anyone got rats?

[Queen Of The High Teas]

Does anyone here keep rats? If so do you know if you can use Aubiose as bedding for them and if it is any good at absorbing smells, staying dry etc? I use Megazorb for my lot at the moment, but the cages are so big it's not really lasting that well, and I'm sure Aubiose comes in a much bigger bag. Correct me if I'm wrong on that thought though.

[kyrilliondaemon]

You can use it. We use it for the hams and it works well for them and I know at least one who uses it for rats and really likes it

Not sure how big the megazorb bags are in comparison to aubiose bales though.

[Lougarry]

The bales look much the same size in the farm shop.

[Gamina]

Bales are much the same size to be honest. I find my boys kick megazorb and auboise everywhere. I use ecobed and it has been the best thing I have found in retaining the smells. I do a spot clean every 3 days and a full hammock change once a week but the ecobed is changed fortnightly. With auboise and megazorb and indeed carefresh I was having to full clean weekly.

[Mona's Humans]

aubiose and megazorb size wise isn't much different, though i find the aubiose spreads further as its a little more compact, and the megazorb is quite loosely packed

[Queen Of The High Teas]

Thank you I didn't know they were pretty much the same size, it always looked like the megazorb bag was flatter/smaller but like MH said it could be due to it being packed looser. Gamina I don't think I can get Ecobed from my farm suppliers who get my stuff for me, and it also doesn't look very soft for hamsters or gerbils. I need something that will do for everyone as I don't have the money/space for lots of different beddings. Thank you for suggesting it though.

[fluffymunchkins]

Not sure if where I have mine from the bag sizes are different. But the megazorb certainly isn't as big as the aubiose. I know because I can carry a full megazorb bag, but I've got no chance with a full aubiose
Sorry I don't have full bags atm, otherwise I'd take a comparison shot.
The aubiose lasts a lot longer and is less dusty usually, though bags do vary.
I use megazorb for the gerbils as it keeps tunnel formations better But the aubiose is easier to use for the hamsters x

ETA - Aubiose bales are 20 KG, I think megazorb bags work out to about 15KG

[Mona's Humans]

Originally Posted by fluffymunchkins

ETA - Aubiose bales are 20 KG, I think megazorb bags work out to about 15KG

The megazorb bags are certainly lighter, because i always opt for carrying them not the aubiose from the car, and leave hubby with the aubiose lol! The megazorb is a little flatter than the aubiose bale too

I don't have full bales/bags of each either atm, sorry,

[Amethyst_ice]

personally im not keen on the smell of auboise for ratties because of their sensitive respiratory stystems..plus it certainly is a nuisence to clean up! Can i suggest a cardboard bedding to try, i got 2 bales of finacard that i am am only just coming to the end of having bought it in november! Thats doing ratty and hammy cage. i use megazorb for litter tray x

[racinghamster]

When I kept rats, I used the cardboard bedding called Bedxcel (20kg bales) mainly because I didn`t know about hemp/Aubiose back then and the fact that rats in partcular carry an organism called mycoplasma pulmonis which can trigger respiratory problems, or mild sneezing in rats. But if I kept rats today, I would definately try Aubiose (not Hemcore as it has citronella added) because I tried it with my mice and they got on really well with aubiose and mice like rats, can be prone to respiratory issues. I was reluctant to give hemp a try with my mice, but I was pleasantly surprised and it caused no reactions.

Zooplus sell Hugro hemp in smaller bags if you wanted to buy a smaller bag to sample and perhaps put the hemp in one side of the rats cage and see how they get on with it?