Bedding - how often should I be changing it?

[Jennie F]

Hi Everyone,

I know you shouldnt change hammies substrate that regularly as it can distress them. Ive done 1 a month since ive had her (3 months). The last time was Easter Sunday. I removed the wet bedding from around her nest (a few handfuls in total) then added in some fresh and mixed it in with the old remaining substrate.

My question is how often should I change her bedding in her plant pot that she nests in? Last time i completely changed everything as it all smelt like pee, but she refused to sleep in there for 2 days after. I did remove some of the bedding on Sunday and put some of the substrate around her nest in there instead, so it still smelt like her. Im just wondering if Im not doing it enough

[AmityvilleHams]

You don't really ever need to do complete changes except in the most extreme of circumstances(mites or other parasites or serious illness where a cage actually needs disinfecting).

As for frequency other than that bit,it's really hard to say.A cage can be between 80 cm x 50 cm and 100 cm x 50 cm and only last 3-6 months before it needs some cleaning depending on substrate depth(deeper substrate lasts far longer),whereas a cage upwards of a square meter can go a year or longer with minimal spot cleaning before you've technically changed the substrate from the initial first fill.The main idea is gradually changing substrate rather than ever doing a complete change

It can sound a bit strange and impossible that a cage could go so long without full cleanings,but it's entirely possible with deep enough substrate and a big enough cage to make everything last compared to some cage sizes which would require far too frequent cleanings(some merely lasting a week,others a month,or a cage of the above sizes lasting a month or two with shallow substrate).

[cypher]

Most of the cage doesn't need cleaning that much at all but if she's peeing in or around her nest then that will need doing more often, it's hard to say how often but if it's getting smelly in there it might be an idea to just clean out some but not all of it weekly & do as you've done before putting substrate from elsewhere in the cage into the nest area & replacing that with some clean substrate that way you won't be removing her scent too much but you will be removing anything peed on regularly enough.

[Jennie F]

Thanks Cypher and Amityville I think I'll change her bedding over the weekend. Keep some of the old and mix it in with sone of the surrounding substrate. She didnt seem to mind thatblast week. I wish there was a way I could stop her from peeing in the plant pot she sleeps in

[CMB]

Put some of the wet bedding else where in the cage. The smell of pee should attract her to pee there.

[Jennie F]

I'll give that a try as well. Thanks CMB