Responsible Pet Ownership 17

NUTRITION OTHER

Foodfor thoughtLet’s take a quick look at the general guidelines for feeding fish, birds, rodents.

Fish

What you feed your fish is largely determined by whether

they are freshwater, tropical or marine fish. Commercially

produced fish foods exist for all the different types. Plus,

certain fish are carnivores who will eat fry and other smaller

fish, so choose carefully who shares an aquarium. Ration the

food according to the instructions on the packet to ensure

you do not overfeed your fish, which can lead to rather

sudden death.

Birds

Birds need a diet that is balanced for their specific needs.

Some eat only seeds and nuts, others only fruit, while others

are carnivores. Make sure that you discuss a suitable diet for

your specific breed or species with the breeder and your vet.

Some general rules:

1. Always have fresh water available, and change it daily.

2. Remove and replace food and water into which

droppings have fallen immediately.

3. Wash food bowls and give your bird fresh food at least

once daily, and don’t let rotting food remain in the cage.

4. Discuss a mineral supplement with your vet – certain

birds need them.

5. Never feed any parrot avocado or chocolate – both are

poisonous to parrots (chocolate is poisonous to most

pets) and can cause death quite quickly.

6. To avoid bacterial infections, don’t feed birds raw

(uncooked) meat, fish or eggs.

7. Don’t feed birds rotten or spoilt fruit – if you

wouldn’t eat it, don’t feed it to your bird.

8. Don’t feed birds crisps, sweets and ‘human’

snacks – their high salt, sugar, fat and

colouring content can be detrimental

to most pets.

9. Sunflower seeds are high in fat and

shouldn’t become the basis of a bird’s diet.

At most, they should make up 25% of a

bird’s diet.

10. Place regular supplies

of green

food and fresh, non-poisonous branches and twigs in

your bird’s cage to complete his diet. Apart from the

valuable nourishment derived from the fresh greens and

branches, they provide entertainment, which is essential

for particularly the more intelligent birds.

Rodents

From mice and rats to hamsters and rabbits, rodents all have

very different needs, which you should discuss with your vet

and breeder. Here are some basic guidelines for feeding

your rodent.

1. Always provide your rodent with fresh, cool water, ideally

in a rodent water bottle, which can’t topple over.

2. Some rodents create ‘larders’ of food which can go off –

clean their cages regularly to avoid bacterial infections.

3. Consider buying rodent vitamin and mineral

supplements. Refer to the instructions or ask your vet

to prevent incorrect levels of supplementation.

4. Fresh fruit and vegetables can also be offered in small

amounts to supplement your rodent’s diet.

5. Pet rodents can be spoiled with treats such as dog

biscuits or specific rodent snacks.