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  • 09-08-2008, 10:35 AM
    ThyTempest
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    For what it is worth, here is who I have talked to about this....

    Horse-person for lack of a better word at TSC
    Vet (not exotic/small animal)

    Both of them said that with something such small scale as a rat bin, that it would probably boil down to personal preference. The TSC lady said the expansion and extra cushioning helps the horses hooves, but that it may or may not be desirable for small aniamls. I was more concerned about asking the vet wether or not she would suggest the pine pellets or if I should switch to Aspen, etc. She was fine with the pine as long as it is kiln dried or undergoes something else to remove the phenols. When I asked about the wetting down like in a horse stall, she said it probably wouldnt make much of a difference, but that the extra water along with the rat droppings and urine may actually make it a better environment for fungus/mold etc. With regular cleaning I doubt this would be a problem, but still worth mentioning.
  • 09-08-2008, 02:08 PM
    Mike Cavanaugh
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    well, so far my observation is while it did break the pellets down a little, somehow someway the dust that is usually present on the side of the tubs, and top of the tub is not there at all.

    My main complaint with the use of pellets was the amount of dust. so far (5 days in) there is none of the normal dust. it changed the feel of it completley... it basicly made the pellets stick together some.... hard to explain.

    Keep in mind, i sprayed a tiny bit of water on them.
  • 09-08-2008, 02:21 PM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mcavana View Post
    well, so far my observation is while it did break the pellets down a little, somehow someway the dust that is usually present on the side of the tubs, and top of the tub is not there at all.

    My main complaint with the use of pellets was the amount of dust. so far (5 days in) there is none of the normal dust. it changed the feel of it completley... it basicly made the pellets stick together some.... hard to explain.

    Keep in mind, i sprayed a tiny bit of water on them.

    I'm not buying it. Like I've said, I've had a number of floods that completely expanded ALL of the pellets, and the rats are just running around in sawdust for a week.

    I guess Mike that's where I'm confused. It's saw dust, whether you wet it down or the rats do with their pee. I'm not entirely sure why your giving it this magical property of low dust.

    Yes, it makes sense if the saw dust is wet it may help to stick together, but what's the difference between you wetting it down right when you change it and it drying, to the rats peeing on it a bit by bit all week long?

    Not sure if this helps... but this is what I see and I can't imagine it's somehow less dusty.

    Flood

    http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2997.jpg

    http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2998.jpg




    Regular use

    http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2993.jpg
  • 09-08-2008, 03:12 PM
    Rapture
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    He didn't flood the tub, he sprayed it lightly. He said the pellets still kept their shape. I don't think you can compare the efficacy of the bedding in the first photo to his bedding that he only spraged lightly. If he says it's working, I think it would be great and maybe female rats can raise their pups on it? I'm buying some of this pretty soon so I'll get to experiement with it also myself.
  • 09-08-2008, 03:37 PM
    SatanicIntention
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Humidity is great for horse hooves, keeps them moist and supple. Humidity is NOT good for rats or other rodents. Will cause respiratory problems as well as fungal infections, ring tail, etc.

    I hate the dust too, but when you have 300 mice in one tub, you can't help that they churn up alot of dust. I just went out and bought a small air filter with an ionizer and it really helps with the dust.

    I would not be adding any dampness or humidity to a rodent tub. It's asking for health problems.
  • 09-08-2008, 05:38 PM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rapture View Post
    He didn't flood the tub, he sprayed it lightly. He said the pellets still kept their shape. I don't think you can compare the efficacy of the bedding in the first photo to his bedding that he only spraged lightly. If he says it's working, I think it would be great and maybe female rats can raise their pups on it? I'm buying some of this pretty soon so I'll get to experiement with it also myself.

    That's not what I'm trying to get across here. I know he's not wetting it down like a flood. Just a nice misting....


    You can see in my photo, that regular use over a week the pellets break down by the absorption of water. You can still see whole pellets, and saw dust.

    Now, if your adding water to the pellets, they begin to break down just like you can see in my photo, it seems like your just speeding up that process by misting it down right when you change the tubs.

    You end up with the same result, broken down, expanded pellets that still make dust with rats running around in it.


    Thats what I'm trying to explain, and can't see how your stopping any dust, but actually making more dust by wetting them down so they expand sooner.

    Does anyone get what I'm trying to say? :weirdface
  • 09-08-2008, 05:47 PM
    stangs13
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mcavana View Post
    Then why do you think so many people do it? Why does the web site recomend it? do a web search. Apparently it does not mess up the moisture absorbing properties at all.

    Keep in mind, they are not talking about soaking it... only spraying it with a fine mist of water. I imagine a fine misting would only soften soften the pellets up a bit, and cause them to expand.

    Its for LIVESTOCK not rats...

    You are basicly doing the peeing for them, and you will have all of the pelleted bedding broken down...

    Oh, and i tried to raise some pups on pellets/pine, and I lost a few and the others had dried on dust around there nostrils... I don't even like to wet the pellets down for cattle, much less my rats.
  • 09-08-2008, 05:49 PM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stangs13 View Post
    Its for LIVESTOCK not rats...

    You are basicly doing the peeing for them, and you will have all of the pelleted bedding broken down...

    Thank you!! Some one gets it!
  • 09-08-2008, 08:05 PM
    Mike Cavanaugh
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Thanks for chiming in as an expert connie when you have never even tried what I am talking about. LOL... shouldn't have expected any different.

    Nevermind folks, I will stop posting on this subject. Any questions? Ask the expert.

    :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
  • 09-08-2008, 08:15 PM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mcavana View Post
    Thanks for chiming in as an expert connie when you have never even tried what I am talking about. LOL... shouldn't have expected any different.

    Nevermind folks, I will stop posting on this subject. Any questions? Ask the expert.

    :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

    Way to take the high road Mike. :gj:

    Excuse my questioning personality... like I've said, your theory just doesn't make any sense. Can I help that I question it?
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