bedding material

[maxmillan]

What kind of bedding material do you use for Syrians?

I've changed from pine chips (bad bad) to Timothy Hay (too pokey) to aspen for small animals. I've recently mixed aspen with soft granular bedding (Kaytee brand.) I've started shredding brown paper towels (non toxic) and mixed this in because Lucky Louie seems to like it for covering himself to sleep in it.

When I clean his cage I keep the paper shredding as it looks and smells clean and put it back in with the mixed aspen and soft granular bedding. The paper shredding is usually on the top covering him when he sleeps. I thought that might keep him stress free with the familiar scent.

Is there other stuff I could use as bedding?

I want to give LL the best stuff.

[Hamtastic]

For the bedding available in the U.S.:

Aspen bedding is the safest and highest recommended in terms of wood shavings. Different brands have different style shavings, so I'd look for the softest finer shredded variety. I found Petco cedar to be a bit harsh, but there are some other brands that shave their finer and softer. Pine is not safe for hamsters or cedar and should not be used.

Carefresh is quite good, and you can get a pretty good deal on 60 liter bags at Petco.com (~$14 per bag of Natural if you buy on-line). It's soft, hypoallergenic, and is great for tunnel-making. Natural has a bit of a cardboard smell.
http://www.petco.com/product/3370/Ca...20Bedding-3370

I've used EcoBedding and it's fairly good. Doesn't smell at all, looks pretty, hypoallergenic and neat. Fluffs up pretty well once out of the bag, so you need much less than you think per cage refill. Can find it for a good deal on line for the largest bag.
http://www.amazon.com/FiberCore-Smal...7860130&sr=8-2

I've read Sun Seed Fresh World bedding is good. It's sort of between Carefresh and denser pelleted paper bedding.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...397136.4397207