What to feed your pet rodent

Rodents are, by definition, gnawing mammals which means they have strong incisors that grow constantly throughout their lives. In addition to some the more common rodents you might think of, a lot of small animals – like beavers, coypu and prairie dogs – are also rodents. However, each species has its own dietary requirements. In fact, rodents will usually require one of three main diet types: omnivorous, herbivorous or granivorous.

Herbivorous

The first diet is purely vegetarian. Chinchillas and guinea pigs fall into this category and the bulk of their diets should be made up of grass, hay and leafy green plants. The most important thing with this type of diet is to ensure it is high in cellulose. Without large amounts of fibre, your pet rodent is likely to suffer from diarrhoea.

Omnivorous

The second type of diet is mainly vegetarian with some animal-based protein. This is the case with hamsters and gerbils. As such, it is possible to give small amounts of meat to hamsters alongside things like yoghurt or meal worms.

Granivorous diets

The third category includes so-called 'granivores' or seed predators. This includes mice and rats. With this type of diet, it's important to ensure that the food you buy is not too high in fat as this will lead to weight gain. It's worth noting that seed-eating rodents in the wild will travel long distances to forage for food and this will burn off a lot of calories. A rodent that spends most of its time locked in a cage does not have the same nutritional needs. As such, seeds should never make up the majority of a pet rodent's diet. 

Vitamin C supplements

Guinea pigs have additional vitamin C requirements as they cannot make or store their own. It's therefore essential to offer fresh vegetables that are high in this vitamin to keep your pet healthy.

Mineral supplements

Most rodents will do well with dietary supplements added to their basic diet.

Green meadow hay can be added to rodent cages to keep your pet in good shape. This will provide a healthy environment for all types of rodents of all ages. Even if they use it to curl up in for a nap, they will still grab a quick bite if they wake up hungry!

Portion sizes

Each rodent has its own requirements when it comes to how much they need to eat and this can vary considerably between species. For example, hamsters should not be given more than 10 g of food a day while chinchillas can easily get through 50 g.

Whether you go for a rodent mix or pellets, you'll usually find the portion sizes for each type of rodent marked on the food packaging.

One thing that all rodents have in common is the need to chew. This is because a rodent's incisors grow constantly throughout its life. To prevent your pet from gnawing on the bars and hurting themselves, you will have to give them suitable wood to chew on. The wood you provide must be clean and completely raw. It can be a great idea to source this wood yourself. If you decide to do so, hazelnut and fruit trees work best. Be sure to avoid any trees by the roadside or near farmland to avoid pollution and chemicals. You should also avoid any areas that may have been soiled by dogs as you don't want to bring any bacteria into your pet's cage.

Rodents should be fed a diet of non-processed and unrefined foodstuffs. In order to keep your rodent's diet as natural as possible, avoid feeding your pet any cooked food and do not feed canned vegetables. Some foods, such as raw potatoes or kidney beans, should be avoided altogether, especially when it comes to hamsters.

Before giving any food to your pet, be sure to read up on any foods that are toxic to rodents.

1. Provide your pet with a varied diet: just like humans, rodents will benefit from a range of vitamins and minerals.

2. Rodents will usually spend the day sleeping. But they do enjoy a snack upon waking! Be sure to leave out a few seeds or greens to fill their post-nap cravings.

3. Don't hesitate if you feel you want to provide a vitamin or mineral supplement; you can even add a vitamin additive to your pet's water.

4. Avoid any sudden changes to your pet's diet to prevent digestive issues.

5. Always provide food at room temperature.

6. Do not give your pet rodent too much food at once to ensure that it doesn't spoil. If you overfeed your pet rodent, the food is likely to go mouldy. It's worth noting that hamsters will instinctively create their own food stores in a clean area of their bed. You should check the food periodically to ensure it is not rotten.