is T-BAG bedding safe ???

[Brianh96]

hey all, hope you and your hams are all keeping safe.

I have a question;
So im online looking at different substrates for my little sno-flake.

Ive tried so many different substrates over the years;


CAREFRESH - great but can be expensive depending on the volume you are getting and also where in the world you are. also some pet stores do not stock this type of sub. my recommendation is that you just go for FITCH instead, its waayyyyyy better value for money. just be aware its going to be a large quantity (BULK BUY)

FITCH - tried this a while ago when a friend gave me some to try out and loved it. I wanted to order some but given that i lived in a very small apartment i was never able to buy and store the quantity. but now I live in a much bigger house and have the means to store it. it does tend to be on the more expensive side though but for the amount you are getting it is definitely worth it and is very cost effective.

ASPEN - great and soft, can be expensive if you are in the UK and go to pets&home in the reptile section.

HEMP- great value for money.

MEGAZORB- fantastic for burrowing and making sturdy tunnels, will NEVER use this sub again, it absolutely stank and was not pleasant, aesthetically it was great, practically if you have a flat or a very small apartment its not a good option, would recommend the very VERY least.


currently im using HUGRO HEMP for the past several but I think its time for a change.

I have come across this bedding that looks like good value for money but ive not heard of it before:

https://www.blendbetter.co.uk/Produc...ource=googleps

does anyone know if it is ham safe.

[cypher]

I’ve never tried it but I have heard that tea bag bedding can contain tiny pieces of plastic & so isn’t considered safe.
About the best substrate I’ve tried is the white Kaytee clean & cosy, similar to fitch but I think it’s a bit softer & maybe a bit less dusty.
If you’re ham is doing well with the hemp than maybe just stick with that or is there a reason you want to change? I wouldn’t recommend changing the substrate all in one go, do it gradually if at all. I found hugro hemp pretty good until I developed an allergy to it!

[LunaTheHamster1]

Hi BrianH96,

I did a lot of research into Tea bag bedding and meant to do a comprehensive post re it but I don't think I got round to it. Here are a couple of threads where we discussed it:

Substrate

Which substrate/nesting material is best?!

Basically, the sealant they use to seal teabags has plastic in it. The majority of teabag companies use this, you will be surprised how many that is and why they can't be put in your compost. Because of this, unless you know where the tea bag bedding is sourced from i.e. a manufacture that doesn't use a sealant with plastic in it or it is bedding that has come from offcuts that is kept away from the plastic sealant area I would not use it. I think there are safer options on the market.

Hope this helps.

[Ria P]

Why haven't you tried Kaytee clean and cozy yet?

The white is quite soft and tissuelike and the natural and camo is more papery. It's not dusty, hamsters seem to like going by my five anyway, they can burrow in it and it goes a long way because it expands a lot. The compressed substrate needs fluffing up when you take it out of the packet. It absorbs moisture so well that i'm still trying to figure out where my hamsters pee and the 85l bag works out quite economical.

Personally, teabag bedding does not appeal to me at all and i wouldn't use it for the reasons stated by Luna.

[Pebbles82]

I think a mix of the hemp and fitch could be good. I’ve been using Fitch for years and don’t find it works out that expensive - because I spot clean mostly and only change the substrate about every 3 months. I’ve also used Kaytee Clean and cozy which is nice too. Comes compressed. I only like the white one as the coloured ones can smell a bit at first I found although ok once aired. I am not sure which works out more expensive out of Kaytee and Fitch as never tried to see how long each bag lasts but I do know a 10kg bag of Fitch lasts me at least 6 months and a bag will fill two 100 Cm cages ftom
scratch with quite a bit left over.

I like the looseness of Fitch - it is easier to spread the volume. If mixed with hemp it could be an interesting texture and your hamsters would probably pick out/forage bits of Fitch for the nest. Or you could have different substrates in different areas.

I have never liked aspen as find it can be a bit dusty and hard and the odd sharp bit. I don’t like carefresh - find it has a fine dust. I was allergic to hemp so settled with Fitch. There are other paper beddings but I think Fitch is the most reliable quality and good stuff. Kaytee is very nice too and similar to Fitch once fluffed up but it isn’t paper. Although maybe that doesn’t matter. Fitch is just recycled food grade paper.