lab block questions

[ratamataz]

So far the foods I've been able to find at local petstores are:
Mazuri from PetSmart
Kaytee blocks
Hagan Extrusion for hamsters(I think thats the kind Carole likes?)

Which of these foods are the best?

Or, what better foods can I order online?
Do the brands like Harlan Teklad, Oxbow, or Mazuri F6 ship to Canada?

 

[jorats]

I buy Oxbow and Harlan 2014. If for some reason I couldn't get those I would probably buy the Extrusion, but I wouldn't be happy about it.
I'm quite anal about low protein, Kaytee and Mazuri from Petsmart are both over 20% protein.

 

[ratamataz]

Do you get the Harlan shipped to you in Canada, or do you have to travel to the states to pick it up? I thought I remembered reading about how someone had to drive to the states to pick up Harlan, but a lot of people seem to use it so I'm not sure. I just wanted to know for sure before I phoned them up to place an order.

 

[ratamataz]

Never mind, I just emailed them and asked. :roll:
Guess I coulda done that all along, duh. :stupid:

 

[jorats]

I'll answer anyways in case other people are wondering.
There are a couple of distributors in Canada. I'm lucky there's on in Mississauga. I travel almost 5 hours each way to pick up my Harlan.

 

[ratamataz]

Wow! So I guess they don't just ship it to your local post office, but you have to go to their nearest Canadaian distributer.
Hopefully I'm lucky enough to have one nearby. I know Irwin's foster mom was feeding him Harlan but I don't know where she got it from. Maybe I'll have to go to Seattle or something, that wouldn't be too bad.

 

[Moon]

Since you brought up oxbow, Jorats, does that get shipped directly to you?

I've heard a lot of rats don't like the oxbow, any ideas why?

 

[ratamataz]

There aren't any Harlan distributors in Vancouver, but there is one in Seattle.
There are also no Oxbow distributers in BC, and you can't order it from the states either! So I emailed their eastern Canada distributor and asked if they will ship to Vancouver. I hope so! I would like to avoid the hassle of needing to go to the states. But I'll do it if the Oxbow people won't ship.
I shall be keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[jorats]

I get my Oxbow from my vet clinic.

My rats will eat their Oxbow if there's nothing else to eat and since I limit my rats' food, they end up eating all their Oxbow.

Oxbow has an apple flavour to it, not every rat's preference. But it sure is good stuff (ingredients)

 

[Melissa]

D'oh I should of asked you before if you could pick me up a bag of teklad. i just realized how fast i'm going through it now with so many rats, hehe.

 

[Moon]

Jo, mind if I ask how much you pay for your Regal rat? (I'm assuming you buy the big bags)

I'm just wondering if it's worth it to me to buy it online... I think I could also ask my Global if they'd be able to get it (I saw a global downtown sells oxbow products)

 

[jorats]

If you find a store that sells Oxbow products, chances are you can get the Regal Rat.
I pay $99 for the 40lbs bags + tx.

 

[Moon]

Ok, well I found it sold online here: https://www.canadianpetconnection.com/ (in case anyone is looking)... shipping for the big bag is aout 20 bucks, but the bag sells for 99.99

I'll see if my Global can get it in for me. They don't *currently* carry anything by oxbow, but since another one downtown does, maybe they will.

The currently only carry some of the crappier stuff for small animals (Sun Seed).. maybe I can get them to consider changing over to oxbow products altogether...

 

[jorats]

Sun Seed... yuck!

 

[Lise]

I would much rather feed a high protein food such as Mazuri than Extrusion which the main ingredient is corn. Corn goes in one end, and out the other. The only digestable part of corn is the inner stuff.

A food with the main ingredient of corn is considered garbage for any other animal, so I'm not sure why it would ever be considered good for a rat.

 

[ratamataz]

Canadian Pet Connection is out of stock of Oxbow but will be getting another shipment in three weeks. I'm going to order some from them then! Yay!

 

[ratamataz]

Has anyone oredered directly from the Canadian Pet Connection website before?
My computer keeps warning me that its unsecure.

 

[lilspaz68]

Has anyone oredered directly from the Canadian Pet Connection website before?
My computer keeps warning me that its unsecure.

A lot of sites are unsecure, they just have to let you know. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[ratamataz]

I set up an account with them.
One last question- just for the record, how much does a bag of Harlan cost?

 

[lilspaz68]

I set up an account with them.
One last question- just for the record, how much does a bag of Harlan cost?

Hmmm...you'll have to wait for Jo to get back from Toronto and tell you that one. I buy the 50 lb bags of Mazuri 6F myself and pay under $30.00.