Well I kind of want to keep the relationship with these guys ok just in case I have problems with the pastel I got from them. I did call though and confront him on saying it is ok to use pine shavings...He said there is all kinds of controversy on pine shavings and the oil amounts are so low that it wouldn't hurt them. He did have a good argument and it was the same that I was wondering....If everybody raises thier rats on pine shavings then woudn't that pose a problem??