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?
