Aspen shavings???

SnuggleHam · 03-31-2005, 11:43 AM

I’m taking a trip to civilization this weekend with my husband and I'll be stopping at PETCO and PETsMART as I need to pick up some more Chinchilla sand and I like to just look around :P

Anyway I love my Critter Care bedding that I get for my rodents, But I'd like to supplement that with some kind of affordable bedding just to give it some body so they can dig and borrow in it a bit. I wanted to ask what people thought of Aspen... Apparently it's one of the more suitable beddings to get.

Of course I'll stay away from Cedar, and I’m under the impression Pine isn't that great either? I’m hoping to find something in bulk that I can purchase.

So is Aspen good and if not what else could I add to their bedding to give it more volume and is afforable.

catalat · 03-31-2005, 01:15 PM

I have always used Aspen for my hams. It has never seemed to bother them and it works just fine for me

. Pumpkin likes to dig around in it, she seems to enjoy it a lot.

I love to go to pet stores and look at all the little critters, it's so much fun.

SnuggleHam · 03-31-2005, 01:21 PM

Is Apsen pretty affordable? I would guess it's not as expensive as CareFRESH bedding. I am hoping to buy it in bulk.

afishcalledwanda · 03-31-2005, 02:09 PM

I used to mix the CareFRESH and Aspen 1/2 & 1/2. A little heavier on the CareFRESH. I too, was under the impression that it would keep the bedding 'fluffier'. It doesn't in my opinion.

I stopped and use strictly CareFRESH now. I found that if I bed down deeply that they burrow just as easily, they seem more comfy as there are no sharp edges or pointy pieces of wood etc. I also find that although CareFRESH is the more expensive of the bedding materials, if bed down deeply (3" or more) I only need to totally clean out once a month, occaisionally longer. This only works if they are potty trained and daily washing of items such as toys is done. Daily/every other day potty changes are in order too. I use children's play sand for their potties instead of chinchilla sand. It's WAY more economical. $3 US for a 50 pound bag versus $7 for a few ounces of Chinchilla sand. You can buy children's play sand in any Home Depot, Lowes, Toys R Us (sandbox sand). Here, we can only get the one from Toys R Us in the summer months. I like that one the best.

I often see my dwarves tunneling in the bedding. I also see my Syrian piling up her bedding when she feels she needs to rearrange her home.

I also use the even more expensive CareFRESH ULTRA now versus the grey. It gives the homes a brighter look to them, I can see if the one dwarf I have that will not potty train, has peed in his bedding, and remove the soiled bedding as needed.

SnuggleHam · 03-31-2005, 02:14 PM

Hmm well maybe I wont use Aspen afterall... I'm just kind of openly looking into it. I think the pet stores may sell CareFRESH in large bulk bags that I might like to pick up.

Thanks for the input, and about the sand as well. I was thinking of turning my 10 gallon into a sand tank for the gerbils, and getting children's play sand.

Coco1 · 03-31-2005, 02:42 PM

I agree, I like CareFRESH ULTRA (white CareFRESH) because it is brighter and cleaner looking and you can see the soiled parts.

If you are still going to use CareFRESH as a base maybe, if you just want to use it for "filler" to dig in, maybe finding the shredded paper that doesn't have the bad inks or chemicals in it? Would that work? Personaly I don't know how easy it is to find this stuff or how expensive it would be. I know its not the best stuff for bedding as its not really that absorbant but for tunneling in it may be OK?

I know the stores (PETsMART / CO) do sell the large bulk bags of CareFRESH but the other day I didn't see it in the ULTRA (white) version, just the grey. I'd like to find a larger bag also.

peanut25 · 04-01-2005, 09:01 PM

I use the CareFRESH and Kaytee Soft Sorbent. Bandit likes to burrow in the CareFRESH and the rest of them seem to like the Kaytee Soft Sorbent. I just get both and mix them.

Coco1 · 04-02-2005, 07:55 AM

I've not seen / heard of the Kaytee Soft Sorbent. But then again, I've probably walked right past it in the store and not even noticed!

I'll check it out some time. Which of the two do you prefer?

**babyboos** · 04-05-2005, 05:40 PM

Kaytee Soft Sorbent is mentioned in the Hamster Care Section Bedding/Litter Layer Topic

It is not a product I am familiar with in the UK

I am trying to pull together a list of good and bad litter/bedding types in this topic so if anyone has any opinions please add them.

peanut25 · 04-15-2005, 09:54 PM

I prefer the CareFRESH but I like the Kaytee Soft Sorbent because it goes a long way. It's kind of dusty so I try not to use a lot of it. The CareFRESH Ultra is an excellent product because it's nice and bright.