Hello!

adela_grahovac · 11-26-2017, 04:01 AM

Hello my fellow hamster owners! I'm Adela and I'm from the small country of Croatia. I joined HC because I'm getting a syrian hamster in a week and I want to exchange experiences with you fine people!

I just have a question for my new pet:

1. Is cotton bedding okay for my hamster?
2. Which name is better for a female syrian teddy bear hamster: Lulu or Aria?

Ty sooooo muchh!
Lots of love,
Your fellow hamster buddy

cypher · 11-26-2017, 06:25 AM

Hi Adela, welcome to HC

Cotton bedding isn't suitable for hamsters, if you mean for the nest rather than the main substrate in the cage then the best thing is plain white shredded toilet tissue.

I would wait until you get your ham to see which name suits best, look forward to hearing about your new arrival!

adela_grahovac · 11-29-2017, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Hi Adela, welcome to HC

Cotton bedding isn't suitable for hamsters, if you mean for the nest rather than the main substrate in the cage then the best thing is plain white shredded toilet tissue.

I would wait until you get your ham to see which name suits best, look forward to hearing about your new arrival!

Sorry, Yeah i meant for the main substrate! My english is not so great, so I mix some things :P I know for the toilet paper, but i mean te main substrate, the "thing" they will burrow in, is cotton substrate okay for my ham?

Tysm <3

Pebbles82 · 11-29-2017, 12:00 PM

No unfortunately not. Cotton can't break down in their insides if they chew or swallow it (they tend to pouch things for their nest) and it can also wind tight around their legs and cut the blood supply off. Plain white toilet paper is best - you can use it both for nest material and for substrate/litter if you can't find any suitable substrate/litter. Otherwise pine shavings need to be kiln dried and dust extracted (if it doesn't say that on the bag then they aren't). Aspen is also ok for substrate - some reptile shops stock it.

cypher · 11-29-2017, 12:49 PM

Definitely don't use any kind of cotton, toilet tissue isn't really substantial enough for the main substrate, what substrates can you buy where you are? As Serendipity said kiln dried pine & aspen are fine, if you can get it hemp bedding is good too.

adela_grahovac · 11-30-2017, 07:13 AM

Thank you so much! Unfortunately, i dont think there is aspen im my shop, cause i looked for it, but i will ask the staff.
Im going to write the available substrates in my local pet shop, and you tell me which one's the best:

1. Chipsi Classic - low-dust softwood chips, derived from spruce and fir
2. Chipsi Citrus, Strawberry etc. - softwood chips, scented (I KNOW I SHOULD NOT BUY THIS ONE)
3. Chipsi Super - plant fiber
4. Chipsi Fun - colourful bedding mix made from natural soft wood chips & fleecy flakes

Those were under the Rodent section.
But i know they have these cat litter things that i heard are great I think its called "Cat's best universal"..... They look like little wine corks

SHould i maybe check in another section of the pet shop?

I need a main substrate where my hamster can burrow...

Thank you so much!

CMB · 11-30-2017, 08:58 AM

Check the reptile section to. They have may have aspen substrate.

The cat litter pellets aren’t good for burrowing in.

Can you get a paper based substrate like carefresh?

cypher · 11-30-2017, 09:18 AM

Can you order online?
I just checked Zooplus & they deliver to Croatia, they're a really good company to use if yo can & they do hemp so that might be an alternative.

adela_grahovac · 11-30-2017, 09:25 AM

Unfortunately, i cant. Carefresh is sold in a town thats 90 km away from my town. I called the pet shop and they said that they will check the reptile section. I live in a small town (only 30 000 people) and our pet shop only has 2 snakes, about 15 hamsters, some rats, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice and chinchilas. They have fish and parrots. And of course, bunnies. I called the pet shop about the aspen and they said they dont have it in the rodent section but that they will check for other sections. From the substrates that I brought up, which one's the least dangerous? If everything is dangerous, I will check in another city. I will try to order online, but im gettin my hamster in a week and i dont think it will arrive in time.

What about beech wood shavings?

cypher · 11-30-2017, 09:34 AM

I think the chipsi classic should be ok. I wouldn't go for any of the others though.
Have a look at Zooplus if you can order from them it may not take long, I don't know about countries but when I order it usually only takes a few days even though stuff sometimes comes from Germany to the UK.