Substrate

[Geewhiz]

As I'm nearing the end of the bale of aubiose I bought soon after I got my girls I'm looking into other cost effective substrates, but I was wondering which would do best in terms of allowing them to build burrows and dig. I can't afford carefresh in the quantities I would need, with two robos and two rabbits. I would need to also use the same stuff for the rabbits' litter tray, so a large bale isn't out of the question. I'm looking into paper based beddings, but my main concern is whether they'd be able to exhibit natural behaviours. Do tea bag beddings get smelly, and does it hold its shape?

[Drago]

I've never used teabag bedding so I'm not sure how effective it is in reducing odors and holding tunnels, but a good bedding to get for its cost is fitch. It's a recycled paper bedding that comes in large bulk and cost very little. Fitch is good for tunnels and odors from what I've heard (I can't get any as I've never found someone who'll ship to the US). Maybe looking into fitch?

[cypher]

I would go for fitch recycled paper substrate, it's good for burrowing, nesting, economical & virtually dust free, hams love it. I use it mixed with Hugro hemp but it's fine just used alone, probably the most popular substrate here.

[actual junk]

I would agree and say either fitch or megazorb - apparently you have to watch megazorb as it can be a little dusty but its the best for allowing small animals to recreate natural tunnelling systems and would work well as rabbit litter.

[cypher]

Megazorb is great for burrows but I found it really dusty & it smells weird!

[AmityvilleHams]

I'd have to say Fitch as well!You really can't go wrong using it as a hamster substrate,but as a rabbit litter it might depend on personal preference and if your rabbits end up kicking it out.Of course,if you don't mind the extra cleaning that shouldn't be a problem and definitely should not deter you from getting such an excellent substrate!

[Pebbles82]

I've hear of people mixing two or three substrates so that tunnels hold - eg Fitch (paper) aspen, and something else possible - either hemp or cardboard maybe. Personally I find Fitch is quite good at holding tunnels. And it could get complicated having a few different substrates (storage wise and price wise). I would try a 10kg bag of Fitch on its own and see how it goes - you could gradually mix something else in.

It works out economical, no dust and hamsters seem to really like it

https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/ani...-delivery.html

If you have good indoor storage space, the 20kg works out even more econimical as it's only about £4 or £5 more than the 10kg

https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/ani...bale-20kg.html

[flowerfairy]

I use newspaper straw and hay for the rabbits' litter trays (four rabbits three trays) and fitch for all five of my hamsters (three syrians and two roborovskis).

Fitch is soft and absorbent and great for holding tunnels.

I use hemparade (a hemp bedding from zooplus) for my guinea pigs litter tray (two guinea pigs one litter tray) with loads of hay.

[Almi]

I found out that hand-shredded paper and cardboard makes for excellent tunneling material. When I'm setting up a tank and ready to put bedding in, I put the shredded paper product in first, then I throw regular bedding (I use wood shavings) on top. This creates all kinds of air pockets and surface area for the hamster to explore when they dig, and they will also take the paper pieces and do whatever they like with them. For example, one hamster might shred some of it for a nest, and another might use a large piece to make the roof of a tunnel.

Hope you find something that works!

[cobden28]

I have guinea pigs as well as a hamster, and was advised by a guinea pig group I belong to, to use Megazorb. My hamster seems to be OK with this and when I consider the amount I get through in a month it does work out slightly cheaper than wood shavings. The problem is that local pet shops don't stock this; as it's a horse bedding material it only comes in huge 20 kilo sacks and I get through two sacks per month. I have to order Megazorb online, but there's a very good firm I deal with who can deliver the next day if I place my online order at the right time of day. Megazorb is very absorbent but it does have a distinct whiff about it which some folk may not like .

I'm currently using wood shavings for both my guinea pigs and my Hamster; it's comparatively inexpensive, is readily available, and I can get Asda to deliver a big bale of wood shavings with my weekly online grocery order.