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Pebbles82 · 10-02-2016, 01:21 AM

I use Fitch as well

It will work out way cheaper

Three to four inches minimum substrate is usually recommended, but yes filling the base will help reduce the height issue and cushion any falls. Other than that it means setting the cage up with levels to avoid falls risks and putting hard items under shelves so the hammy can't land on anything hard.

I get the 10kg bales of Fitch, if you could manage £16.99. Might work out almost as cheap as buying a couple of extra bags of Carefresh. It's similar to Carefresh but without dust. I like it and our hamster likes it too.

I think the Alaska is about the same height as the Barney cage which I have. Adding another shelf and a rat sized sputnik should help block a lot of the height/fall risk, but can make set up complicated. It might be easier just to have deeper substrate

Although a Syrian can't really tunnel in 5" to 6" of substrate they do enjoy the depth and push it around, build mountains with it and burrow down into it sometimes

It can also mean saving on the cost of substrate if you have it deeper, because you can spot clean the top and the bottom half tends to stay dry, especially if you use a potty litter tray. You can usually recycle half to 2/3 of the clean substrate when it's deeper, which means using less overall and also helps the cage still smell familiar for the hamster. And means the cage base doesn't get wet and smelly so less cleaning needed

Sorry just realised I have FIVE smilies in this post lol.

This is the size I get - lasts me four to six months in the 100cm Barney with having the base full, a litter tray and spot cleaning. You can mix it in with the current substrate, you don't need to replace it completely. Gradually you'll end up with all Fitch that way.

https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/ani...-delivery.html

It's about the size of a small child's beanbag chair. Ours is in the corner of the bedroom with a throw over it so it looks like a chair lol. Best to store it indoors so it doesn't get damp.

10-02-2016, 01:21 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Deep Enough Substrate? I use Fitch as well It will work out way cheaper Three to four inches minimum substrate is usually recommended, but yes filling the base will help reduce the height issue and cushion any falls. Other than that it means setting the cage up with levels to avoid falls risks and putting hard items under shelves so the hammy can't land on anything hard. I get the 10kg bales of Fitch, if you could manage £16.99. Might work out almost as cheap as buying a couple of extra bags of Carefresh. It's similar to Carefresh but without dust. I like it and our hamster likes it too. I think the Alaska is about the same height as the Barney cage which I have. Adding another shelf and a rat sized sputnik should help block a lot of the height/fall risk, but can make set up complicated. It might be easier just to have deeper substrate Although a Syrian can't really tunnel in 5" to 6" of substrate they do enjoy the depth and push it around, build mountains with it and burrow down into it sometimes It can also mean saving on the cost of substrate if you have it deeper, because you can spot clean the top and the bottom half tends to stay dry, especially if you use a potty litter tray. You can usually recycle half to 2/3 of the clean substrate when it's deeper, which means using less overall and also helps the cage still smell familiar for the hamster. And means the cage base doesn't get wet and smelly so less cleaning needed Sorry just realised I have FIVE smilies in this post lol. This is the size I get - lasts me four to six months in the 100cm Barney with having the base full, a litter tray and spot cleaning. You can mix it in with the current substrate, you don't need to replace it completely. Gradually you'll end up with all Fitch that way. https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/ani...-delivery.html It's about the size of a small child's beanbag chair. Ours is in the corner of the bedroom with a throw over it so it looks like a chair lol. Best to store it indoors so it doesn't get damp. Last edited by Pebbles82; 10-02-2016 at 01:27 AM.