What do rats like to sleep on? Is bare plastic okay for them?

They do prefer to have a soft place to sleep. This can be done with a towel, straw, or a blanket. Most importantly, they like an enclosed place to sleep - like in a box. I hope that helps and all is well with Fluffy.

It would be safest to avoid all types of pine bedding. There are other options that are safer such as aspen shavings or any one of the recycled paper type bedding materials. The current bedding is fine to use as well.

A better bedding would be Carefresh or Aspen pellets. Rats are very sensitive to dust in the bedding and it can lead to respiratory infections. Minor wounds may not require any human attention. Since rats groom themselves, you can not apply any topical ointments. You can gently wash the area with soap and thoroughly rinse it if needed. If it gets worse, have Percy seen by his veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Paper bedding such as Carefresh bedding or this type is currently recommended. There would be no greater issue with them ingesting the paper bedding versus the wood shavings bedding, as the paper bedding would actually be more easily digested (as paper is actually a product made from broken down wood!). The paper is more expensive but has less risk of causing wounds (occasionally the wood shavings can have sharp pieces and cause injury to the skin or eyes or mouth) and less risk of dust or other irritants to the respiratory tract.

Thanks for reaching out about your rat. Wire bars are a mild concern as their feet or legs can slip through, leading to sprain or even fractures. A solid bottom cage is preferred for rodents because of this. Good luck.

Congrats on your new hedgehog, and thanks for using PetCoach! As hedgehogs love burrowing, if you aren't providing a deep layer of bedding for her to burrow in, a small enclosure would be the next most ideal. There are many commercially available huts, sleep shacks, and bags that ST.Hedgie would love, and it will really depend on your needs and her likes. Some hedgehogs prefer the plastic, dome-type huts, and some prefer soft sacks. Cleaning will be easiest with plastic, but she may prefer a fabric house, so be prepared to appropriately clean the house of her choosing on a regular basis. Here are some options: Soft, hanging hut: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/small-animal/small-animal-sleepers-hideaways/multipet-pineapple-house-small-animal-hideaway-in-yellow Plastic castle hut: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/small-animal/small-animal-sleepers-hideaways/you-and-me-small-animal-hideaway Grassy hut: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/small-animal/small-animal-sleepers-hideaways/peters-woven-grass-hide-a-way-hut-for-rabbits Good luck, and I hope you have great fun with ST.Hedgie!

Mice make very fun little pets! You will want to use a bedding substrate that is dust free. I recommend Care Fresh. It will need to be changed about once weekly. They love the have the little wheels to run in and most of them enjoy another mouse for company. You can give them a sock to make a nest out of but it should not be the primary bedding. In general you will not need an additional heat source as long as the house is warm. Keep the cage away from drafty windows and in a warm room. Mice also like to have toilet paper tubes and boxes to play and hide in. Make sure as well that you are feeding an appropriate diet meant for mice. Let me know if you have any other questions!