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Old 06-25-2012, 08:55 AM   #1
LokiWolf
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Default Bedding

Ever since Petsmart stopped carrying the bedding I was using, Kaytee Aspen, I've been looking for a new type of bedding. I will sometimes use Carefresh, but I hate the smell and hate that it is so dusty; I will try to only get it when it is on sale or clearance. I've tried Petco Aspen, but I don't like it and I'm trying to use up this big bag of it now. I know I could always go online to buy Kaytee Aspen, but I've been reluctant in doing so.

What bedding do you recommend for Robos that I can get in the US?

Also has anyone tried a loose coconut fiber substrate? I've seen this in the Reptile section and saw someone on YouTube use this to give their Robos a more natural substrate. Could I give them this? Or half of this and half of a bedding?
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Old 06-25-2012, 02:49 PM   #2
kyrilliondaemon
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Default Re: Bedding

Is there any form of hemp sold for horse bedding over there? We use that with our hams but we are in the UK so I can't be sure its in the US
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Old 06-25-2012, 05:21 PM   #3
LokiWolf
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Default Re: Bedding

I'd have to go to a tack shop to see. A PetSmart used to have a horse section, but they got rid of it years ago.
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Old 06-25-2012, 05:34 PM   #4
HadleyHam
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Default Re: Bedding

Is it suggested that you mix substrate? I just use Carefresh Natural for Hadley's substrate
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Old 06-25-2012, 09:30 PM   #5
chewy1991
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Default Re: Bedding

I don't generally like shopping at Wal Mart... but there is one thing I buy from there. Alfapet brand aspen bedding. It's fairly cheap, seldom dusty, and holds my gerbils' burrows very well. I've tried the other aspen brands available around here and have found them all to be very dusty. Grreat Choice is the worst offender (I've actually had clouds of dust hit my face when opening a bag of Grreat Choice). I like Carefresh better than aspen for the most part. However... with multiple rodents, it can get very pricey. With Alfapet aspen, I can buy two or three bags at the same price I'd pay for one bag of Carefresh. I've never seen hemp bedding for horses around here. I imagine it's available somewhere... but it seems hard to come across in the states.

And yes... Carefresh can be dusty. Especially certain colors.
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Old 06-25-2012, 09:45 PM   #6
obscura
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Default Re: Bedding

So you used Kaytee Aspen wood shavings before? I never realized CareFresh had an odor. That's what I've always used, and recommend. I stopped using wood shavings a long time ago, but the only shavings I ever used were Kaytee Aspen, as well. If I went back to using wood shavings, I would probably try out the CareFresh Basic, which is a blend of their soft bedding and wood shavings (I'd have to make sure the wood shavings are aspen).

I personally use CareFresh Ultra (less dusty than the natural, but is not dust-free) with the CareFresh Crinkles (natural paper crinkles) and Oxbow Botanical Hay sprinkled around in the cage. The Oxbow hay smells nice. The paper crinkles add a bit of fun to the bin. And of course, the CareFresh is nice and soft. I like CareFresh because it's odorless and does a good job at keeping the odor down once the hamsters have been urinating on it. Plus it makes cleaning so much easier because poop barely makes it to the bottom of the bin. When I used wood shavings, they weren't as absorbent so I had to REALLY scrub the cages down to remove urine and feces. Shavings would clumb up against the bottom of the cage. I also had to clean more frequently. With CareFresh, cleaning is minimized (though I also do a bit of spot cleaning every day which also helps).

CareFresh is the same material as Megazorb and Kaytee Soft Granules (wood pulp fibers - 100% biodegradable and compostable). I wrote about bedding here if you wanted some more ideas / an idea of some other options.
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Old 06-26-2012, 08:28 AM   #7
LokiWolf
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Default Re: Bedding

I've only tried Carefresh Natural and Carefresh Confetti of the Carefresh brand, so maybe the Carefresh Basic and Ultra smell different. I just know what I tried smelled like recycled paper.

I'll look into Alfapet Aspen. I haven't heard of anyone else using that brand before.

I don't think I've ever seen Megazorb, though I might have and I'm not remembering that I did. With Kaytee Soft Granules and other tiny bedding, my mom and me, mainly my mom, worries that my Robos might eat the tiny pieces of bedding. But I've been reading that people really like it and their hamsters or other small pets don't eat it, which lessens my worry greatly.
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Old 06-28-2012, 02:40 PM   #8
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Default Re: Bedding

Petco has a dust free organic bedding. Its 15$ for the huge bag. The smell is nice and its soft. Its aspen wood.
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Old 06-28-2012, 03:29 PM   #9
LokiWolf
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Default Re: Bedding

That's what I'm using now and I don't really like it.
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