Can rats eat peas?

Yes. Peas are safe and a favorite with rats. Offer a few, fresh or frozen.

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Serving

A few peas

How to prepare

Fresh or frozen — great for pea fishing

Benefits

Good plant protein and fiber, and a favorite enrichment treat.

The details

Peas are a good source of plant protein and fiber, and the PDSA lists them among suitable treats for rats. They are also great for enrichment: drop a few frozen peas into a shallow dish of water and let your rats fish them out.

How treats fit into a rat's diet

Most of what a rat eats each day should be a complete rat pellet or nugget, weighed out from the pack guidelines. Fresh fruit, vegetables and treats come out of that daily allowance, not on top of it: the RSPCA warns that extra sugar and fat lead to obesity and health problems, and rats gain weight easily. Remove any fresh food that hasn't been eaten within a few hours.