Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A while back someone stated rabbit food pellets was a good bedding for rats, but no added molases, from what i could find all rabbit food pellets use dried cane molases as a bonding agent. I have had 3 female rats die while in pine shavings but the male seems just find . No noticeable reasons I can find, they are eating ace-hi 11% rodent chow. My mice are doing just great in the same rack same food and all. Any answers or suggestions will be greatly welcomed!

>>A while back someone stated rabbit food pellets was a good bedding for rats, but no added molases, from what i could find all rabbit food pellets use dried cane molases as a bonding agent. I have had 3 female rats die while in pine shavings but the male seems just find . No noticeable reasons I can find, they are eating ace-hi 11% rodent chow. My mice are doing just great in the same rack same food and all. Any answers or suggestions will be greatly welcomed!

well, I use rabbit pellets for bedding and as long as it isn't like a horse pellet and really molasses smelling and all I have not had trouble with alfalfa pellets for bedding.
YOu are only using it 1/2 inch or so deep and don't let it get too wet. If it is that wet you have too many rats or too long between changing. Don't let it get moldy, just like anything. So I don't have trouble with that and the dustless odor control is great.
Some rats do horridly on shavings, especially in tubs with less air flow. Usually if it is death due to shavings it is going to cause upper respiratory problems, porphryn staining (bloody tears and nose) and sneezing. If they died without symptoms I would suspect a virus.
What is the % protein and fat in the feed? 11% what?
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Are the pellets cost effective? I can get a huge bag of shavings for $5 at Wal-Mart.

Thanks,
Rob
-----
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons (on breeding loan)
0.1 Sub-adult
1.0 Normal ball python
1.1 Bell Line Pastel Ball pythons
1.0 Adult Het Albino Ball Python
1.0 Het Pied Ball Python
1.0 Het Carmel Ball Python
1.0 66% Het pied Ball python
0.2 50% Het albino Ball Pythons

_____

Removed advertising from signature.

Edited on June 28, 2004 at 15:21:49 by phwyvern.

>>Are the pellets cost effective? I can get a huge bag of shavings for $5 at Wal-Mart.

I get 50# for $8 and use it about 1/2 inch deep. It lasts 10 days usually, if not more. Depends on the number of unweaned hoppers in there. But it is way better odor control. The only downside is that you can't let it mold. Some stir it now and then. I just keep an eye on it. Unless a bottle leaks it is usually just fine.
Horse pellets are less money but with a higher molasses content they tend to ferment and mold.....what fumes!
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

stupid question...what happens if it molds, does it then stink?

Do you give the rats/mice anything else for bedding? The one thing about the shavings is that they can move it about and make small nesting areas, etc.

thanks
-----
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons (on breeding loan)
0.1 Sub-adult
1.0 Normal ball python
1.1 Bell Line Pastel Ball pythons
1.0 Adult Het Albino Ball Python
1.0 Het Pied Ball Python
1.0 Het Carmel Ball Python
1.0 66% Het pied Ball python
0.2 50% Het albino Ball Pythons

_____

Removed advertising from signature.

Edited on June 28, 2004 at 15:22:19 by phwyvern.

>>stupid question...what happens if it molds, does it then stink?
>>
>>Do you give the rats/mice anything else for bedding? The one thing about the shavings is that they can move it about and make small nesting areas, etc.

Mold can be bad for your animals. Just like moldy bread or mildew anywhere it isn't healthy. I am allergic to molds so I wind up with asthma and a migraine....something I very much try to avoid.

I sometimes add shavings to the pellets. It is nice for the animals to nest in and lets the pellets last longer. If there is a rat with a litter pending I also tend to offer papertowel for them for 'clean up'. I like to give all my rodents boxes too. All the single layer boxes (tissue, cereal, cocoa, anything) get recycled through the rodents.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

You can also use wood pellets for bedding also for rats. One it get wet they break down and they new can be put in. I used them for a little bit but don't remember if they were dusty or not. I mainly used pine in my tubs.

I used pine for years with no problems. Now, I use aspen. No problems. I tried the rabbit pellets and didn't care for the extra weight or smell. I noticed no benefit from them. My guess is that you rats died from some other cause.

Denver Tom