Wood shavings as a base?

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Ang2020

Hi

I have an Alaska cage and picking up my Syrian tomorow. I am prepping the cage today.

Is a thick layer of wood shavings ok? Or is it care fresh bedding that's best to use mainly? Or a combination of both?

Thanks

I'd recommend Kaytee clean & cozy which i use in my Syrian's Alaska cage. I use the Natural or Camo because i like the papery consistency and prefer it to the softness of the White.

As for wood shavings, i use them in playcages and my dwarfs often sleep in the wood shavings areas and sleep in the Kaytee areas at other times so i'd say that they like both.

You could have wood shavings in one area of the cage and paper based substrate in another to give your hamster variety.
Keep in mind that with wood shavings a hamster still needs paper based bedding to make a nest with like lots of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper or paper substrate.