Have you decided to adopt a fellow little rat to accompany you in the house? Although most people decide buying bigger pets like cats or dogs, rats can make excellent companions as well.
Moreover, they are easier to take care of and require less of your attention. Plus, they don’t need to be taken out, which will automatically mean less stress and more sleep in the morning. And, since rats are omnivorous rodents, you do not have to worry too much about their diet either.
Here a list with what your rats can and cannot eat, in order to make sure your pet lives a long life and full of delicious accomplishments:
What can my rat pet eat?
Luckily for you, rats are not pretentious at all when it comes to food. They can pretty much eat everything, with certain exceptions or foods that should be avoided due to their low nutrients or potentially harmful substances contained. Even eating chocolate is not an exception for rats.
Almost all fruits, meats, cheese, veggies and bread are suitable for your rat’s diet, but try incorporating as many fresh fruits as possible. Apples, berries, apricots, kiwi, papaya, plums, and grapes – all these represent excellent choices for snacks. Berries are highly rich in antioxidants, although when eaten fresh can get a little messy. Grapes represent another powerful source of antioxidants and vitamins, and can even prevent the risk of cancer to your animal.
Can rats eat bananas?
As previously mentioned, rats can pretty much everything and most fruits represent an important source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Bananas are rich in potassium and can be fed to your rodent pet without concerns. Smash them until they become mushy and mix them with nuts. This way you will create a delicious snack for rats!
However, stay away of green bananas as they might inhibit your rat’s digestive functions.
What are the benefits of bananas fed to my pet rat?
Bananas contain a high amount of potassium and are extremely satiable. Thus, the first beneficial effect is that your rat can easily feel full by only ingesting a quarter of a banana or less.
- Prevent depression – If you didn’t know, rats are extremely sociable animals, thus keeping only a rat as your pet would mean a cruelty. Rats are used to living in large herds, thus make sure you provide him with at least one partner. The active compound contained by bananas, tryptophan, is further converted into serotonin, which acts as a neurotransmitter of positive energy and happiness. Thus, feeding your pet rat bananas could lower the risks of him developing depression and might even fight against it.
- Good for digestion – Yellow bananas are good for your rat’s digestive system. These fruits are rich in a substance named pectin, which will gently cast away all the toxins and heavy foods from your rat’s system. They are soothing the digestive tract and fight against acid reflux and stomach ulcers.
- Prevent diabetes and anemia – Rats can easily develop diabetes if fed with aliments rich in processed sugar, such as chocolate, sweets, or even sugar cane.
How can my rat eat bananas?
There are plenty of delicious recipes you can make using bananas and then feed them to your fellow rat. Try mixing a few slices of a yellow banana with yogurt or cheese and then have your rodent eat the mix for one day. This will make an excellent, delicious and nutritious meal for your rat. However, since bananas are already fat aliments, mix them with lighter yogurt.
Do not feed your rat bananas in excess because they can increase your rat’s weight and, without the right amount of physical exercises, he might become overweight.
