tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885233882675095356.post4043016463700299674..comments2024-03-28T23:56:56.466-07:00Comments on Pacific Science Center Life Sciences: Naked Mole Rat EnrichmentAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914562498228395953noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885233882675095356.post-6019698958343747752018-07-29T15:39:34.537-07:002018-07-29T15:39:34.537-07:00What kind of concrete do you use? Just regular tha...What kind of concrete do you use? Just regular that you would buy for repairs or do you make it special?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17601033997602493165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885233882675095356.post-12565977225312586252018-02-02T09:52:21.213-08:002018-02-02T09:52:21.213-08:00The concrete has no supplements in it, just slight...The concrete has no supplements in it, just slightly sandy concrete. We have made ones with peanuts in the past, but they can go bad. The answers to your following questions indicate why the make up of the block actually isn’t much of an issue. Chipped teeth is actually essentially a goal of having the concrete blocks in the exhibit area. Since naked mole rats are rodents, their incisors continue to grow throughout their entire lives, similar to our fingernails. They are naturally burrowers, typically burrowing teeth first. That chewing process wears down their teeth as they grow, and actually does it in a productive pattern. Naked mole rats only have hard enamel on the front surfaces of their teeth, so their gnawing on things wears down other tooth surfaces faster, leaving a sharp edge on the front.<br /> <br />Again, since they are adapted to burrowing with their teeth, they are also adapted to chewing things they never have any intention of eating, like dirt and rocks in the ground. Their lips actually close behind their teeth, so many things they chew never actually make it into their mouths. In addition to the concrete blocks, the mole rats routinely chew on the acrylic tubes of their enclosure to the point that we need to regularly replace them. They aren’t ingesting this material either. So while we do what to be careful about what we put into their home, some things can be there that can’t actually be eaten and it is just fine!<br />Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18287608924625663161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885233882675095356.post-50234950499788348742018-01-22T07:40:00.865-08:002018-01-22T07:40:00.865-08:00just wondering about the concrete block is the a s...just wondering about the concrete block is the a standard concrete mix or have you put vitamin/ mineral compounds in the mix? also have you had any issues with the NMR eating the concrete or chipped teeth. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com