rat substrate

are wood pellets a good substrate to use for a breeding colony of rats?

Like the pine pellets/horse bedding pellets?

Yeah those are what most people use I believe.

If you are going to use pellets I would give your females a handful of pine chips to make a nest out of, or some other nesting material.

Equine Pine is pretty cheap and is a good brand to use. It expands when wet and is very absorbent. The downside to pelleted litters is that it turns to a powder which is not that nice on the ears, eyes, nose and so on if not cleaned enough. I choose not to use it at all with my mothers because the pups may become powdered like donuts if birthed on it and it may also block airways. I use Aspen shaving instead for those litters.

Pine pellets are ok, pine and cedar shavings/chips even when kiln dried are still pretty dusty and still contain phenols. It's good to avoid pine and cedar as they make it much easier for your rats to have a Myco flare up and spread URIs.

well i am a very clean person, raised to be...., and i am anal about the cleanliness of the animals enclosures. so i dont think that the pellets falling apart will be a problem. i already plan on using aspen chips for mothers that are birthing once i seperate them out.

Best substrate in my opinion is Equine Pine / Equine Fresh or similar pine pellets bedding.

Very absorbent a little goes a long way, and helps cut down on the smell.

Can be used alone with your breeding group for your birthing females provide 50% Pellets 50% Wood shaving otherwise you will likely loose babies.