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Diet and Nutrition

Rats in research facilities are generally fed a pelleted rodent diet ad libitum. Maintenance diets generally contain 5% protein. Young animals and females used for breeding require 15% protein. An adult rat will consume about 5 - 6 grams of feed per 100 grams of body weight per day. Young rats may not be able to reach the food, so it is acceptable to put food on the floor of the cage until they are able to eat from the hopper. Food should not be used more than 6 months after the milling date. Rats are extremely cautious about ingesting foods they are unaccustomed to. If a switch to an entirely different type of diet must be made (e.g. chemically defined diet), it is probably best to introduce the new diet slowly in combination with the old ration.

Water may be provided by bottles and sipper tubes or by automatic watering systems. Cages should be checked daily to ensure that water is not leaking into the cage and soaking the bedding. An adult rat will consume about 10 - 12 ml of water per 100 grams of body weight per day. Young rats may require a longer sipper tube in order to reach the water source.