Best substrates for changing temp

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

So when I get my hamster I will be using Hugro Hemp as my bedding and probably mixing that in with a little bit of Megazorb. This is so I can have some Megazorb and Hugro left over for spot cleans.

However, by the time my hamster is due for a clean out the temperature will be significantly warmer and just go up afterwards. Is this substrate mix ok for hot temperatures in hamster cages? Keep in mind my cage is the glass Detolf so will naturally be warm a lot.

If not, have any recommendations?

[mangoandmimi]

Sorry I appear to be answering all your threads but I just took some pics of my bedding mix as thought it would give you an idea of what to expect - it is around 2/3 hugro hemp and 1/3 megazorb. And random bits of herbs amongst other things lol. But it is in my roborovski's detolf at 6-7 inch deep at the minute and is doing fine.

Thought you were in the UK, where I am it doesn't get hot that often but the temperature really makes no difference. I use either of these beddings all year round no problem. Probably would be the same for most kinds of bedding you use to be honest.

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[Black_Inky_Eyes]

Hey mangoandmimi,

Don't feel the need to apologise for answering all my threads, it's a pleasure to get a response and you clearly know what you're talking about since you've been on here for almost 10 years!

Yes you are correct I do live in the UK, (I am familiar with lots of rain and everyone, including me, complaining about the weather) I can see how you got confused from my previous threads and replies. It's hard to explain but my room's walls are next to the chimney gap that follows down to the fire. Plus I was worried since the Detolf has glass walls of it warming up maybe too easily. However, I think I spot that you have the Detolf in that picture so maybe you could give me some feedback? Just correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you for the pictures! It helps a lot. But I noticed the shape and look of the Hemp, is it sharp for the hamster's feet? I'm almost definitely wrong but just wanted confirmation and the look concerned me.

So am I being right that you bought the 85l bag of Megazorb and the 100l bag of Hugro? So as I was thinking you use almost all Hemp bag and not as much Megazorb.

Thanks for the images, it really helps!

[mangoandmimi]

Yes it does look quite spiky but I wouldn’t call it sharp or anything. Obviously paper bedding & megazorb will always be softer than hemp or any wood bedding, but it is still quite soft and has a nice feel. The 2/3 hemp and 1/3 megazorb does make it even softer too. I’m probably a bit paranoid about sharp things especially with my robo’s furry feet but do think that this is absolutely fine to use. Aubiose in comparison though is definitely spikier, to the point it’s a bit uncomfortable to sift your hands through the bedding.

Yes that is a detolf - be honest our main concern has been keeping the detolf insulated through winter, it can make the cage quite cold. It has never overheated over the summer either, as it isn’t a small enclosed area where that would become a problem. The glass is quite thin too and it’s a very open cage, both low in height and relatively long. Either way you shouldnt have any more problems than if you used any other cage, just difficult for me to say exactly as my house is always cold.

I will say if you are planning on putting 8 inches of bedding in the detolf, especially with denser bedding like hemp & megazorb, I do recommend sealing the ends of the tank with aquarium silicone. Or some people have glued it beforehand, but either inside and outside just around the wood, or actually putting it in the grooves before assembling. Sealant worked for me. Makes the glass a lot less likely to bend from the pressure - I’ve discovered the hard way twice now and had to remove everything from the tank in a panic. The detolf isn’t made to lie on its back in the first place much less withstand that much bedding pushing against the glass, so it’s better to prepare beforehand. Sealing is quite quick and then leave it for a day or 2 to cure.

Edit
Yes I got the 85L bag of megazorb and 100L hemp, I used the majority of the hemp And a bit of megazorb to fill to a 7 inch depth. Don’t know exactly as i didn’t fill it from scratch, it was a partial clean.

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

Thank you for the reply!

This info helps a lot and actually saved me £55 from my Detolf breaking and then buying a new one. In fact, I already have the AquaMate Sealant somewhere and shall be using that. Hope that's okay

Thanks for the confirmation on the bedding, I shall be using both Megazorb and Hugro Hemp but ptobably doing a bit more Megazorb. I know Aubiose isn't the best but what are your thoughts on Hemperade?

I'm unsure on how exactly to apply the sealant. Just apply to the edges and wipe excess away with cloth?
Did you do this or apply it to the side pieces of the wood before attaching the glass?

[mangoandmimi]

I didn’t want to take the detolf apart so just settled with sealing around the outside and inside where the wood joins to the glass. Just at each end. Helps if you stand it up tall and do the side that’s on the floor. Can’t say I know just how effective it is, but the glass is straight so that counts for something I guess! However some people have taken it apart and put sealant in the grooves, and theirs have stuck together just fine. But I can’t imagine glass sealant forms a particularly strong bond with wood anyway so to be honest I doubt it matters too much, the sealant is just for a bit of extra security. And wiping away with a finger is easier, don’t know about cloths. Maybe use masking tape if you want a cleaner finish - we didn’t and it’s a bit messy! But yes any aquarium ie pet safe sealant should do.
To put it short it’s terrifying, when you realise the glass has bent and starts almost crackling a bit - we evacuated little one within minutes and got a new detolf, it is not a pleasant experience!

Hemparade - Not tried it unfortunately. Heard very mixed reviews so never bothered with it. It comes in a huge bag too so it’s not ideal if you just want to test it out. Though I doubt it’s terrible, same with aubiose. I actually used to swear by aubiose but just ended up discovering better beddings, so it’s not that it’s awful or anything

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

Thanks for the response!

I know this must be SO annoying but I have 1 more teeny tiny question.

When applying the sealant, did you only apply it to the end edges of the cage where the wood is or did you also apply it longways all across the cage on the glass to glass part?

I know the answer is right there above but I'm confused as to why you couldn't do it in the middle part for more protection

[Pebbles82]

Whichever substrate you use isn't really going to affect temperature in hot weather. In hot weather hammies often try to find somewhere cool to sit in the cage and may leave the nest - so when it does get hot people put out a ceramic dish or pot etc (you can even put them in the fridge first) so they have somewhere cool to sit.

I have the large terracotta saucers that came with Newt's labyrinth house - I use it as his food dish and it's a cool place to sit in summer.

In winter it's more a case of just keeping the room the right temperature and giving them lots of nesting material (torn up strips of paper).

[mangoandmimi]

Your questions aren’t at all annoying ask away
Basically in the middle of the detolf, the base and each side are joined by long plastic L edging strips, so it isn’t a glass-glass contact, there is plastic in the way. I think anyway, I’m not actually looking at a detolf right now! So yes not really possible to seal it there.

But yes agree with serendipity re the ceramic/terracotta items. Rodipet do a granite tile that’s great for cooling hamsters down too, worth picking up if you ever order from there. It’s similar to the chinchilla cooling tiles which would work too.

[Pebbles82]

Or just a ceramic mug on its side