is it ok to have care fresh in a show pen

[Matty Day]

I found out on Friday that Aphrodite is allergic to pine shavings so I have switched to care fresh is this allowed in show pens at hamster shows?

[Nicolapompicola]

Hmm.. not sure.. I know that in the rat fancy that aspen (available from reptile shops) or hemp (aubiodose) is commonly used instead of shavings.

[Bunsey]

no, you have to use wood shavings/sawdust for dwarves and short-haired syrians and wood-based cat litter for long-haired syrians. both of these i have to keep a special bag for shows as i don't use either of them. Perhaps if you explained the situation you could show on wood-based cat pellets?

[Holly]

I'm fairly sure you'd have to show on shavings if it's a SH hamster. The problem is that hamsters in show pens, once benched, are supposed to be totally anonymous. If an exhibitor were regularly allowed to show hamsters on a different substrate it would become known who that exhibitor was - and there goes the anonymity.

You could perhaps shop around and buy tiny packs of different brands of shavings - in the UK they are all supposed to be kiln-dried to remove the harmful substances but I'm sure some brands are less allergy inducing than others.

[Matty Day]

i was using wilkos own brand that was what did it can anyone else recomend another brand.

[souffle]

I do not think you would be allowed as having a different bedding might indicate to the judge whose hamster was in the pen. It should be wood shavings for a chinese. Would she be OK for the time in the show pen. You should sontact the secretary and ask advice.

[Jane]

Reading this thread and thought..do they have to be on ANY shavings or the typical pine shavings we see? Could someone use aspen shavings? Of course they look different to typical shavings but it's still wood shavings? Just curious if anyone knows.

[souffle]

I think it states wood shavings on the handbook of rules Jane though I did notice someone was showing on sawdust at Bradford though they may have lost points for this.

[Matty Day]

i dont want to experiment to much but how long do the hamsters have to be in the pen as i might just air our and shiv througth the shavings to get the dust out if they dont have to be in there long.

[Bunsey]

they are usually in the pens from about 10am to about 4:30pm, so long enough to have a reaction. I'd try some different brands, perhaps supa hamster or something like that. i aren't sure of brand names as i just use some from a local shop for the shows.

i always forget about not revealing which is mine and shout things like "yey he's got 74 points" or "we're in the lead!". I need to control myself more