OxbowEssentials Rat Food, Pet Food for Adult Rats, All-Natural Vitamin & Mineral Rich Formula, Veterinarian Recommended, Oxbow Animal Health, Rodent Pellets, Made in USA, No Artificials, 3 lb. Bag

My go to rat food. I always buy the 20lb bag its more affordable and having 20 rats I need to save money.

I researched everything I could find about good food for the rats (we have 4) and I'm sure you all know how picky they can be. I decided to try the "Oxbow Regal Rat" food for it's complete nutrition and mix the "FM Browns Tropical Carnival" in for variety. Keep in mind my rats wouldn't eat anything but the "goodies" out of the store bought Kaytee Fiesta diet we have had them on.First of all both the Oxbow Regal and the FM Browns Tropical Carnival smell good, even to me. Sounds funny but you know rodents use their noses more than any other sense. Have to be able to smell what's edible in the dark, dude. So if I think it smells like catfood and fish meal, the rats are going to find it even better...Second - the Oxbow is very similar to cat/dog food kibble instead of the giant soy nuggets in every other bag of food you find at the pet store (and no ones rats eat those, do they?) Why pay for stuff your rat doesnt' eat? I mean, would you keep buying dog food that tastes so bad Fido won't eat it? And complete nutrition! I have always worried about my rats getting their vitamins - I want them to live long healthy, happy lives.Third - The FM Browns Tropical Carnival is mostly seeds and "some" cereals and "few" dried shrimps, but it smells good and see above for my take on that. I know some folks have said not to give their rodents seeds because of too much protien or fat or whatever, but hey, these are American rats! We like some potatoes with that dry as a bone baked chicken breast and no-butter green beans. As long as the majority of what their eating is the healthy stuff, let them have some "junk food."First day with the new foods mixed together, stirred into their old stuff: the rats all picked out the new Oxbow and left the old Fiesta Max in the bowl! Hey Mikey! He likes it!I normally will give my rats fruit and veggies every night for dinner on top of their kibble (and a piece of candy, shame on me) but I have to admit the other day I completely forgot to feed them. Next morning the rats were, of course, hanging from the bars of the cage like "feed us, we're starving!" but they had been picking through the Oxbow/FM Browns mix I feed them and there was very little mess.Good nutrition, good price, available when you want it, and the rats like it. What more could you want?

It's not that this product is an A+... but it's the best option I found.Oxbow has the healthiest ingredients. Their little "wafers" are better than the pellet brand I've gotten. My girls do what many do with the mixes... pick out their faves (the less healthy parts) and leave the rest! So I had to go with a nugget. Oxbow has WAY less dust in the bottom of their bag! I got this GIANT bag off of Amazon because I couldn't get this brand in the stores. I had looked for weeks and they were always out. Out of desperation I bought another brand until this arrived. Two days later my perfectly healthy girl got sick and has since died. It may or may not be related but she lost function in one of her "arms" and fell out of the hammock trying to get in and out. When the Oxbow arrived and I put the other product aside, she improved a lot. She has since died. I don't know if it's related but it seems a strange coincidence. So I'm also really grateful to have this huge bag (despite storage issues) because I know I have what my other girl needs and we won't run out!So in a pet food... it seems a great product, healthy, smells fine, the rats like it fine... convenient to get on Amazon and in bulk (way cheaper than buying 5 lb bags every couple of weeks at PetSmart!)... so I do recommend!Baaaa Haaaa... Amazon has "Rate Features" below this and wants me to rate "Freshness" "Value for money" and "Flavor". Sorry.... not gonna taste it!!! Sadly if I put both this and those less-healthy pellets in at the same time... Cully will eat the other pellets first! Sometimes I eat dessert first too... doesn't make it good for me!!!

My rat loves his food! It has all the essential vitamins and proteins and was recommended by his breeder. It's taking my rat a good 8 months to finish the bag and still remained fresh.