Is this bedding good/okay to use? - Page 2

WinnieTheHam · 05-13-2016, 06:24 AM

Thank you both

I think what I might do is buy a small pack of all the things I'm considering and see what they're all like. And try different combos as well. Hopefully I'll find something haha

Pebbles82 · 05-13-2016, 07:57 AM

It's tricky isn't it! I ordered a smallish bag of finacard to try but find it quite hard. I'm not keen on Carefresh - find it a bit dusty. Fitch isn't as soft as it used to be but it's my favourite.

WinnieTheHam · 05-13-2016, 09:13 AM

Yeah it really is difficult. I just wish megazorb wasn't dusty! Maybe I could put some really fine mesh on the end of my Hoover and dust extract it myself? Hahaha. I think most wood pulp beddings are dusty.

Heleenj · 05-13-2016, 09:26 AM

I use Ecobed for my rats, which is just the same thing. It is fine to use.

RCalabraro · 05-13-2016, 10:08 AM

I use a combination of bedding. All of it is made from recycled paper, but some of it is shredded and some of it is granular. I buy them both from Petco. I use the shredded paper as the lower layer, and the granulated as a top layer. Neither Gertrude nor Brunhilda are diggers so it tends to maintain the layers.

Kaytee Soft Granule Pet Bedding

Kaytee Clean & Cozy Natural Small Animal Bedding

P.S. I think the scented animal bedding is awful. I am very much opposed to the very idea. If you need "extra absorbent" or scented bedding, that means you're going way too long before cleaning your cage. Hamsters are constantly grooming themselves, and tend to be clean animals. They don't want to live in their own filth. Don't buy scented bedding to cover up your own animal neglect. Not accusing anyone... just throwing it out there as a general rule.

WinnieTheHam · 05-13-2016, 11:57 AM

I'm in the UK so I don't think I'll be able to get those here but I'll have a look

I know which beddings I shouldn't be using - I never mentioned I'd use scented bedding. I was just asking about two different types of cardboard substrates.

The room my hamsters are in is quite small, I think it's around 200cm x 300cm. The UK weather is usually cold so I can't have the window open very often and my door is always closed because I have 5 cats. So I guess the air isn't circulated much which causes a build up of 'hamster smell'. I have 4 hamsters in this room as well. They're all potty trained and I spot clean their potties when I see they have been used. A few of them do sometimes urinate on the substrate but I clean it out. The most smell blocking and absorbing substrate I have used was megazorb, but it's really dusty so I'm using kiln dried shavings at the moment which aren't that great compared to megazorb. They all get spot cleaned daily and I clean them out once a month. All of them but Winston has a large cage, Winston is the minimum size recommended - because he's elderly and struggles to get around these days. It never used to smell when I had 1-2 hamsters but since having 4 I've noticed it more. I don't think there's anything wrong with my cleaning routine

There's just a lot of hammys and a lot of wee at once! haha.

**DrKMcK** · 05-13-2016, 12:03 PM

I use a mixture of Boxo, which I really like. I've never had a problem with any hammy with it. I mix that with Kaytee Clean & Cozy with the Birthday Cake colors.

I also agree that scented beddings aren't a great idea. A hamster may find the scent too overpowering in their cage. Remember, most animals can smell way better than we do. So what we might think of as a nice light scent could really bother your pet.

Pebbles82 · 05-13-2016, 02:26 PM

Shame we can't get Boxo and Kaytee Clean n Cozy in the Uk! Have you tried Aspen Winnie? I seem to remember on one of Erin's videos she went back to it as a staple bedding for odour control. It isn't as soft as some of the paper ones - different texture, but as soft as shavings really. I didn't find the pro rep one dusty.

WinnieTheHam · 05-13-2016, 02:48 PM

Yeah I've tried Aspen, I don't like it... haha. I'm never impressed by substrates. I find aspen too sharp/pointy - dangerous for burrowing. It's also like tiny twigs so it's not very comfortable to walk on. I remember winston sort of lifting his body from the ground when I used it with him.

Pebbles82 · 05-13-2016, 03:37 PM

You need to invent a new substrate

! I know what you mean about the Aspen - that might be why Charlie was skirting round the edges! I didn't think it seemed spiky once it was in the cage in a big mound, but I only used it as an emergency thing when I ran out of Fitch. I guess there's only wood and paper really. Or wood by products like cellulose. Sounds like a mix might be good - paper for softness and something else for absorbency.