Big Pile of Babies!

[CornCrazy]

They are SO cute when they are this little!

 

[rerat]

Then...they get eaten. How depressing.

 

[Joejr14]

Any difference between the regular aspen and the clorophyll aspen?

 

[CornCrazy]

Then...they get eaten. How depressing.

Usually just the boys...the girls get to produce more babies (until they are about a year old, anyway).

Any difference between the regular aspen and the clorophyll aspen?

Actually that is pine. I sent my husband to the store to get the bedding and he got the wrong stuff. I finally used the last of it today, though (thank goodness). I have noticed that they are less smelly since I've had them on this bedding.

 

[lilivoryflower]

ohhhhhh they are really cute! I guess no matter how many reptiles I own, I'll always have a thing for mammals, lol

 

[Misss_misssy]

That is too cute.. I noticed something though. in the second picture to the far right there is a baby that is still pink.. but the outher have there hair.. thats odd.

 

[CornCrazy]

That is too cute.. I noticed something though. in the second picture to the far right there is a baby that is still pink.. but the outher have there hair.. thats odd.

Not odd really...the babies are from several different moms. I recently used the pinks (which were born later than most of the babies pictured) to feed some baby snakes that are refusing F/T. I simply missed one...

 

[ultimuttone]

Oooooh they are too cute at that age.


I thought it was a problem to keep your feeders on pine just as it is your snakes. Was that misinformation?

 

[CornCrazy]

I thought it was a problem to keep your feeders on pine just as it is your snakes. Was that misinformation?

It's not ideal. It can lead to respiratory problems. These guys haven't been on pine for very long, though (a couple of weeks). I will probably switch them back to aspen the next time I have to clean their cages.

I know several people who only use pine. They say that since the mice are feeders, they are not willing to spend the extra $ for aspen. I have been told on numerous occasions that they do fine on the pine...especially if the tanks are well ventilated. My friends have not had a higher incidence of respiratory infections either...so who knows???

 

[ultimuttone]

Thanks, I always avoided it even though it does help with the smell of the rodents because I had heard about the RI problems.

 

[rhinecat]

The only thing that can conclusively be said about keeping rodents on pine is that they show elevated liver enzymes upon necropsy*. There's no evidence that this affects them, or anything that might eat them, in any negative way, but I REALLY don't want to take the chance. I know that aromatic hydrocarbons like pine oil really do a number on human lungs, and that rodents have sensitive respiratory systems and are on their bedding 24/7 in most cases. Logic tells me that it's probably safer not to use pine. My rodents live on hardwood (oak) pellets that were designed for use in woodburning stoves and are about $5 for 40-50 lbs. Very cheap, very absorbent, and very safe.

*http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html I can't find the original article, since it's bookmarked on another computer, but this is a synthesis of rodents + pine research.

 

[Shep151]

Hmmm, that's even a little cheaper than the alfalfa pellets I use! :eek1:
Right now I get good production and very little odor on 14 day litter changes. How long do you go between litter changes, and where do you get your pellets?

Nice Avatar, btw

 

[rhinecat]

I change mine every week when I change the hairless rats' fleece bedding, for convenience's sake, but when I was ill earlier this month, they went a good 14-16 days with no problems, though some of the pellets had broken down and become dusty (alfalfa does this too, IME). I buy them at ACE Hardware for $4.99 per bag, though I don't know if it's a 40 or 50 # bag off the top of my head.

And I really should have asked--is it okay if I use your picture of my Atalanta as my avatar? It's not hotlinked to your site or anything.

 

[Shep151]

And I really should have asked--is it okay if I use your picture of my Atalanta as my avatar? It's not hotlinked to your site or anything.

No problem!

 

[Gintha]

I've been breeding mice for 12 ish years now, and they've always been on pine, have never seen a problem with them yet. In fact the on time I had RIs they were on aspen LOL (it turned out to be FULL or mold spores ~.~) My mice are for pets, and shows tho hehe... not for munching! Unless I get a really deformed one, then my ex's chameleon gets a snack ~,~

Did you check the ingredients on those wood stove pellets? I know most have chlorophllorohydrocarbons in them (helps them burn cleaner).. not sure that those are healthy for rodents hehe. If they are chemical free tho.. then thats a great idea =)

 

[rhinecat]

They are chemical-free--I called to bug the company until I found someone who knew what they were talking about. It's just oak sawdust compressed into pellet form, basically.