Awesome to hear would you consider reptibark a safe substrate for boas and balls I know its harder to change and clean but I want the aesthetic as well as functional for the new builds and am finding the aspen on my floor every day when I pull a snake out to be getting on my nerves as the only room in my hose with carpet has to be the room they are in lol I have never tried leaving a rat in the ball cage I will have to try that they tend to only eat half the time and I usually have to put every one to bed first and shut t he lights off and work in the dark to get them to eat.