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Old 05-01-2018, 09:11 AM   #1
gracefulhamster
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Smile Bedding advice please!

Can't wait to get my syrian hamster soon

But I'm really confused about bedding - I was hoping to buy woodshavings for the base of the cage (getting a Ferplast Criceti 15) and some carefresh for the nesting box. However I've heard that some woods can cause problems for hamsters?

Help appreciated, thank you!
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Old 05-01-2018, 10:19 AM   #2
Wildthunder
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

The best and most reccomended type of wood bedding is Aspen. (I usually use Kaytee). The woods that are unsafe are pine and cedar. Good luck and have fun with your new hammy!

Last edited by Wildthunder; 05-01-2018 at 10:27 AM.
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Old 05-01-2018, 11:29 AM   #3
hellobg
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

There are some exceptions such as kiln dried pine shavings, but it's debatable. The best and recommended is what Wildthunder have said, Aspen any brand so long as it's Aspen. I'm not too sure but hemp seems to be safe as well.
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Old 05-01-2018, 12:22 PM   #4
SimonandSyril
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

I agree with hellobg and wildthunder, Carefresh isn't the softest nesting material. Personally, I just use unscented toilet paper as a softer, cheaper alternative
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Old 05-01-2018, 11:23 PM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

What country are you in?
In the Uk all pine wood shavings have to be kiln dried so they're safe, in other countries that's not always the case.
Some hamsters don't do so well with Carefresh, it's quite dusty too.
If you're in the UK, I think that the best & most economical substrate is Fitch, it's recycled paper, about as dust free as substrate can be & totally safe to use.
https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/fit...r/bedding.html
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Old 05-02-2018, 07:38 AM   #6
SKB_Hamsters
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

It does depend upon which country you are located in.

In the UK by law pine shavings have to be kiln dried - which removes the majority phenols from the wood which made them safer to use - I would only recommend using kiln-dried pine shaving if they are also dust extracted too. In countries including the US they don't do this therefore they are unsafe. However Cedar shavings are unsafe regardless.
Aspen is completely safe to use with hamsters - however in the UK and Europe aspen shavings are really expensive as it not a native tree - unlike in the US.

Hemp is another option of a safe shaving option and can be bought from zooplus. (I tried hemp but it triggered off my allergies)

However with all wood based products including Carefresh (made from wood pulp) hamster can develop allergies to them but this is quite rare.

As cypher mentioned if you are in the UK I would strongly recommend fitch bedding - both my hamster and myself really love this bedding and it very cost effective.

I also wouldn't advise using carefresh in your hamsters house as it isn't very soft and can be quite dusty - instead torn up unscented white toilet paper is the safest and cheapest option - which majority of us on the forum like to use.
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Old 05-02-2018, 08:41 AM   #7
gracefulhamster
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

Thank you so much!
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Old 05-02-2018, 10:19 AM   #8
Razor
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

I came across this list of safe and unsafe Hamster bedding a while ago. It's an exhaustive list with explanations. Hope this helps.

Safe and Unsafe Bedding Types - Supplies & Accessories - Hamster Hideout Forum
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Old 05-11-2018, 05:42 AM   #9
IKrines
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

Woodshavings are somewhat safe, but it dust like crazy. I wouldn't recommend it for use indoor.
I had a horse that got respitatory disease by woodshavings and had to let down because of that.
Because a Hamster has so short life span, that is not very likely they would be affected by it, except for allergies. However the dust isn't good for your lungs and you have to consider your own health first.
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Old 05-11-2018, 07:40 AM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Bedding advice please!

As the others say, pine shavings in the UK have to be kiln dried by law. Hamsters can be allergic to any kind of wood however, regardless of whether it is softwood, hardwood, kiln dried or not. That doesn't mean your hamster will be.

For substrate/litter you can use kiln dried, dust extracted shavings if you want, although there are many alternatives these days - including Fitch, mentioned previously, which is hypoallergenic and works out cheap as you buy it in bulk - they sell it in 10kg or 20k bags. It's recycled food grade paper.

For nesting material, plain white toilet paper torn into strips is best - hamsters pouch it and take it to line their nest. Although it is also paper, they do seem to like the strips - our last hamster used to weave a lovely nest with the strips! They also use the Fitch in their nests as well as it's quite soft.

So for nesting material I would stick with plain white toilet paper - which is also a cheap option.

For Substrate, the alternatives to pine shavings are aspen (hardwood but I find it a bit dusty and scratchy), hemp bedding (Zooplus sell that in large bags), Fitch, Carefresh and megazorb.

Fitch seems popular on here as does hemp bedding. (I'm actually allergic to the hemp bedding myself so use Fitch). Megazorb is popular with some and not with others. Fitch is virtually dust free I find. Dust can affect their respiratory tracts which are quite sensitive. Carefresh is similar to Fitch but can be a little more dusty. Some hamsters have had allergies to carefresh (which is wood pulp rather than paper).

This is the smaller bale of Fitch (10kg). It does need to be stored indoors really or it can get damp and smelly. If you have space the 20kg bag works out even cheaper but it is huge!

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

This is the Hemp bedding that Zooplus sell

Nests & Nesting Materials at zooplus: Hugro Hemp Bedding

They also sell Chipsi wood shavings which are part pine and part spruce and kiln dried to german standards so supposed to be good quality wood shavings (spruce is equivalent to hardwood). It is only softwood that needs kiln drying to remove most of the phenols. Phenols are negligible in hardwood and spruce.
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