Snakes and Rats in the same room

Is it a bad idea to keep snakes and rats in the same room? Also will housing the rats on pine/cedar bedding be harmful to the snake?

I've heard everywhere that pine is harmful to snakes, I definitely wouldn't risk putting your rats on it. Also, if you have snakes that have good appetites, if they smell the rats they may become a bit more feisty and aggressive than usual. If your rats are very well contained, I'd try it, but especially now that breeding season is over, my balls are more piggish and nervous than usual so I'd try to put them in another room.

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Originally Posted by TheLaughingDemon

I've heard everywhere that pine is harmful to snakes, I definitely wouldn't risk putting your rats on it. Also, if you have snakes that have good appetites, if they smell the rats they may become a bit more feisty and aggressive than usual. If your rats are very well contained, I'd try it, but especially now that breeding season is over, my balls are more piggish and nervous than usual so I'd try to put them in another room.

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I keep rats in the same room as my snakes (I KNOW I'm not the only one) and the snakes are no different from before. Also keeping rats on pine then feeding them off will not harm your snake, pine is one of the most common rodent beddings there is and no harm has ever come from it.

I keep my rodents on a combo of kiln dried pine and fresh pine. I have not had any concerns. I think it depends on how much you use and what your ventilation is like.

I also keep my rodent racks in the snake room. I have a closet that I took the doors off of it holds my racks.

It is about proximity. When you are feeding, put a bucket of rats near the rack and you will see a similar feeding/pre-scent response that you get when your rats are in a different room.

Bruce

I keep my rats on pine pellets, and the moms on pine shavings for the first two weeks after they give birth (the pine pellets broken down seem to smother the babies, and I experience a lot of loss if kept just on pine pellets).

My rat rack is 1 step away from my snake racks. No issues at all with the snakes.

Same thing here. I've keep my rats on a good quality, low dust pine and they've done fine for years now. Until today the rat colonies were within a few feet of the snake racks. Since we've got our basement cleaned up, the rats have just moved downstairs but that was more about wanting them in that space then anything to do with the snakes.

Same here, I keep my rats and snakes in the same room. I haven't had any problems. I also use kiln dried pine as well-no problems with that either.

I keep my live rodents in the same room as my BP. My BP seems to only get excited when she can SEE a rodent in my hand coming towards her tank.

I am my 5-6 year old ball python's THIRD owner (People don't keep their pets anymore??) her two previous both kept her on pine shavings and she's still very much alive and healthy. When I got her I switched her over to newsprint paper & aspen snake bedding just to cautious.

I would like you all to take a look at this

http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html

And then share your thoughts. :bow:

This is what it says on the huge package of animal bedding I got at a farm supply shop.

"Original Marth Wood Shavings
Absorbent bedding promotes animal health.
Our original product, Marth Wood Shavings come in 3 cubic foot bags of high quality wood shavings. The material is an appropriate blend of pine, aspen, and other white soft woods ideal for dairy, horse, swine, poultry, small animals, and other pets."