How much food should be given to a rat? - briefly
An adult rat normally eats 15–20 g of standard pelleted feed each day, with amounts adjusted for size, age, and activity level. Provide water freely and regularly assess body condition to fine‑tune the ration.
How much food should be given to a rat? - in detail
Rats require a balanced diet that matches their body weight, age, and activity level. For a typical adult laboratory or pet rat weighing 250–300 g, the recommended daily intake of dry food is 5–7 g per 100 g of body mass, which translates to roughly 12–20 g of high‑quality pellets or lab blocks each day. This amount can be measured with a kitchen scale for accuracy.
Fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, and occasional protein sources should supplement the dry ration. A safe guideline is to offer no more than 10 % of the total daily calories from fresh items, which usually means 1–2 g of chopped produce per rat per day. Treats, seeds, and nuts should be limited to less than 5 % of the caloric intake to prevent obesity.
Water must be available at all times in a clean bottle or bowl. Rats drink approximately 10–15 ml of water per 100 g of body weight daily; for a 300 g rat, this equals 30–45 ml.
Feeding schedule:
- Provide the measured dry portion once in the morning.
- Add fresh vegetables in the afternoon, removing any uneaten food after 4 hours.
- Offer treats no more than two times per week.
Adjustments:
- Juvenile rats (under 8 weeks) need 10–12 g of dry food per 100 g body weight, reflecting rapid growth.
- Pregnant or lactating females require an additional 20–30 % of the standard amount.
- Highly active or working rats may need up to 15 % more calories than the baseline recommendation.
Monitoring body condition regularly and weighing the animal weekly will indicate whether the feeding amount is appropriate. An increase in body weight of 1–2 g per week for adults, or steady growth for juveniles, suggests the diet is correctly calibrated.