Exotic Nutrition Rodent Blocks Small Animal Food, 3 lb, for rats, mice, squirrels, degus

Rodent blocks from Exotic Nutrition give rats, mice, squirrels and degus a nutritionally complete and balanced food, and the pack holds 3 lb split into three bags of 1 lb. The manufacturer formulates the blocks for the nutrients rats and mice need for growth and maintenance in conventional environments, and also offers them as nutrition for pet squirrels and degus. Each block is a hard piece the animal gnaws on, which gives the teeth and jaws exercise.

What goes into the blocks

The ingredient list opens with corn, wheat middlings and wheat, followed by corn distillers dried grains with solubles, fish meal and dehulled soybean meal. Limestone, cane molasses and salt are also on the list, along with vitamin D3 supplement and dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, a vitamin E supplement. Peanut butter appears among the special ingredients.

What is in the 3 lb pack

• The pack holds 3 lb of blocks in total.
• The blocks are divided into three bags of 1 lb each.
• The item weight is 1.36 kg (3 lb), a unit count of 48 ounce.

How the blocks are fed and used

Because the food is nutritionally complete and balanced, it can stand as the daily ration, and it adds variety to a diet that is otherwise monotonous. The manufacturer also suggests using blocks as a reward during training. Offering a block lets the animal work its teeth and jaws while it eats.

How to serve rodent blocks

Offer the blocks first and hold back nuts and treats until later, which the manufacturer recommends because squirrels may refuse the blocks at first if other food is available. For a reluctant animal, the maker gives a coating recipe: blend 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter with 1/4 tablespoon walnut oil or another nut-based oil, microwave for about 45 seconds, then stir in 1 cup of Exotic Nutrition Rodent Block and 1/4 teaspoon of Exotic Nutrition's Squirrel-Cal calcium supplement until the mixture is even. Pour it over the blocks and toss until they are coated, then leave them for at least an hour.

Spread the coated blocks in a single layer on parchment paper or a lightly greased baking sheet and bake at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. Let them cool completely before they go into a covered dish or bag. Coated blocks keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Which animals are the blocks for?

Which animals can eat these blocks?

The manufacturer lists rats, mice, squirrels and degus as the animals the blocks are for.

How much food is in one pack?

One pack contains 3 lb of blocks, which is 48 ounce, and it comes as three separate bags of 1 lb each.

Can the blocks be used as a training reward?

Yes, the manufacturer states that the blocks can be used as a reward during training.

What do I do if a squirrel will not eat the blocks?

Offer the blocks before any other food and keep nuts and treats for later, since squirrels may refuse them while other food sources are available.

How long do coated blocks keep?

Coated blocks store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Before you buy

Check that the animals you feed are rats, mice, squirrels or degus, the species the manufacturer names for this food. The pack weighs 3 lb, so it suits a household feeding several animals or one animal over a longer stretch, and the three 1 lb bags can be opened one at a time. The coating recipe uses 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 tablespoon nut-based oil, 1 cup of blocks and 1/4 teaspoon of Squirrel-Cal, so buy those separately if you plan to coat the blocks.