Is sawdust or hay okay for hamsters?

[shazzy]

I think Hammys can be allergic to the pine woodshavings. Megazorb is a wood pulp but it wont be pine - never heard of any problems with it.

[Flissy]

Originally Posted by shazzy

I think Hammys can be allergic to the pine woodshavings. Megazorb is a wood pulp but it wont be pine - never heard of any problems with it.

I'm not sure what sort of woodshavings i used... they were from pets at home. I might try it though as carefresh/back 2 nature are very expensive and im running out

[fluffymunchkins]

yh i don't think you should have a problem with allergies with megazorb. Some other things to consider is that bags of megazorb can vary and i've heard that some can smell really bad (like parmesan cheese apparently?) I don't have a problem with mine, but just so your aware. After airing for a few days the smell should completely go away.

[pruje]

Instead of Sawdust, you can try using Playsand. I have been using it for years and my hamster love it. This is the brand I have been using:

Quikrete® Play Sand (1113-51) - Concrete / Blacktop / Sand - Ace Hardware

I have seen it sold at Ace Hardware and Home Depot...so it is pretty common. About $5 for a big bag of it. One bag usually lasts me 2 or 3 months at least.

It is clean, as it is intended for children. It seems to suppress moisture and odor. I treat it like kitty litter...I do a partial change once or twice a week with a vacuum and a full change about once a month.

I have tried several different types of bedding, and the hamsters seem to like this the most because they can dig in it. Here's a pic of my current set up with sand:



The top cages have carefresh bedding. The aquariums have the sand. But they seem to prefer the sand.

[Flissy]

Is megazorb in a fine powder like sawdust? I can't really tell from the picture?

[annie81]

no megazorb is not powdery. its like little papery ball like bits. its really hard to explain but definitly not powdery. i have a 85L bag at home and its really good. dont have smell problems either. it smells like wet paper when you stick your nose into the megazorb but other than that it doesnt smell

[fluffymunchkins]

megazorb is similar to carefresh but the clumps are much smaller with some lil balls in itand the colour is lighter. I'm not really sure what wet paper smells like tbh lol ! But no mine dosen't smell really, smells quite plesant actually.