I want to switch to aspen, but...

Ugh- I hate wasting rats!!
When you use aspen, do you find that the pee goes to the bottom and the top layers are rather dry? I use to use aspen (for a very short while) and stopped because the cleanliness was very deceiving. I do give an aspen area to those who like to burrow, but it is only an area :P

Eh, you just get used to sifting the stuff. Since it compacts anyway, fluffing it up is a perfect excuse to check underneath for true cleanliness. I use a layer of newsprint under the aspen, so any liquid mess is easy to find. :)

Where do you thaw your rats out? If you thaw them in the same room as the snakes in open air it's very good fro pre-scenting which for me has worked wonders. By the time its ready to eat they are out ready to go and striking at the tub's sides seeing my movement:)

I thaw them in hot water in the next room, the rat room. While there is a tub full of live rats pre-scenting the snake room.;)

haha. very nice!:banana:

I use aspen, on top of my newspaper, I use it under the hides.

For the feeding, I thaw my rats in a plastic ziplock bag on the counter, as long as my cats stay away!! LOL
then I put the thawed rat in the enclosure on top of one of his hides.