Choosing a floor covering/substrate
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- This video looks at why we need to cover a rat’s cage floor and what specific things we need to consider when choosing the best substrate for us and our rat’s. This will be followed by videos looking at the different types of substrate with more information on each. For a written over view please check out this part of my website
www.isamurats.c...
Your videos have been so helpful to me since I got my boys. I look forward to the rest of this series and for the record, you don't ramble. Everything is interesting and informative.
If you need any ideas for future topics, I'd be very interested in learning about stages of development, inc. changes in behaviour, molting, dietary needs etc.
Thank you, I will add that on to my master list of stuff I really should do, it might be a nice continuation from my breeding series to continue to follow the full lifecycle
You have such a talent for providing information in a thorough, easy to follow way! Such fun, and I can’t wait to hear more about dig boxes at some point (as soon as I saw your video about the naturalistic cage setup and the critters you add to the dig box as a cleanup crew, I immediately started researching where to buy springtails, and I don’t even have the actual rats yet!)
I am looking forward to the “bioactive ish” substrate one, my girls have been on soil as a substrate for a couple months now. It definitely works well for me though is very much not like other substrates. That will definitely feature bugs!
Top tip in the mean time, it’s worth getting your bugs established before you add rat’s, gives them a fighting chance before they get hunted or dug up
I’m so excited for that video! (Probably will start with something simpler, but I’ve definitely got a long term goal of rockin’ ratties and their bioactive buds (who are sometimes also bioactive brunch ☺️)
Really excited about this series of videos you're working on! About 8/9 months ago we switched from cardboard pieces and newspaper to hemp for the ground substrate. The difference it made!! Really looking forward to learning more :)
I’ll try and do some soon. They shouldn’t be long videos so may not need as much thought as normal. Substrate does definitely make a real difference
I want to get 3 male rats, and have been trying so hard to find indepth information I can understand.
Then someone reccomended your videos and everything makes sense!
You are so informative and I have created my rats environment based on your advice. :)
Thank you, I’m really glad they have helped do much
How are rice hulls & corn on the cob as bedding when used alone/in combination with aspen chips for instance?
Thank you, very useful
I'm looking forward to the follow-up videos on specific types of substrates, because I would like to change out or mix something different. Question about humidity--what is your recommended humidity level for a rat room? I've been keeping mind at 60% but you said that rats require more humidity than humans.
I love your new boys, they are so handsome!
It seems to be around the 60-65% range, but it does depend a little on the rat’s.
Only just started the video but I have to say I LOVE your jumper! Would love to know where you got it from?
Finished now. Fascinating video! You could never bore me to death, I love listening to you talk about rats!
It was from Sainsbury’s last year (that fashion house lol). I went in for lunch and ended up with a jumper, I do love the colours.
@@IsamuRatCare thank you, it's gorgeous!
what about coir block
Can you help recommend a bedding for me. I have three 6 week old beautiful girls and I'm using yesterday's news with a critter nation cage. I will start litter training shorty, but I'm told not to use the same bedding.
Is there something you prefer for bedding so I can use yesterday's news for the litter tray only.
Thank you!
Great information! What are some of the brands you recommend for substrates? I have tried yesterday's news, but it doesn't seem to trap the odor too well. I would like to try a few different types and maybe mix them.
I tend to use back to nature or paperlit mostly but am not sure if they are available beyond the uk (paperlit is very unlikely to be)
@@IsamuRatCare thank you!
What were the symptoms that led you to know that it was the substrate that was bothering the rats? I currently have a mix of kiln-dried pine shavings and a cellulose pellet bedding for the main floor pan, and in the litter boxes a mix of kiln-dried pine pellets and corn cob. My one rat is a bit whistley with his breathing when he sniffs hard, and my other rat has porphyrin in his right eye that keeps coming back after it's cleared. I was thinking they have an underlying respiratory infection but wondering how you found out it was the bedding...
Also, love your videos and looking forward to the discussion of the different types!
It was generally snottiness, so nasal congestion and sneezing rather than being really ill. Now they can get that anyway but after it was on and off for a few weeks I tried a different substrate to see and it resolved. A lot with rat’s Is trial and error
@@IsamuRatCare Thank you so much! That is helpful.
How comes that your rats are always around your shoulders and neck? Mine would have already been exploring the sofa and possibly run away.
Most of the time they are running around, but they all like to come and visit me when I’m doing my videos too for a check in, I’m apparently an exciting part of free roan like the cat tree and the tunnels lol
From this Im getting that youre not a fan of fleece. Is there a reason
Yep poor absorption and enrichment, though good from a irritant point of view, Ill cover it in more depth on a video on it
types you never said lol