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Rat Digging Box – Digging & Sniffing Enrichment for Tame Rats (Natural, Play Box or Bio Bin)
Digging, digging, digging – that's rabbits' most natural and favorite activity! And that's exactly what they do in the spacious DiggingBox from bunnyNature! Here they can practice their natural behavior to their heart's content and just 'be a rabbit'” – w
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Hupsie-flupsie, there's the super cute "Getzoo Zandbad Marley" (25x25 cm)! With its generous size of 25x25 cm and a height of 15 cm, our brand new Getzoo Sand Bath Marley is the perfect addition to your rodent's home. The roof measures 19x19 cm and theref
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With the JR Farm Back to Instinct Snuffelbox you awaken the primal instincts of your rodent or rabbit and give you the opportunity to dig extensively, play, hide and of course sniff in the Snuffelbox with a low-dust filling.
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This bathhouse is not just a sandbox, it is a true chinchilla paradise! While the cute animals roll around in the sand, you as a spectator can enjoy the hilarious spectacle. There is nothing more fun than watching them roll around and completely submerge
Read more- Voor 17 uur besteld, dezelfde dag verzonden!
- Specialist sinds 2011
- Delivery from our own stock
Fris Sizzle is made of paper and is ideal as a play bed and nesting material for small rodents and rabbits. Due to the special shape of the paper strings, the whole thing rustles as soon as the animals walk through it. This gives a playful and exciting ef
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Crinkle nesting material is made of paper and is ideal as a play bedding and nesting material for small rodents and rabbits. Due to the special shape of the paper strings, the whole thing rustles as soon as the animals walk through it. This gives a playfu
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The Natural Pet Brand Card N Egg is a substrate consisting of egg cartons. A special property of egg cartons is that they are very soft and therefore pleasant for the paws. Egg cartons have an open paper stricture which allows them to absorb moisture very
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The Natural Pet Brand Card N Card Mix (formerly Joris No Smell Card N Card Mix) is a mix of cardboard and egg cartons. This ground cover combines all the advantages of the "Cardboard & Cardboard Brown" and the "Egg & Cardboard" with the biggest advantage:
Read more- Voor 17 uur besteld, dezelfde dag verzonden!
- Specialist sinds 2011
- Delivery from our own stock
The Natural Pet Brand Rodent bedding made from small pieces of cut brown cardboard. For this the surplus production of new cardboard boxes are used. Karton & Karton is comparable to Green Mile.
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The Natural Pet Brand Cotton N Card is the ingenious mix for rodents, rabbits and ferrets! Cotton & Cardboard (formerly Joris No Smell Cotton N Card) is like a rodent party with soft cotton, cardboard and egg cartons. It combines all the highlights of "Co
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The Safebed Paper Flakes are paper flakes made from very fine and very softly shredded pieces of high-quality colored paper. This bedding can be used as ground cover, excavator bucket filling or as nesting material. It is wonderfully soft and absorbs mois
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The Safebed Paper Flakes are paper flakes made from very fine and very soft shredded pieces of high quality colored paper. This bedding can be used as ground cover, bucket filling or as nesting material. It is wonderfully soft and absorbs moisture and odo
Read moreRat digging box: natural enrichment that really adds something
Rats are fantastic climbers, but also real diggers and burrowers . In the wild, they live (among other places) in burrows and tunnels. Deep digging is often difficult in a standard wire cage, but with a digging box for pet rats, you can encourage this natural behavior. The result: noticeably more activity, curiosity, and challenge.
At DRD Rodent Shop®, you'll find everything you need to set up a digging box practically and safely: from suitable boxes to diggable, rat-friendly bedding and materials for a natural design. Specialists since 2011 .
Are rats ground dwellers?
Pet rats are descended from the brown rat, a species that spends a lot of time both on and underground. Digging, tunneling, sniffing, and foraging are therefore completely natural behaviors. A digging box is an easy way to simulate this at home, even if your rats live in a cage.
Natural digging pit, play pit or bio-pit: which one is right for you?
Not every bucket is the same. In this category, we distinguish three practical "styles," depending on your purpose:
Natural digging box: a box with a diggable substrate (e.g., coconut/humus) and optionally rat-safe (fresh) plants. The plants in this category are specially grown for animals and are free of unwanted additives such as fertilizers and chemicals.
Bio-Bin (Bioactive): Similar to a natural digging pit, but with more live plants and bioactivity, you're working more with balance, moisture, and (micro)life in the soil.
Play Dig Box: Primarily designed for playing, sniffing, and searching (think of a "ball pit" idea, but rat-proof), filled with playful, lightweight materials like cardboard pieces or sizzle. Sprinkle in some treats for an instant foraging challenge.
What kind of substrate is suitable for a rat digging pit?
Always choose a material that is both easy to dig and creates minimal dust . Avoid dusty sand (such as chinchilla sand and similar "powdery" varieties). Rats have sensitive respiratory systems; dust can cause unnecessary irritation. The products in this category have been selected because they are suitable for use in a digging bucket or (bio)bin.
How to make a natural digging pit: practical start (expert-proof)
For a natural or bioactive tank, a mix of structures works best: a solid base that allows burrows to "dig" and an airy component for a pleasant digging effect.
A commonly used structure is:
Base: a deep layer of coconut fiber (or humus )
Mix: add coconut flakes for structure (e.g. approximately 1/3 flakes, 2/3 fiber/humus)
Left: coconut fiber and humus
Note: If you want rats to actually burrow, choose a tank with sufficient length and depth (for example, a sturdy plastic tank, glass tank, or terrarium). A shallow play tank is perfect for foraging and rooting, but less suitable if you want a "tunnel effect."
“Fluffy effect”: why mixing works better
Mixing digging substrates (e.g., coconut/humus with coconut chips and perhaps some moss) creates a more airy structure. This makes digging more enjoyable and helps keep burrows in place. As a top layer, you can choose, for example, coconut mix or a natural litter layer. Sprinkle in some treats, and you'll instantly turn digging into a rewarding search game.
Tip: A natural topsoil such as forest litter is ideal for rooting.
Bio-bin with fresh plants: what can you expect?
Many rats find a natural habitat filled with plants incredibly interesting. They'll sniff, root around, and sometimes nibble on leaves (especially if they're tasty or provide extra moisture). You can also germinate seeds: young shoots are often readily eaten and are a nice, fresh addition.
When using a (bio) container, take moisture balance into account: occasional light spraying helps keep plants and bio-activity going.
“Bugs” in a compost bin: is that okay?
A bioactive tank can contain small scavengers that help process waste and support the soil ecosystem. This can take some getting used to, but it's part of the bioactive principle. It's important to set up the tank properly, monitor the humidity, and ensure a stable balance.
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Whether you choose a play pit , a natural pit , or a bio-based pit , you'll find the right products here to set it up safely and successfully. Choose your materials, build in layers, and give your rats something new to explore every day.
