Best Bedding?

What is the best bedding that I can get at a local pet store for Rats?

Aspen shavings

I use pine pellets and kiln dried pine shavings. The aspen isn't very absorbent and it was very stinky the two weeks I was using aspen.


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OK, I think imma go with the pine shavings for the rats!! I am really looking to cut back on smell, and currently I am using that soft stuff, looks like fluffed cardboard or something lol.

Time to make a switch!!!

Got the pine shavings, can't wait to see how it works with smell of pee lol


0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)
1.0 Spider (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)

0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)

I use pine from a farm store. It's cheap, it works, and it's safe. I've used pine for the last 5 years and my rats live 2.5-3 years. No different than a rat kept on carefresh (I have kept pet rats on nice bedding only).

The pine was cheap, got a huge bag for $8!!


0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)
1.0 Spider (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)

0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)

I have tried several different brands of pine shavings; I finally figured out that the smaller the flake, the better the odor control. I use Guardian Swift Pick, (actually horse bedding, get it at Tri State Vet and Pet Supply in Evansville, Guardian's website has a dealer locator) it's not much bigger than sani chips, but a lot thinner. About $5 for a large bale that lasts through 3 complete 6-tub rat rack changes. I think it has to do with the available surface area that absorbs liquids and odor better.
Just my 2 cents

has anyone tried using a product similar to Good Mews, which is supposed to be cat litter but also used for small rodents. it's a recycled newspaper product, expensive but works well with odor and absorption from my experience.

I use stuff from petco it's a giant stupid square of it for 10 dollars and lasts me almost two an half months changing six cages every week. It says soft wood and paper. They sell smaller things of it for not good deal an then this one at a great deal cuz it's a big awkward rectangle.