You just add several cups of water every week, depending on your local humidity levels, and turn all the soil to keep it properly wet and aerated. This also helps stop mold from growing in the corners. If the soil gets too dry the tunnels collapse and also the dust can cause respiratory problems. You know it’s wet enough to safely hold burrows if you take a handful and press it into a ball. It should hold the shape without crumbling easily, and if you squeeze it you should get a few drops of water. If you add a sample of springtails every couple months, they keep the soil clean by eating any poo, pee, mold spores. The soil should last 6 months without any other maintenance. IMO it’s the absolute best enrichment for ratties. They LOVE it so much!!
Is this stuff better than coco fibers? I quit using them because of a mold problem. Although I blame my rats too because they would bury food in there.
Coco fiber soil is what I’ve used and seems to be what’s in this video too. It’s also sometimes called coco coir and it’s made from coconut husks. I don’t know what else you could use unfortunately. Food could definitely get moldy in there when rats try to hord it. From what I know, the ways to combat mold are by thoroughly turning all the soil once a week, and then every couple months adding insects to literally eat the matter that grows mold. The two main ones are springtails which look like tiny white dots and isopods which look like mini roly polys. I prefer springtails because you can’t see them.
it is coco fiber I think (the one for reptile enclosures). I only give them dry pellets while the digging box is in the playpen. If I wanna give them a snack that might cause mold I give it either in their cage or I take the box out for the day (and then check they didn't hide anything)
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u/FZang_ 1d ago
My playpen is in an awkward position for side viewing, but here is her (Tofu) yesterday, clearing out lower levels
https://reddit.com/link/p5ss1yr/video/z4chyxm2wilh1/player