and get one right away and then work hard at the second one. It's cute. I would feed them only a few here and there, they have plenty of other stuff, they just love those peanuts. I just wanted to make sure it was okay to give them peanuts once in a while.

:sleepy2: Ok I am off work in a few, going to snooooze, thanks for your answers Java. [/color]

 

[September555]

oops just saw your reply Jo, thanks! Yeah...definately moderation. I assume they only put a few in the rat mix for a reason. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Lise]

Since Christmas is coming and there will be nuts aplenty.... Try picking up some walnuts. I leave the walnuts in the shell, and make the rats crack them open. Sometimes they can get it within a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, sometimes it takes them days to work through.

 

[user 78]

Last year I bought a bag of mixed nuts, the sort people usually put out for company during the Holidays. They're all still in their shell, too. I put some of them into tp rolls and taped the ends, then wrapped them in plain paper. The girls had a ball ripping it all open.

 

[PiedPiper]

Since Christmas is coming and there will be nuts aplenty.... Try picking up some walnuts. I leave the walnuts in the shell, and make the rats crack them open. Sometimes they can get it within a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, sometimes it takes them days to work through.

They can actually do that? :shock:

 

[jennifervb]

Since Christmas is coming and there will be nuts aplenty.... Try picking up some walnuts. I leave the walnuts in the shell, and make the rats crack them open. Sometimes they can get it within a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, sometimes it takes them days to work through.

They can actually do that? :shock:

they can do it Gina. Their incisors are amazing. I once took Ben to the vet, in a sturdy transporter, and he actually managed to "tear" his way out of it in less than 5 minutes.

He drove his incisors into the stitching around the zipper and just sawed the thing apart! :shock:

It was an awesome drive to the vet with my little man trying to get out, in a state of panic, and my having to both drive and hold the transporter shut!!!

Where there's a little rat will.... there's a little rat way. :love6:

 

[Bronwyn]

My poor Superpet cage now lacking a base can back that one up. :lol: One night was all they needed to create a hole big enough for a puppy, haha.

 

[PiedPiper]

It was an awesome drive to the vet with my little man trying to get out, in a state of panic, and my having to both drive and hold the transporter shut!!!

Where there's a little rat will.... there's a little rat way. :love6:

:shock: Yeah, I'll bet it was!!

I'm gaining more and more respect for their abilities with each passing day! Your poor cage, Bronwyn! (Should I be worried about our Martin's?) One thing, I've noticed though is that they don't seem to want to chew what we've provided for them to chew! What I mean is, we've bought them some wooden blocks and hanging wooden bird toys (some quite nice ones too, I might add!) :lol: but, they haven't shown any interest in them. They're still as pristine as the day we bought them (mind you, it's only been a week). Any other things we can provide for their chewing enjoyment that are safe?