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Old 07-22-2020, 04:16 PM   #11
Otaku
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 125
Default Re: Substrate

Ok, so I figured that I would hold off on the review to try to judge my hamster's feeling towards the Small Pet Select brown paper based bedding.

The bedding arrived a couple of days after purchase, safely packaged within a big cardboard box.
The 178l substrate bag measured approximately 60x40x23cm (HxWxD).
It was compressed but unlike the Kaytee Clean & Cosy it separates easily with some ruffling up, during which there was a distinct absence of dust particles thus no sneezing on my part. When fluffed up I do believe it expands x3 as the product description claims, though after fluffing up the substrate I then compacted it down to hold burrows - I had ordered orchard hay too thinking I may have to layer the substrate but found it wasn't required.
The bedding is dry and crisp, with no offensive odour and a softer texture than I anticipated, but coarser than Kaytee C&C.

I did take a video so if you know of a good platform to host a video I can upload it and provide a link.

Bedding layer 1.jpg

Bedding layer 2.jpg

Bedding layer 3.jpg

Bedding layer 4.jpg

This final image shows what little dust was on the base after fluffing up the substrate.

Bedding dust.jpg
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Old 07-22-2020, 04:27 PM   #12
Otaku
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Posts: 125
Default Re: Substrate

Bedding depth.jpg

The bedding was 7 inches deep at the shallowest on the burrowing side, with access points off the edge of the shelf under half a cork log, through a willow tunnel at an access point in the border, and a hole at the top of the bedding next to the shelf and cork log, so I tried to give Tank a bit of a head start in the creation of a burrow because he had never exhibited burrowing behaviour before.

Night after 1.jpg

But after the first night he had clearly shifted the hemp bedding because the shallow substrate side was a mess...

Night after 2.jpg

... but Tank had made a nest here, using the SPS paper based bedding, and not in the burrow. Upon investigation...

Night after 3.jpg

... the hemp substrate was sat atop one entry point. How?!

Night after 4.jpg

He had evidently spent the night shifting the help bedding through the willow tunnel, into the small cavity I had created for him and up to the point that it had flowed out of the top.
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Old 07-22-2020, 04:48 PM   #13
Otaku
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 125
Default Re: Substrate

Night after 5.jpg

I dug out a carrier full of hemp substrate and that STILL wasn't all of it!

Tidied up.jpg

After clearing it all out to allow Tank another chance to figure out the art of burrowing I added a fence to separate the substrates to avert a repeat performance.

Second setup.jpg

The two sections are now divided by a bendy bridge, a sand-blasted grape vine branch, and a couple of stones. I had my fingers crossed that this would be a turning point. After a few nights in his nest behind his wheel Tank relocated... to a wood cabin on one of the shelves.

At 4.30am I was woken up by a tinny tapping sound...

Nooo.jpg

Noooo! Having the high substrate near the door was a mistake. Poop!! My little rascal got in touch with his wild hamster instincts... to ROAM!! *sigh*

Still learning.jpg

At 4.30 in the morning I found myself shifting substrate away from the front of the cage in the hope of preventing more damage.


So, it has been a week with the SPS paper based bedding and I like it, but Tank doesn't seem interested. Despite being compacted down the bedding is still springy rather than firm, which he doesn't seem keen on. Maybe it's just too hot to consider burrowing? Personally I find my room cold, but he is fluffier than I am so he may disagree.

If anyone has any tips on how to encourage burrowing I would really appreciate them! I hide food around the cage and in the substrates (in addition to a couple of cardboard boredom breakers) so he has to dig for his food but he doesn't seem interested in burrowing.
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Old 07-22-2020, 04:59 PM   #14
Otaku
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 125
Default Re: Substrate

If you made it this far Tank and I say 'Thank you!' and reward you with fluffy cuteness.

Tank e.jpg

Tank d.jpg

Tank b.jpg

Tank c.jpg

Tank a.jpg
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Old 07-22-2020, 06:56 PM   #15
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Substrate

Wow your cage looks fantastic, your hamster is so cute too. Lucky hamster
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Old 07-23-2020, 07:35 AM   #16
Otaku
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Default Re: Substrate

Thank you Luna, if only he seemed as enthused about it as we humans are!
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