Lab Blocks

[Oliverian]

For all of you guys who breed your own rats and mice, where do you get your lab blocks from? And also, where do you get those "metal bar tops" for the cages that have a part that goes down so the lab blocks dont fall off. Hmm.. thats a bit confusing.. I hope I make enough sense for someone to understand. Do you order them specially through someone or something? Please help me..

[Linds]

Click <a href="http://www.mazuri.com">here</a> for the mazuri site. You can find the closest location to you, and if there isn't one close enough you can talk to your local co-op about ordering it in from them This is what I used to feed when I fed lab blocks. I have since changed over to low quality dog food. It has almsot the exact same nurtitonal values as Mazuri, with *slightly* higher fat/protein content, which I find supports breeding females much better than the lab diets did, as well as produces quicker growing, plumper feeders, which is exactly what you want in feeder rodents

[Jayson]

I get mazuri 6f rodent feed from rens feed in oakville for only 19.95 per 50lb bag. the cheapest dog food i could find was still 14.95 per 40 lb bag.
Linds which brand of dog food are you using ??? I have used low quallity dog foods before with very poor resaults, smaller litter sizes and fewer litters per female. Jason

[Linds]

I use WalMart brand dog food (Ol' Roy) for $15/bag @ about 20kg I think it is? I have had better results than when I used Mazuri. My females produce large litters (14-18 on average) and do not become worn out and emaciated looking from being constantly bred and nursing. With the Mazuri I still noticed the females becoming quite skinny after a few litters. Even my fancy mice have been producing better. I used to have ICR mice before but the colony became cannabilistic and I had to start over, and could not attain anymore. Since I switched to regular mice they were no longer having 20 in a litter, but rather 7 or 8. Since I switched to dog food they have been having 12-16 on average. Though with the mice, they do have sort of a greasy look when fed straight dog food, but thats the only downfall and it doesn't seem to affect any aspects of breeding.
It is still overall more economical pricewise for me as well, since to drive to Ren's cost $15 in gas, and by the time I had my co-op order it in it came to $26/bag.

[Jayson]

Thanks for the info linds I will defanitly look into it. Possibaly as a filler for mazuri for the extra fat protien

Jason

[Lisa]

We use Super C brand dog food, works great and is like 11$ for an 18kg bag. we tried mainstay but our mice went caniblistic and the rats weren't as plump nor were their coats as nice.

[Oliverian]

All right. Sounds like dog food would be a good option for me. Thanks for the help, Ill be sure to check out ol' roy.