I currently use a bunch of different beddings for my boys; oxbow pure comfort paper, all living things unscented paper, kiln dried pine pellets and small pet select aspen. The aspen is very very dusty ill admit, but so far Ive had no issue using the pine pellets as the main bedding and mixing/layering it with a little aspen and coco fibre. Then the full cheeks paper pellets for the litter box and a few of the hanging bins with the paper beddings, Once in a while Ill mix paper with the base bedding as well. With how well coco fibre holds moisture and can smell moldy, plus the expense, I doubt i could ever do a bioactive setup and/or do upkeep for it if it was the sole bedding !! It really is a catchers catch all for finding the right bedding. There are some who swear by kiln dried while others claim it killed their rats, while others will say the same things about aspen. Getting a solid answer on the "right bedding" for rats is impossible and really is a case of "try em all yourself and be the judge".
I agree. For years, I used paper bedding without an issue, and then it stopped working for me. I now use sani-chips, which is wood based but not shavings, as shavings makes everyone sick. 🤷♀️ Works for some people, but sadly not me.
@@hallofrats703 Absolutely fair! When I run out of aspen Ill try other less dusty options but I think the multiple bedding strat is working great for me! (Lets just hope it doesnt destroy my bank account...LMAO)
Yea I tried Aspen and the dust was so awful I had to step outside after I opened it. Fleece was also awful, but it was the only thing most people recommended in rat groups for years. I am a huge fan of pine mixed with paper bedding
Great video! Living in Canada I had a hard time finding a bedding that worked for me. Especially since I am highly allergic to dust and wood beddings. Thankfully I found an Acrylic base secondhand for my cage and was able to go bioactive! I love it and I even breed some CUC on the side to add as needed, and have my extras up for sale because they breed so well. I love the isopods and actually keep a few different species now! I only have 2 types in my rats cage though. It never went through that "bad smell" phase. The small rats getting impacted by foraging in it is interesting, I scatter feed mine on the dirt and most are dwarf rats, and I've kept baby dwarfs on it as well with 0 issues. I definitely understand your concerns with bioactive though, it isn't for everyone. I'm loving your content so far!
Thank you! I would love to keep isopods, and probably will one day. And the baby rat, I’m sure, was probably a freak accident. I might try bioactive one day, I just need time to talk myself into it 😂
Hey there! I know this is an older video, but I thought I’d still ask a question.. so my rats currently are using the Aspen wood shavings from Walmart… I’ve noticed ever single time I buy the bag, it’s always super dusty… a few of my rats have had respiratory issues because of this bedding, and had to have medicine several times… But I’ve heard that Hemp bedding is the best bedding for rats… but I noticed in your video you said that hemp bedding was super dusty? But I’ve always heard that hemp bedding is the least dusty bedding to use for rats? Would you agree? I haven’t tried the hemp bedding yet, but the one I’m wanting to buy has a lot of good reviews.. the dominion hemp. Any feedback would be wonderful! Thank you!!
It’s very brand dependent! A lot of rat owners have used the old dominion hemp and have had great success. I haven’t personally used it, as I’m allergic, but if your rats have had issues on aspen, I’d definitely try the hemp.
I currently use a bunch of different beddings for my boys; oxbow pure comfort paper, all living things unscented paper, kiln dried pine pellets and small pet select aspen. The aspen is very very dusty ill admit, but so far Ive had no issue using the pine pellets as the main bedding and mixing/layering it with a little aspen and coco fibre. Then the full cheeks paper pellets for the litter box and a few of the hanging bins with the paper beddings, Once in a while Ill mix paper with the base bedding as well. With how well coco fibre holds moisture and can smell moldy, plus the expense, I doubt i could ever do a bioactive setup and/or do upkeep for it if it was the sole bedding !!
It really is a catchers catch all for finding the right bedding. There are some who swear by kiln dried while others claim it killed their rats, while others will say the same things about aspen. Getting a solid answer on the "right bedding" for rats is impossible and really is a case of "try em all yourself and be the judge".
I agree. For years, I used paper bedding without an issue, and then it stopped working for me. I now use sani-chips, which is wood based but not shavings, as shavings makes everyone sick. 🤷♀️ Works for some people, but sadly not me.
@@hallofrats703 Absolutely fair! When I run out of aspen Ill try other less dusty options but I think the multiple bedding strat is working great for me! (Lets just hope it doesnt destroy my bank account...LMAO)
Yea I tried Aspen and the dust was so awful I had to step outside after I opened it. Fleece was also awful, but it was the only thing most people recommended in rat groups for years. I am a huge fan of pine mixed with paper bedding
I currently use sani-chips, as they last for a long time, and while not dust free, they definitely have less dust.
@@hallofrats703I've heard of that, mind sharing what brand you get?
PJ Murphy’s
Great video! Living in Canada I had a hard time finding a bedding that worked for me. Especially since I am highly allergic to dust and wood beddings. Thankfully I found an Acrylic base secondhand for my cage and was able to go bioactive! I love it and I even breed some CUC on the side to add as needed, and have my extras up for sale because they breed so well. I love the isopods and actually keep a few different species now! I only have 2 types in my rats cage though. It never went through that "bad smell" phase. The small rats getting impacted by foraging in it is interesting, I scatter feed mine on the dirt and most are dwarf rats, and I've kept baby dwarfs on it as well with 0 issues. I definitely understand your concerns with bioactive though, it isn't for everyone. I'm loving your content so far!
Thank you! I would love to keep isopods, and probably will one day.
And the baby rat, I’m sure, was probably a freak accident. I might try bioactive one day, I just need time to talk myself into it 😂
What’s your preferred bedding? I think I missed it on the video. I know your friends favourite is pine lol
Aspen! I’m currently using the Full Cheeks aspen from PetSmart.
@@hallofrats703I’m having a horrible time with that exact bedding right now. I think one of my rats is allergic, or it’s too dusty for one of them!
Hey there! I know this is an older video, but I thought I’d still ask a question.. so my rats currently are using the Aspen wood shavings from Walmart… I’ve noticed ever single time I buy the bag, it’s always super dusty… a few of my rats have had respiratory issues because of this bedding, and had to have medicine several times…
But I’ve heard that Hemp bedding is the best bedding for rats… but I noticed in your video you said that hemp bedding was super dusty? But I’ve always heard that hemp bedding is the least dusty bedding to use for rats? Would you agree? I haven’t tried the hemp bedding yet, but the one I’m wanting to buy has a lot of good reviews.. the dominion hemp. Any feedback would be wonderful! Thank you!!
It’s very brand dependent! A lot of rat owners have used the old dominion hemp and have had great success. I haven’t personally used it, as I’m allergic, but if your rats have had issues on aspen, I’d definitely try the hemp.