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Old 03-19-2019, 03:17 PM   #1
Black_Inky_Eyes
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Default Which bedding stratergy?

So in a few months, I'll be cleaning my hamster cage and am currently planning to do a more natural theme. I've got/getting some driftwood, the Trixie Sand-Blasted Branch, some sterilised stones, a cork tunnel and some wooden toys. The thing I am looking for to complete the look is a natural looking substrate, obviously I can't replace it all at once so there's many different choices and combinations here are the ones I'm debating between. (I'll be introducing new toys one by one far apart before cleaning to reduce stress).

The hamster's current substrate is Kaytee C&C.

1) Use Kaytee C&C on one side of the cage and Hugro Hemp on the other. The Kaytee will be 2/3 old bedding and 1/3 new. It will cover half the enclosure. These substrates will be divided by some bendable bridges and the C&C will be put on the side I know he likes to nest in as it holds burrows better. The Hugro side will have his wheel, toys etc.

2) Mixing C&C (2/3 old 1/3 new) with some Hugro all across the cage, this will make it harder in the future to switch to whole Hugro without removing all his scented bedding.

3+4) The same as the last two except instead of Hugro I either do Aubiose or Megazorb.


My hamster's bedding essentials:
-Not spikey
-Holds burrows well as he likes to dig deep
-Doesn't have to be that good at odour control as like most Syrians he uses his sand bath to urinate.
-Musn't let items sink a little in the bedding as I've discovered with C&C.

Any feedback on which option would be great as I really am torn and keep in mind am on a tight budget.

Or if anyone else has some tips on a natural themed cage would be awesome!

Last edited by Black_Inky_Eyes; 03-19-2019 at 03:31 PM.
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Old 03-19-2019, 03:32 PM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

I think after using c&c you might find the hemp doesn't hold burrows as well as it could whilst also not being as soft. So if it was me I'd do a mix of c&c and hemp. Do you mean that the c&c doesn't look natural, if that's the case a thin layer of hemp over the top and some birch leaves or herbs mixed in will make it less visible.

Also are you changing 1/3 of the bedding? You can do a 2/3 bedding change if you like even half, if you're just doing 1/3 you may find another clean is due quite soon after this one which wouldn't be ideal. I've probably said before but maybe consider layering in some hay as it'll give a much better structure for the tunnels to hold. By items sinking do you mean when the hamster burrows? Heavier items ideally need supporting from the base even if just with bendy bridges. I haven't used aubiose for some years but it holds burrows even worse than Hugro hemp so if that's important to you then Hugro might be better.


Edit
If you're looking for something inexpensive have you considered just wood shavings. Rodipet sell hardwood shavings (I think birch), not used them myself but have heard good things about it. It should hold tunnels better than hemp. They also do small bags of hemp if you wanted to try it out and plenty of other more natural items - I like the bamboo roots and grapevines from there.

Last edited by mangoandmimi; 03-19-2019 at 03:58 PM.
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Old 03-19-2019, 04:21 PM   #3
Black_Inky_Eyes
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

Do you think I could add one of the bedding toppers to give it a more natural look?
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Old 03-19-2019, 04:38 PM   #4
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

Yes they are fine and you get a decent amount of it. Moss plates (hugro) are good too as a different texture, either on the ground to forage in or on a platform works.
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Old 03-19-2019, 04:54 PM   #5
Black_Inky_Eyes
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

Yes, I was looking at those, do you know anywhere else I could get moss/plates since they're sold out at rodipet? Yes I may do a half and half old and new bedding as the cage is large and isn't going to be cleaned for around 3-4 months from now.

Last edited by Black_Inky_Eyes; 03-19-2019 at 05:00 PM.
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Old 03-19-2019, 04:58 PM   #6
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

I’m afraid not, luckily rodipet seem to restock every few days so I’d just wait till they’re back. The regular moss pieces are also nice, the plates of moss are quite thick with some soil still attached on the bottom. I mean you could also try reptile shops but I cant really help which ones there are suitable tbh.
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Old 03-20-2019, 02:49 AM   #7
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

I would mix the Kaytee CC and the Hemp and change half the bedding and mix it in well. On your next clean after that, change half the bedding again. You just save the clean half and discard the less clean half The clean half is usually at the bottom (but not always if they have dug an underground toilet!).

I wouldn't recommend the bedding toppers. I tried them. They look nice but they weren't good for the hamster - they have sharp bits and twiggy bits and our hamster got his poked. It will look natural enough with the hemp and Kaytee CC mixed and the other items.

The only thing I have sprinkled on top sometimes, a little bit, was dried marigold petals or dried rose leaves and the odd dried cornflower. All of which are edible. And all were ignored! They did look quite nice but only a teeny tiny bit or the slight smell could be a bit strong. I stopped bothering in the end as it worked out expensive.

I do have a small bag of dried burdock root and occasionally put a couple of pieces of that on the substrate - which will do nothing for the look, just two tiny bits, but they have nibbled on it and it's good for them.

It's an antioxidant (supposed to help prevent cancer), natural pre-biotic, immune booster, detoxifying, good for arthritis - I started using it for our last hamster when he was older. But they are tiny pieces and I only ever put 2 tiny bits out for the occasional nibble
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Old 03-20-2019, 02:50 AM   #8
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

I just got the bags of dried herbs from Baldwins herbal store online as you can buy small bags. Zooplus sell some dried flower mixes but they are large bags and also contain sharp woody bits (like stalks on leaves).
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Old 03-20-2019, 06:39 AM   #9
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

To be honest I've never had an issue with twiggy bits, hams in the wild will encounter all sorts of similar things so it's quite natural for them. But I'm also a bit cautious maybe because my robo charges full speed around the cage, which is why I primarily use dried birch leaves (or any other safe ones) - I get mine off ebay but rodipet (hugro) also do them. You can kind of crumble or sprinkle them over the bedding and bin the twig parts if they bother you. Alone they look nice and don't really smell of anything, and they are brilliant for foraging in. Leaves are one thing that do wonders for the overall enrichment, I've found they will spend a lot of time just digging around in it.

Another thing off rodipet (if you are doing an order) are the plants. Some Syrians won't like millet sprays but some might, the 'sorghum' sprays are likely to go down well and again encourage natural foraging behaviours. I break each spray up a bit as otherwise the entire lot gets hoarded the same night but it'll depend on your hamster really.

Last edited by mangoandmimi; 03-20-2019 at 06:47 AM.
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Old 03-20-2019, 10:04 AM   #10
Black_Inky_Eyes
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Default Re: Which bedding stratergy?

I may just get the dried birch leaves and the hybrid snack to scatter around for nesting and foraging. Is that good?
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c&c, hugro, bedding, side, kaytee, toys, cage, 1/3, cleaning, 2/3, substrate, likes, holds, burrows, hamsters, natural, 3+4, scented, future, mixing, make, harder, switch, removing, discovered

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