Oxbow

[Bronwyn]

Yet another trip to the pet store in desperation to find lab blocks only to find I'm not the only one. Even the small rip-off sizes are sold out. Anyway, I was staring at the shelves wondering what to do when I noticed bags of Oxbow staring at me. I've never seen them before...I thought they were only sold in the US? Regardless, I'm assuming this is a good food to purchase? At $10.99 for a smallish bag it hints at that...

 

[lilspaz68]

Bron, Oxbow is the maker of Regal Rat. You have probably heard a ton of people talk about that. Definitely available in Canada

 

[Bronwyn]

Ha! Oops. I'll grab a back when I'm back in the country.

 

[Good Karma]

Bronwyn, where did you find Oxbow in Guelph!? Pet Paradise? I have been asking them to order it in for me forever!

I've bought it at Campus Estates animal hospital before and they charge $20 a bag!

Besides Harlan i think its the best block out there - no others compare! That's what your babies grew up on among other things...

I was also feeding some Nutri-Block by Living World that Pet Valu carried but last weekend they told me they are discontinuing it! Poop!

 

[jorats]

Oh ya, Oxbow is excellent for rats. Not highly palatable but that just means the rats won't gorge themselves on it. I would definitely give it a try.

 

[Bronwyn]

I haven't seen Nutriblock in sooo long. But $20! YIKES. Yes it's Pet Paradise that has a bunch of Oxbow bags (the one on Edinburgh). They aren't big bags at all so that may be why the price is lower.

If you go to get some, don't look in the mouse cage. The pregnant and/or wounded mice will make you want to cry. Not to mention how they keep the rats.

The girls are on Extrusion right now but since I can't seem to find that anymore it looks like Oxbow will be the new food. : x

 

[jennifervb]

I haven't seen Nutriblock in sooo long. But $20! YIKES. Yes it's Pet Paradise that has a bunch of Oxbow bags (the one on Edinburgh). They aren't big bags at all so that may be why the price is lower.

If you go to get some, don't look in the mouse cage. The pregnant and/or wounded mice will make you want to cry. Not to mention how they keep the rats.

The girls are on Extrusion right now but since I can't seem to find that anymore it looks like Oxbow will be the new food. : x

Is it possible to report Pet Paradise to any Animal Rights activists? I would also be more than happy to take a trip up there and drop kick the manager from here to Guam.

 

[Good Karma]

Ug! I HATE pet paradise. It is such a horrid store! And the employees are so unprofessional and give horrible advice! But sometimes going in there cannot be helped because they sell things many stores don't. I still hate giving them my business.

However... I have heard that another pet store here in Guelph maybe carrying Oxbow products - Ryan's in the north end!

 

[Bronwyn]

I'm not sure about what would be involved with reporting...I could snap photos of the mice. I noticed two who looked really sick (also bloody and balding) weren't there this morning. There's a male with an open cut right down the centre of his back. Really horrendous. I was speaking rather loudly about how cruel it is to keep animals like that (talking to a friend who was with me) and the employee behind me sort of crept out of the animal room.

They are really useless, I agree. They move the inventory around a lot so I need to ask where the lab blocks are frequently. The employees never know.

 

[trillium]

Hi

Yah -- I'd avoid supporting Pet Paradise if you can. Horrid place. I know Flower Town Chinchillas and Canadian Pet Connection have Oxbow online (I've ordered from both places with no problems) and I've seen it at Campus Estates too - check the expiry though. We found one bag there that was past the expiry date. I know it hurts to pay more for it, but I can't even handle walking into that store anymore it makes me so upset.

I've never seen it at the Ryan's so can someone let me know if you happen to find it there? It'd be great to not have to pay shipping.

By the way, my rats kinda enjoyed the Critter Berries too as a treat.

 

[Godmother]

Yes, Oxbow is good stuff and more stores are starting to carry it. My girls eat it only if there is nothing else left, but it gives them such a nice coat!

My sympathies to those of you who have to shop in those awful pet stores. We have been lucky here after the blow of losing our favourite independent pet supply store. That's where I used to buy Nutriblocks. For a while all we could get was the hamster Extrusion at Walmart (and the supply was really inconsistent), but we now have a store that supplies Oxbow, and Mumsyrat saved the day by doing the Harlan Teklad run.

 

[jorats]

You can also check some vet clinics. They sell Oxbow as well. That's how I get mine.

 

[Good Karma]

Hi

Yah -- I'd avoid supporting Pet Paradise if you can. Horrid place. I know Flower Town Chinchillas and Canadian Pet Connection have Oxbow online (I've ordered from both places with no problems) and I've seen it at Campus Estates too - check the expiry though. We found one bag there that was past the expiry date. I know it hurts to pay more for it, but I can't even handle walking into that store anymore it makes me so upset.

I've never seen it at the Ryan's so can someone let me know if you happen to find it there? It'd be great to not have to pay shipping.

By the way, my rats kinda enjoyed the Critter Berries too as a treat.

Hey! Another Guelphite! That makes 4 of us at least; me, Bronwyn, Cityrat and you! Very cool...

I know that the rep from oxbow was going to be visiting Ryan's so hopefully they will be bringing it in. When i heard i said "Please please bring it in!!!"

 

[trillium]

I'm happy to hear Ryan's might get it - a far better place since the only animals they foster are the Humane Society kitties - I used to be a Guelphite, but now I'm in Windsor. Do travel back as much as I can though - I miss home

 

[Bronwyn]

Part of the problem is Pet Paradise is literally beside the Edinburgh Village - the gorgeous apartments that house only students. Most of them I'll bet don't know what they're supporting, it's just part of the convenience of the location.

I'll for sure look into ordering food online/getting Lisa to drive out to the northern end.

 

[Moon]

If the Pet Paradise in Guelph is anything like the Pet Paradise in Kingston, I certainly wouldn't go in there :evil:

 

[Bronwyn]

Ick, I remember the Pet Paradise in Kingston. Same problems! There was a Pet Paradise in Orangeville that closed down...they were the worst of all. Long dead mice were in those cages.

 

[Good Karma]

The rep from Oxbow was at Ryan's the other day and they will be bringing it in. It may in in the next few weeks, or after they change locations in March. I will keep everyone posted!

 

[Bronwyn]

How is Oxbow fed to rats? Mixed with lab blocks?

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

My girls get OxBow offered all day long and they each get a harlan block in the morning and one at night.