I use a peat based set-up and it works fine if it's changed monthly....to
save the peat drying out too quickly and being so damp as to cause
condensation on the glass I add about a third of a bag of chinchilla dust
(sepiolite) (it seems to soak up the excess moisture and release it over
time) to it before I place it in the tank...I also have quite a few pieces
of bogwood placed securely to help form the tunnels...the tunnels they dig
do support themselves but due to their constant digging etc. they don't last
long...I have successfully reared quite a few litters with no illness,
injury, or accident.. and I simply clean them out when the pups are between
four and five weeks old, remove the pups and the tank is clean for the new
pups.
the disadvantages of this system include lack of access to the pups at an
early age (mind you I don't seem to have any trouble with pups being
abandoned, needing to be fostered, being killed or eaten etc. as I believed
I would have from reading the mail to this list when I first joined. I have
had very little trouble with adults fighting. (this being confined to the
adult females (yes I had two females and a male together) pushing and
chasing each other just before they gave birth...closely followed by the
male chasing them after :-) and in retrospect I feel I could have avoided
this by providing two suitable nesting boxes as the females would always
have their pups in different places within the nest box, bringing them
together when a few days old.
if you have any questions, just let me know.
cheers
Colin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Pasquinilli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: Peat Bedding Question
> I am also interested in this kind of set up.
>
> The book I read suggested alternating peat and straw in layers. Does
anyone
> have pictures of habitats like this or any personal experiences to share
> about making this type of enclosure?
>
> Also, is there anyone who doesn't think that this is a good idea?
>
> Thanks
>
> Andrew
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