Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated November 2026.

Feeding your pet rats well is one of the easiest ways to help them live a long, healthy life. The best food for pet rats is a quality rat pellet or rat mix as the main part of the diet, topped up with fresh vegetables, a little fruit and the occasional protein treat. This guide from Birdsville, Sydney’s small animal specialists at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, trading since 1985, explains which commercial rat foods are best, what fresh food to give, how much to feed, and what to feed baby rats. It’s based on years of experience keeping and selling pet rats, not just theory.

The best food for pet rats is a quality rat pellet or balanced rat mix, such as Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse, making up around 90 to 95% of the diet, with fresh vegetables, a little fruit and occasional protein treats making up the rest. Adults need about 15 to 20g a day, while young rats need higher protein food available at all times.

Pet Rat Food Key Takeaways

• A quality rat pellet or rat mix should make up 90 to 95% of a pet rat’s diet.
• Choose food made for rats, not rabbit or guinea pig food.
• Adult rats need 14 to 18% protein, while growing rats need 20 to 22%.
• Fresh vegetables every day keep the diet varied and healthy.
• Adult rats need about 15 to 20g of food a day, as they overeat easily.
• Never feed chocolate, peanut butter, raw onion, dried corn or junk food.

On This Page

• What Do Pet Rats Eat?
• Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse
• The Best Commercial Rat Foods
• Best Fresh Food for Pet Rats
• Protein and Treats
• Foods Pet Rats Should Never Eat
• How Much to Feed a Pet Rat
• What to Feed Baby Rats
• Soft Foods for Sick or Older Rats
• Water and Supplements
• Our Team’s Feeding Tips
• Pet Rat Food FAQ

What Do Pet Rats Eat?

Pet rats are omnivores. In the wild, rats eat seeds, grains, fruit, vegetables, insects and almost anything else they can find. A pet rat does best on a complete rat food as the main part of its diet, because it’s balanced for the protein, vitamins and minerals rats need. Fresh vegetables, a little fruit and some protein treats add variety and keep your rats interested in their food.

Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse

Our top pick is Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-rat-mouse-500g), one of our most popular small animal foods. It’s a well-rounded, healthy mix formulated specifically for rats, and we mix it fresh on site, so it never sits on a shelf.

It’s made from quality, nutrient-rich ingredients, including vegetables, sweet potato, pumpkin seeds and other seeds, nuts, grains and meaty bites. Sweet potato is rich in vitamin A and fibre, pumpkin seeds and nuts add healthy fats and minerals like zinc, the meaty bites add protein, and grains give slow-release energy. Because you’re buying direct from the people who make it, there’s no middleman, so you get better value too.

You can order it online through Petsville with delivery Australia-wide, or pick it up in-store at Birdsville.

The Best Commercial Rat Foods

When choosing a commercial rat food, look for:

• A food made for rats, or for rats and mice, not for rabbits or guinea pigs
• Around 14 to 18% protein for adult rats, and 20 to 22% for young growing rats
• Low fat and low sugar, without lots of sunflower seeds or sweet coloured pieces
• A fresh product from a store with a high turnover

Good commercial rat foods we stock include:

• Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-rat-mouse-500g)
• Science Selective Rat (https://petsville.com.au/products/ss-selective-rat-all-ages-2kg)
• Vetafarm Rodent Origins (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-furry-friends-rodent-origins-350g)

Avoid cheap supermarket rat foods, which often contain fillers, artificial additives and poorly digestible ingredients. If you do use one, add small animal vitamins to the water. Browse our full range of rat and mouse food on Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/rat-mouse-food).

Best Fresh Food for Pet Rats

Fresh food should make up a small part of the diet, around 5 to 10%. A small handful a day per rat is plenty.

Vegetables

Broccoli, kale, carrot, peas, capsicum, pumpkin, zucchini, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, celery, sweet potato, cucumber, spinach, cos lettuce and squash.

Fruits

Apple, pear, banana, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon and apricot, in small amounts as treats.

Protein and Treats

Small amounts of cooked egg, cooked boneless chicken, beef, tuna and salmon make a good protein boost. Liver is very rich, so keep it occasional. Other occasional treats include plain cooked rice or pasta, oats, rice cakes, a small piece of cheese, a dog biscuit and plain baby food. Browse our small animal treats on Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/small-animal-treats).

Foods Pet Rats Should Never Eat

• Chocolate
• Peanut butter, which is a choking risk, as rats can’t vomit
• Raw onion
• Raw dried beans
• Dried corn, which can grow mould
• Green or unripe potatoes and raw potato skins
• Licorice, rhubarb and poppy seeds
• Citrus, especially for male rats, as it can harm their kidneys
• Salty, sugary and processed junk food
• Too much cheese

How Much to Feed a Pet Rat

An adult pet rat needs about 15 to 20g of rat food a day, plus a small handful of fresh vegetables. Give the food as one measured serve each morning in a heavy bowl that won’t tip over.

Rats overeat easily and gain weight fast, so measuring their food is one of the best ways to prevent obesity. Leftover food can stay until the next feed, but if your rats are getting round, cut back on treats first.

What to Feed Baby Rats

Baby rats need more protein than adults while they grow.

• Birth to about 4 weeks: babies feed from their mother and start nibbling solid food from about 2 to 3 weeks old.
• 4 weeks to about 6 months: feed a 20 to 22% protein food free choice, so it’s always available, along with soft foods like cooked egg and finely chopped vegetables.
• From about 6 months: move onto measured adult portions of a 14 to 18% protein food.

Soft Foods for Sick or Older Rats

Older rats, or rats with dental problems or illness, may struggle with hard food. Soft options include plain baby food with no onion or garlic, cooked egg, mashed sweet potato, oats soaked in water and rat pellets softened with a little warm water. If your rat stops eating or loses weight, see a vet.

Water and Supplements

Fresh, clean water must always be available, ideally from a drink bottle, such as the Pipsqueak Small Animal Hydrator (https://petsville.com.au/products/pipsqueak-small-animal-hydrator-250ml), which stays cleaner than a bowl. Check the spout regularly, as it can clog with food.

Rats on a quality rat food usually don’t need extra supplements. A salt or mineral lick is an optional extra, and small animal vitamins in the water help if you’re feeding a lower quality diet.

Our Team’s Feeding Tips

• Scatter some of your rats’ food around the cage or hide it in a foraging toy. Rats love to search for their food, and it keeps them busy.
• Introduce new foods slowly, one at a time, so you can spot anything that upsets their stomach.
• Remove uneaten fresh food at the end of the day, before it spoils.
• Use treats for training. Rats learn quickly when a favourite treat is the reward.
• Weigh your rats every week or two, and adjust their food if their weight changes.

Pet Rat Food FAQ

What is the best food for pet rats?

The best diet for pet rats is a quality rat pellet or rat mix as the base, with fresh vegetables every day and occasional protein treats. Our top pick is Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-rat-mouse-500g), a well-rounded mix formulated for rats and made fresh on site, so it never sits on a shelf.

What is the best commercial pellet food for rats?

Choose a pellet or mix made for rats, not rabbits or guinea pigs. Adult rats do best on 14 to 18 percent protein, while young growing rats need 20 to 22 percent. Avoid mixes with lots of sunflower seeds or sugary pieces. An excellent choice Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse and also Science Selective Rat and Vetafarm Rodent Origins are all good choices.

What is the best fresh food for pet rats?

Pet rats enjoy broccoli, kale, carrot, peas and capsicum, plus small pieces of fruit like apple, banana and berries as treats. Cooked egg makes a good occasional protein boost. Never feed chocolate, raw onion, raw dried beans or salty and sugary human food. Avoid citrus for male rats, as it can harm their kidneys.

What should I feed baby rats?

Baby rats need more protein than adults while they grow. Offer a 20 to 22 percent protein food free choice, so food is always available, along with soft foods like cooked egg and finely chopped vegetables. Move them onto measured adult portions once they’re fully grown, at around six months old.

How much should I feed a pet rat each day?

An adult pet rat needs about 15 to 20 grams of rat food a day, given as one measured serve, plus a small handful of fresh vegetables. Rats overeat easily and gain weight fast, so measuring food helps prevent obesity. Always provide fresh, clean water, ideally from a drink bottle, which stays cleaner than a bowl.

Can pet rats eat baby food?

Yes, plain baby food is a useful soft food for pet rats, especially older rats or rats that are sick or have dental problems. Choose simple vegetable, fruit or meat varieties with no onion, garlic or added salt. Offer it as a treat or short-term soft food, not as the main diet, which should still be a quality rat food.

Buy Pet Rat Food at Birdsville

For more on looking after your rats, see our How to Care for Pet Rats guide ([Rat care page link]). You’ll find Birdsville Blends Rat and Mouse and our full range of rat food, cages and toys in-store at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road, or online at Petsville with delivery Australia-wide. Call us on (02) 9669 1766. We’re a small business that does things in a big way, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) for live updates.