Long Hair and Substrate: Good Grief!

BrainGirl · 09-04-2013, 10:55 PM

I never realized before Timmy how incredibly fine and fluffy longhaired hammies were. Everything sticks to it! Including, I'm surprised to find, paper pellets. Shavings stick. Boxo is a nightmare (much as I love it). I don't like using Crown (a hard paper pellet) but I really thought being smooth it wouldn't get caught in his coat. I'm sitting here now listening to the latest pellet to hitch a ride in his skirt as it bangs against the track of his Wodent Wheel. I could take him out and remove it but soon after I put him back another one will be in there. I thought he was just tracking them in but no, they're wound into the tips of his skirt

What do you use to avoid this problem???

Biscotti · 09-04-2013, 11:12 PM

Have you tried Eco Bedding? It's a crinkle paper bedding so maybe it won't tangle in the skirt. I haven't had a LH syrian male in quite a long while though, so I don't have experience with this particular combination, but maybe it's worth a try.

There's also a laboratory bedding called Alpha Dri that we use at CHA shows in the show pens and it definitely doesn't tangle in the LH skirts, but I have no idea where you can find this. If you're interested, you probably need to email them to ask for distributor info.

BrainGirl · 09-04-2013, 11:19 PM

No, haven't tried the Ecobedding yet. I was thinking I would try that today but got busy elsewhere and never made it downtown. I thought it might tangle just as badly and wanted to ask here to get a second opinion before I spent the money!

Going to look up that Alpha Dri right now...

BrainGirl · 09-04-2013, 11:20 PM

Strange that there's no Canadian distributor but it seems easy enough to order from the US. Thanks!

Amethyst_ice · 09-05-2013, 04:40 AM

Can you get any cardboard based bedding over there like finacard at all? x

POLAR WHITES · 09-05-2013, 06:59 AM

yes That is what I was thinking fincard might be better for your long haired hamster,

BrainGirl · 09-05-2013, 09:40 AM

No, I'm afraid we don't have anything like Finacard

Their Papelit pellets are just like the Crown bedding I've got now. I'd like to try the shredded cardboard they've got but I expect shipping costs overseas will be prohibitive. If they even ship overseas...

The closest thing I can get is that Eco-Bedding. Shredded brown paper that's been crinkled. Probably stick in his coat like mad but I'm willing to try anything at this point.

POLAR WHITES · 09-05-2013, 09:43 AM

have you said you have tried wood based cat litter, I use this for my LH boy but I am lucky as he has oily fur and nothing seams to stick to bad

BrainGirl · 09-05-2013, 09:57 AM

Do you mean the pelleted type or the crumbles? I haven't but I figured that they would be even worse for sticking to his fur, especially the fine crumbles. I was also looking at corncob bedding but thought that it would stick too because it's so light.

Amethyst_ice · 09-05-2013, 10:09 AM

I'm trialing papelit atm for litter in the rat cage, it's far to light and fine.

I wish I could post you a bale out but it costs enough to ship it around here!

You could try the wood based cat litter, i tried it for a while but it seemed a bit rough to walk on.

Have a look at the horse bedding avaiable over there, there must be a cardboard based one. Did you try hemp based ones? xxx

http://www.airliteusa.com/airlite_bedding_facts.html#

is that available??