jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
Oh, that's not good. 
Kaytee FortiDiet - What are the problems?
- Thread starter Christie
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Christie
Well-Known Member
*sighs* no its not. I dont know what to do about this. Jo, would you ever food Kaytee?
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
I'd try the Extrusion from Petsmart first.. if you find another "bad" bag, I'd complain to the manager and see what they have to say. But if there really is nothing else, then I probably would feed Kaytee but with lots of daily fresh veggies.
smilez_n_hugs
Senior Member
Ratlover101 where do you live? I'm guessing its not anywhere near Guelph or someone would have already suggested getting HT from the university but I thought I'd mention it because I was in the same boat as you until I found out that the University of Guelph sells HT
Christie
Well-Known Member
I live in Hamilton.
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
If a lot of people in the GTA decided to order HT,
it might be worth it for someone to driver to Guelph, pick up the order, and split the transport costs.
it might be worth it for someone to driver to Guelph, pick up the order, and split the transport costs.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
If only I lived closer, I could definitely take on such an enterprise. My dad just bought a van so it will make it easier for when we do our long trips to Guelph. But still... it won't be till the winter is almost done and even then, I'd have to take a day off work since it's only open Monday to Friday. :wallbang:
MadCatter
Active Member
I actually just posted a question on another forum comparing Mazuri and Kaytee Forti-Diet. Looking over the two ingredients, I really have a hard time considering Mazuri something that is even suitable for our rats to be eating (however there are still plenty of people who swear by it, and have used it with good results with many many rats):
(bolded parts to show differences, and placement in ingredients list, as first in the list means it has more of a particular ingredient):
Kaytee Forti-Diet
Ingredients
Ground Yellow Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Ground Wheat, Ground Oats, Ground Peanuts, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Cane Molasses, Lignin Sulfonate, Fish Meal, Corn Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Animal Fat, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Beet Pulp, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Riboflavin, Ferrous Carbonate, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Manganous Oxide, Ethoxyquin, L-Lysine, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothena
Mazuri
Ingredients
Dehulled soybean meal, ground corn, ground wheat, wheat middlings, animal fat preserved with BHA, cane molasses, fish meal, ground oats, porcine meat meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried beet pulp, wheat germ, brewers dried yeast, calcium carbonate, dried whey, salt, calcium propionate (a preservative), dicalcium phosphate, ground soybean hulls, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (source of vitamin K), choline chloride, dried yucca shidigera extract, corn gluten meal, DL-methionine, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3 ), vitamin A acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (source of natural vitamin E), soybean oil, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, nicotinic acid, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, cyanocobalamin (source of vitamin B12 ), manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate.
The primary ingredients for both of them are essentially all the things that are bad to see in dog food (I understand that rats and dogs are different, however fillers, fillers, horrible preservatives, and more fillers aren't good for any animal). Kaytee contains Ethoxyquin, which we all know is a bad preservative, however Mazuri also has BHA, which is a preservative that may also cause problems with rats. I'm not sure why cane molasses is even in there, except possibly to add flavor and calories.
From talking to other people about this topic, it's generally accepted that Harlan-Teklad and Oxbow Regal Rat compete for the 'top spot' as far as rat food is concerned, except that many rats end up rejecting Oxbow, to the point where they will lose weight while on it. You may be able to find a rescue or breeder in your area that distributes HT.
I know that some people don't like the idea of Suebee's diet because you have to be careful that your rat is getting everything it needs in it's diet, but if the only other options are Kaytee or Mazuri, I opt for Suebee's. I feed this with Natural Balance Low Calorie dog food (all natural, good ingredients, low protein, low fat, and no dangerous preservatives). Dog food is regulated by the FDA - small animal foods and treats sold in pet stores are NOT, so there is a lot of leeway for companies to produce items that are dangerous for our pets.
(bolded parts to show differences, and placement in ingredients list, as first in the list means it has more of a particular ingredient):
Kaytee Forti-Diet
Ingredients
Ground Yellow Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Ground Wheat, Ground Oats, Ground Peanuts, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Cane Molasses, Lignin Sulfonate, Fish Meal, Corn Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Animal Fat, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Beet Pulp, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Riboflavin, Ferrous Carbonate, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Manganous Oxide, Ethoxyquin, L-Lysine, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothena
Mazuri
Ingredients
Dehulled soybean meal, ground corn, ground wheat, wheat middlings, animal fat preserved with BHA, cane molasses, fish meal, ground oats, porcine meat meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried beet pulp, wheat germ, brewers dried yeast, calcium carbonate, dried whey, salt, calcium propionate (a preservative), dicalcium phosphate, ground soybean hulls, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (source of vitamin K), choline chloride, dried yucca shidigera extract, corn gluten meal, DL-methionine, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3 ), vitamin A acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (source of natural vitamin E), soybean oil, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, nicotinic acid, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, cyanocobalamin (source of vitamin B12 ), manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate.
The primary ingredients for both of them are essentially all the things that are bad to see in dog food (I understand that rats and dogs are different, however fillers, fillers, horrible preservatives, and more fillers aren't good for any animal). Kaytee contains Ethoxyquin, which we all know is a bad preservative, however Mazuri also has BHA, which is a preservative that may also cause problems with rats. I'm not sure why cane molasses is even in there, except possibly to add flavor and calories.
From talking to other people about this topic, it's generally accepted that Harlan-Teklad and Oxbow Regal Rat compete for the 'top spot' as far as rat food is concerned, except that many rats end up rejecting Oxbow, to the point where they will lose weight while on it. You may be able to find a rescue or breeder in your area that distributes HT.
I know that some people don't like the idea of Suebee's diet because you have to be careful that your rat is getting everything it needs in it's diet, but if the only other options are Kaytee or Mazuri, I opt for Suebee's. I feed this with Natural Balance Low Calorie dog food (all natural, good ingredients, low protein, low fat, and no dangerous preservatives). Dog food is regulated by the FDA - small animal foods and treats sold in pet stores are NOT, so there is a lot of leeway for companies to produce items that are dangerous for our pets.
PiedPiper
Well-Known Member
I was in Guelph about a week ago and actually posted offering to pick up some HT for anyone, but I didn't get any takers! Go figure, hunh? Maybe it was because I could only do the pick up and not deliver it to their homes? Regardless, I've got a van and would be willing to do this from time to time too. Jo, if you or your Dad were to pick up from my house, it would knock about an hour, maybe an hour and a half off of your trip (and I'd give you a cup of coffee). Something to keep in mind. :wink2:SQ said:
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
Gina, that would so be worth it and it would mean that I could go on the weekend instead of taking a day off work during the week.
PiedPiper
Well-Known Member
:nod: Just give me a head's up a week or so before you need more and I'll see when I can make the trip, okay? Maybe by then, some others will want to get in on it too.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
Sounds like a plan!!
