Reptile Clay Substrate for digging pit?

[adele]

Hey,

I want to improve my 'natural' level of the cage and thinking of introducing a digging pit. 

Has anyone tried using this? Would it be safe to mix this with hay and maybe woodshavings? 

www.reptiles.swelluk.com/zoo-med-excavator-clay-substrate-4.5kg

and in general what are peoples experiences with using reptile products for degus?

[moletteuk]

Several reptile products are fine for degus but you have to check whether each one is suitable, some of the branches and cork tunnels spring to mind as being enjoyed by degus.

I've never seen clay sand for tunneling before. I think it looks really cool and interesting but I don't know if it is safe for degus, I mean I don't see why it wouldn't be, but I don't know. The reviews make it sound like you wet it and then it is mouldable until it dries? I do wonder if degus would take enough interest in it in that short time period. I wonder if you can rewet it and start again.

Well, I'm intrigued, do let us know if you decide to try it!

[winic1]

Interesting idea. It could either be incredibly awesome, or go terribly wrong.
It looks like you mix this with water to form a clay you can mold and model with? Then it dries hard? If so, I would be worried that if it gets wet again, from dripping water bottle or degu pee, it could end up clumped on their feet, and in their fur, which would be a nightmare and a health hazard. Also, peed on spots would therefore retain the pee residue forever.

If mixed with shavings and/or hay and it became a diggable substrate, then it might be good. But again, if it gets wet, would it become putty on their fur, and packed inside their feet?

Unless you find someone who has used it for this purpose, I'd be very cautious. Maybe see if you can get a small bag, and experiment with it on your own, to make sure there will be no bad hazards to letting your degus try it. Reptiles don't have fur, so the issue of the stuff ending up caked on them has probably not been seen.

Maybe explore forums for other burrowing rodents like hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, etc, and see if anyone has used it for them? A broader search might bring up someone who has tried it.

[sonataarctica89]

I personally have used cocoa fibre mixed with hay and clippings it makes for good nesting holes as the hay helps it stick together