Zeolite odor scent absorb

[Raygaymer]

So.. i realized people in my country been using like crushed up zeolite for like a small bottom layer for their hamster enclosure to absorb smells. The thing is i have no idea whether they are safe or not. Im scared it might cause respiratory infection or anything like that on my hammie. Do you guys think its safe to use it?

(I cant rely on asking local people here. Because even breeder here use softwood bedding so they're pretty untrustworthy.)

[AmityvilleHams]

I definitely wouldn't do it. At the very least it could be dusty which you clearly already know is a huge problem!

[cypher]

I can't say for sure but I would very much doubt it would be safe also you don't need it to be honest, hams aren't really smelly with spot cleaning pee & other cleaning as & when needed which isn't much or often there's rarely a problem.

[Raygaymer]

Thing is my bedding i use dont absorb smells at all. I use a diy one from toilet paper because one that people sell here are literally all from softwood. Even i ask like 5 breeder and they all use softwood which is why most of their hamster wont last a year.

And to be fair it does looks abit dusty. Ive read from a few forum saying that zeolite itself wont harm the hamster but im sure in crushed up form it might as it might be dusty

Any suggestion on how to decrease the smell problem?

[cypher]

I've never tried it myself but I have heard that putting a small dish of bicarb close to the cage (not in the cage!) will help to absorb odours, might be worth a try.