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Old 02-02-2018, 03:12 AM   #1
anna_ansen
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Denmark
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Smile Bedding smell?

Hi.
I've never had a hamster before, but I'v been thinking about getting myself one because i recently moved to a dorm, which can be a little too quite sometimes.

My mom keeps saying "bad idea, it will make your place smell bad because of the bedding".
So does the (paperbased)bedding like BoxoComfort smell? Like the normal dry hay-smell? And i only have one room (excl. bathroom and entrance), but can that be a problem of some kind?

Anna
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Old 02-02-2018, 06:51 AM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Bedding smell?

I've never had a problem with smell I haven't used Boxo personally but I wouldn't expect it to smell of anything except faintly of cardboard maybe! If your Mom means urine smells - then that isn't a problem if you set up a cage right, have a good depth of bedding, and a litter tray with chinchilla bathing sand. Hammies are quite clean little things really and will use a litter tray to pee in (if you put it in the right place!) - the sand soaks up the pee and you just empty and clean out the potty/litter tray every 5 days or so. Their poops don't smell at all - they're like little hard black seeds and they eat them sometimes for extra vitamins (which is normal - they have two stomachs and can redigest things).

Another bedding alternative is Kaytee Clean n Cozy - I;m sure that doesn't smell of anything but it's a bit more expensive.

The only thing that might end up being smelly in a small place is a female Syrian hamster on heat (some people find it a bit too smelly some don't).

I would go with a male Syrian - Syrians are easier to toilet train (in my opinion!).

You wait to see where they choose to pee (usually a corner of the cage as a toilet) and put the potty/litter tray there. Our hammy actually covers it up with bedding if he thinks it's getting smelly!

Have you thought about cages/sizes/where a cage would go? A lot of people in the US make bin cages because there are very few cages a suitable size for a hamster (most sold are not big enough). Some people use glass tanks. There are a couple of good cages but they are $100 plus.
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Old 02-02-2018, 09:02 AM   #3
anna_ansen
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Default Re: Bedding smell?

Thanks for your answer, Serendipity7000!

I've read about the pee and poop-part before, so i know about the not smelling part of that. It was just the bedding, i didn't know about

I've thought about getting a winterwhite hamster. Do you know if there are any smell-differences between males or females?

And I've been looking for cages. You replied to my other post about the Ferplast Favola cage, and thank you for that

So basically having a hamster is not smelly at all, if you clean the cage regularly?

Thank you again
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Old 02-02-2018, 10:09 AM   #4
Drago
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Default Re: Bedding smell?

How much a hamster will smell, really comes down to a variety of factors I've found. Maintenance, diet, bedding type, and health. I've found each of my hamsters to smell differently. I notice that there is some smell present, but it's not necessarily a bad one. Usually just the faint smell of "animal" when you go near the cage.

As serendipity noted, good cleaning habits will make a world of difference. A litter pan will help with that. As for the male vs. female smell, I've personally found females (though it certainly depends upon the individual) to smell more when in heat.

best wishes!
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Old 02-02-2018, 03:51 PM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Bedding smell?

Actually if you clean the whole cage regularly it could get smelly! If you do regular full clean outs it makes the hamsters pee on everything to scent mark the cage As long as you use a litter tray and clean that out every 5 days and have plenty of substrate you shouldn't really need to do big clean outs at all - I go about 3 months before doing a substrate change. You can clean the wheel occasionally or spot clean if necessary (ie replace the odd handful of substrate).

I am not sure about winter whites. I believe with Robos its the other way round and boys can smell more than girls. But we have a boy robo and he doesn't smell at all!
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Old 02-02-2018, 11:57 PM   #6
cypher
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Default Re: Bedding smell?

None of my Russians have been smelly but my one female did have a slight smell when she was in heat, nothing too strong or unpleasant at all though.
I agree that over cleaning can lead to a smelly cage as they'll be constantly scent marking all the new substrate!
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