Ratscaping for Dwarf Rats – Natural Design, Digging Boxes & Enrichment

Ratscaping for dwarf rats: natural, smart and above all fun to build

Ratscaping is "designing with nature as inspiration": more textures, more routes, more to explore. Pygmy rats are curious climbers who love tunnels, heights, hiding places, and foraging challenges. In this category, you'll find exactly the right materials for them – from cork tunnels and tree trunk tunnels to digging pits, humus/sand mixes, moss, and natural decorations. You've been shopping at DRD Rodent Shop® as a Specialist since 2011 .

What is ratscaping?

Ratscaping is the natural way to furnish a dwarf rat cage with materials that encourage exploration. Think tunnels, platforms, different substrates, and foraging areas. You essentially build a "route" through the cage: from sleeping area to feeding area, via climbing bridges and hiding places, with plenty of activities along the way.

Get started in 5 steps (easy and effective)

1. Choose your base – start with a fine, absorbent bedding and create your interior on top.
2. Create a route – add ladders/bridges/platforms so your dwarf rats can climb and change levels.
3. Provide shelter – combine houses with natural tunnels (such as cork or log tunnels).
4. Add a digging zone – a digging box with humus or (digging) sand mix is ideal for additional activity.
5. Finish with texture – moss, dried flowers and natural accessories provide both structure and distraction.

Tip: Want to optimize the basics of the enclosure? Always combine ratscaping with the right categories for your dwarf rats: bedding , houses , and cages .

What can you find in this category?

These are the most commonly used ratscaping items for dwarf rats (and you will also see them in the range):

• Cork & natural tunnels – great hiding and walking routes (e.g. cork tunnels and tree trunk tunnels).
• Climbing routes – ladders, ropes, bridges and hanging elements to connect heights.
• Digging buckets & sand zones – separate digging buckets or digging boxes, plus humus/coir and digging sand(s) mixes.
• Moss & natural decoration – for structure, appearance and extra texture in zones.
• Dried flowers & harvest decorations – decorative and fun to play with/forage with.
• Foraging items – sniff boxes, foraging trees, and hiding materials that make the cage “active.”

Zones & routes in the cage (for clarity)

Zones keep ratscaping beautiful and practical. A handy layout:

• Sleeping area – quiet, sheltered (house + tunnel + soft sleeping material).
• Action zone – climbing route with multiple “stops” (plateau, ladder, bridge).
• Digging zone – digging bucket with humus/sand mix, possibly fenced off to keep it tidy.
• Foraging zone – spreading food in/under materials or via foraging items.

Pygmy rats love to climb. Therefore, build wide and stable rather than high and wobbly: ensure components are securely attached and create "waypoints" so routes feel logical.

Maintenance & hygiene

Ratscaping for dwarf rats doesn't have to be complicated. Work with separate areas (like a digging bucket) and do small maintenance rounds:

• Daily : remove wet spots, check feeding area.
• Weekly : refill/turn the bucket, move the decor for variety.
• Periodically : replace parts of the substrate (not all at once if not necessary).

✔ Natural materials and smart enrichment for daily variety
✔ Practical to maintain by working with clear zones
✔ Specialist since 2011 – carefully selected range
✔ Ordered before 5pm, shipped the same day!
✔ Delivered from our own stock