Worms?

[Roxymachado]

My girls absolutely love the weekly worm treat time we have, they go crazy for the wax worm especially!
Petco has been out of the worm selection for a few weeks now, so I've found a nice online vendor. But they have such a huge selection, that I'm thinking of trying some new worms out.

I'm wondering has anybody feed these worms(I'll list below)? And if so their experience with them? Did the Ratties enjoy some more than others?

Worms in question:
-Butterworms
-Phoenix worms/ Calci-worms/ Black . fly larvae
-Hornworms
-Silkworms

Thank you in advance for your opinions and experiences!

 

[SQ]

Absolutely Not !!!

Rats need low protein and do much better with plant protein then with protein from animals.

The recommended diet for rats is a good quality block (oxbow or Harlan)
daily - a variety of vegs
and occasional healthy treats such as berries, a piece of fruit, cooked grains, organic pumpkin seeds etc

 

[Roxymachado]

Its definitely not a meal! Just a once a week treat. 2-5 worms a piece. I know a lot of people feed mealworms as a occasionally treat. It brings out their predatory instincts, and really enjoy it. But I do agree that it should not be their daily diet.

 

[SQ]

Yes, people feed all sorts of things to their pets.
That does not mean it is healthy, or desirable.
You might want to consider the knowledge, experience etc of the people who do this and how much you respect their knowledge and experience regarding rats. Feeding worms is not something that is recommended by any person or resource I am aware of that is very experienced, respected in the rat community and knowledgeable about rats.
But of course, you can feed your pets anything you choose.

btw, If you are live feeding and not humanely euthanizing, then what you are describing is unnecessary animal cruelty. Which I personally find offensive, especially on a rescue site.

I apologize if I have made this volatile subject worse,. I will not be responding to this thread again.

 

[jorats]

I never have either and never will. But I know a lot of people do that. I kept my rats on a very strict diet and I believe that's why mine lived long lives.

 

[Roxymachado]

I feel like I offended people, I'm sorry about that. Was not my intention!

 

[jorats]

No worries!

 

[suzannedeetlefs]

I feel like I offended people, I'm sorry about that. Was not my intention!

I don't generally respond to things ...but i would just like to tell u that i don't think u are doing anything wrong ... rats are lactose intolerant yet many people still gives them cheese...

Rats are omnivores... that means they eat plants as well as meat ... a rats diet should contain 10 to 12 % protein if I'm not mistaken...stuff like scrambled eggs are excellent for rattie mammas that are pregnant or weaning kits...
Chicken bones are excellent for chew toys and hemp seeds also contains a lot of protein

Whatever protein you decide to give your ratties are up to you....the only thing i think that might influence your choice ... is that i would believe that red meat makes their poop smell worse than white meat and that meat protein in general will make it smell more than plant proteins...

I can promise you that in the wild rats eat worms and insect and probably food we through in the trash ...so giving them a few wormy treats now and then is most definitely not going to kill them...might just make their poops smell a bit more...

 

[Dena]

If I'm not careful, my rats will destroy the occasional bug that gets in our house and crosses their path. LOL but I don't encourage it, and try to shoo them away if I catch them. But for some reason, they go bananas for them! Wild bugs aren't good for them, so I try to rid their area as best I can, but somehow they have managed to find a few....

 

[jorats]

I can promise you that in the wild rats eat worms and insect and probably food we through in the trash ...so giving them a few wormy treats now and then is most definitely not going to kill them...might just make their poops smell a bit more...

Considering wild rats have a life span of 9 months, I don't think we should base the nutrition profile on them.

 

[Dena]

Considering wild rats have a life span of 9 months, I don't think we should base the nutrition profile on them.

So true! In the wild, they don't have access to the good nutrition we as owners give our pets.

 

[SQ]

This is an old thread that you commented on.

This is a rat rescue forum and it is against the rules to promote the live feeding of any animals!
"We do not condone live feeding of any animal."

I would suggest that anyone who cares about feeding rats food that is healthy for them read the information in the Reference Thread on diet and nutrition.
The Reference Thread also contains a great deal of information on many topics https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/reference-thread-read-only.35894/

Research has found that rats need a diet that is low in protein (10%) and that it is best if that protein comes form plant sources. For peer reviewed scientific research references see the above link

 

[lozzy98]

Hi I know this is an old thread from 2020 however, I've owned rats my entire life and I am currently 25 years of age with a bachelor's degree in animal management. Yes, rats are omnivorous and need some form of protein in their diet, I don't think live worms are suitable or adequate and I don't personally like the idea of live worms or even live mealworm that are used for reptiles to be given to rats, but dried mealworms are an okay source to provide as a rare treat I've always given them dried mealworms just not often maybe like a few once a week or once every 2 weeks. Also, it's possible to even give them cooked chicken that plain with no seasoning of any form again, so just the cooked chicken as itself as a very rare treat. But that's only because i know someone that did give them chicken as a rare treat and their rats lived for 7 years which is amazing, and a very long time for a rat to live compared to their average life span of 2 to 4 years. But I was shocked when they told me as that's not what I was told in my studies that they could have as a treat in their diet. But any how, I've always mainly stuck to, rat museli and the occasional fruit and veg treats that they can have and there are plenty of fruits and vegetables that contain proteins they need in their diet and again i would given them dried mealworms as they do tend to make a nice treat for them once in a blue moon with the bit extra protein they need on a rare occasion. If you want to feed your rats worms then feed them dried mealworms or dried calciworms this is a better way to give them the proteins that you may want to give them. Thank you.

 

[phycomantis09]

I feel like I offended people, I'm sorry about that. Was not my intention!

Your not offending me or anyone else!! It's just some people have woken up on the wrong side of the bed or someones pissed in their cornflakes. Ignore them. I give my rats dried worms (bird ones). My rats get them at least once every 2 weeks. I suggest dried worms as my rats enjoy them. Also how is it animal cruelty if your feeding omnivores ALREADY DEAD worms?? I don't get it. Ignore them girl.