Can you use Tissue or Newspaper for hamster bedding?

ButterNut · 07-31-2012, 11:32 AM

Just wondering, because I use Carefresh and Kaytee and its starting to get pretty expensive. Is newspaper ink bad for them? Is tissue or newspaper good for hamster bedding?

StarlightSerenity · 07-31-2012, 11:33 AM

I imagine it would be pretty boring bedding for a hamster - no burrowing, not digging, no tunnels etc.

How many hamsters do you have now?

PinkPrincess · 07-31-2012, 11:36 AM

I would be worried about them ingesting the ink if they swallowed any of the newspaper....

Liz'sHammies · 07-31-2012, 11:38 AM

toilet paper is safe. but, its not the best for burrowing.. so maybe use a little of regular bedding, and the rest toilet paper (if you have to)

StarlightSerenity · 07-31-2012, 11:38 AM

I think UK paper is safe, not sure about US though.

ButterNut · 07-31-2012, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarlightSerenity

I imagine it would be pretty boring bedding for a hamster - no burrowing, not digging, no tunnels etc.

How many hamsters do you have now?

Still 8 young ones, Buttercup and peanut, so 10. But 5 permanent ones (3 for a girl, probably a couple of friends and im keeping 3.)

ButterNut · 07-31-2012, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz'sHammies

toilet paper is safe. but, its not the best for burrowing.. so maybe use a little of regular bedding, and the rest toilet paper (if you have to)

So is none of this as good as Carefresh?

StarlightSerenity · 07-31-2012, 12:15 PM

No none is sadly. Is Carefresh the only option you have? Sorry, don't know much about US bedding.

Wow, still 10! 10 cages must be taking up a fair bit of room!

obscura · 07-31-2012, 12:20 PM

If CareFresh and KAYTEE are getting too expensive, why not at least go to aspen? You can get a huge amount for pretty cheap. Then just add toilet paper for nesting. I wouldn't use newspaper because of the ink. Even if they don't ingest it, newspaper ink has a smell. Plus if it gets wet, the ink can rub off. I can't imagine putting newspaper in my mouth. I'm sure the ink would get on my tongue. I just imagine ink getting on the inside of their pouches. Can't taste very good, either...

I actually just bought a bulk thing of aspen. I have a 58qt plastic bin full of CareFresh Ultra and one filled with aspen now. All of my bins (5) are using aspen right now for the first time this year! All the hams seem to be fine with the switch. I might be taking a few more hams as well, as my breeder is working on her chocolate line, so I'm preparing LOL I have like 5 new bins and I'm stocked up on bedding. Plus I clean my Syrians a bit more than my dwarfs cause they seem to be messier so I need bedding that isn't going to cause me to go broke!

ButterNut · 07-31-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obscura

If CareFresh and KAYTEE are getting too expensive, why not at least go to aspen? You can get a huge amount for pretty cheap. Then just add toilet paper for nesting. I wouldn't use newspaper because of the ink. Even if they don't ingest it, newspaper ink has a smell. Plus if it gets wet, the ink can rub off. I can't imagine putting newspaper in my mouth. I'm sure the ink would get on my tongue. I just imagine ink getting on the inside of their pouches. Can't taste dry good, either...

I thought aspen was bad. Oh must of been Pine. Pine is bad right? I stopped using pine a while ago because I heard it was bad.