When you walk into your local petshop, you are presented with a myriad of choices when you are looking for the right type of bedding. From cat litter, through wood chip shavings and corn cob bedding, to organic, sterilised soil... Question is: is there a magic or secret bedding here that encourages the Roborovski to mate and breed?

Yes... and no.

I have had the privilege of pet supply manufacturers providing me with samples of all sorts of bedding to try, and I can tell you that I have seen success with all of the following methods:

Mix-and-Match

Don't just stick with one type of bedding, try a combination of two or more, sometime simultaneously. I use, at any one time, a combination of three or more bedding sources/types in various combinations. I find that variety spices up things for my breeding pairs, and there have even been instances where I have placed a seemingly lethargic pair into a new combo bedding environment, and after they have checked out the surroundings and scented their territory, proceeded to mate right in front of my eyes... and all in the space of 15 minutes!

Organic / All-Natural

I find that simulating / recreating an environment that is as 'natural' as possible will evoke their primal instincts. Hay seems to work, and I have even used non-bleached facial tissue and they have bred. The trick is to create scents similar to what they would experience if they were out and roaming free...and yes, actually giving them unshredded tissue sheets is fine, since you will see them go to work immediately shredding the tissue (which is great to watch, and is great exercise for them) to make a nest.

Regular Bedding Changes

Roborovskis are finicky creatures, so know that unless conditions are perfect, and the bedding is clean, they tend to be particular about mating. So regular cleaning, and bedding changes are very important. And remember, be generous with the bedding, and give them a layer sufficient enough to nest in.