Megazorb and Aubiose

souffle · 03-06-2010, 12:12 PM

I know several people have shown an interest in seeing what both these substrates ae like so I thought I'd take some reference pics today whilst cleaning out.
Megazorb
This is a wood pulp product and is quite similar to carefresh though the bits are smaller and lighter and softer in my opinion. It comes in a large sack which is quite easily stored. It can be a little dusty and if it has been stored damp can smell odd so check the bag before you buy if possible. It is absorbant and easily moulded into nests by hamsters. It lifts out easily. This product is not suitable for Long haired males as it tangles badly in the skirt. We personally use it for long haired females with no problems and also dwarfs. We pay £6.25 a bag for it from our local Equine bedding retailer.

Aubiose
Aubiose is a chipped hemp straw substrate. It comes in a large, plastic wrapped compessed bale. It can be dusty and sometimes have spikey bits in which need picked out however we find there is minimal tangling in Longhaired male's coats. It is reasonably absorbant but not as good as megazorb. It can be used for all types of hamsters but does not mould that well into nests. We pay £10.75 a bale from our local equine bedding retailer.

littlepeanut · 03-06-2010, 12:45 PM

Thanks Souffle, I'm going to see if I can fine somewhere that sells Megazorb because it looks rather good. And cheap!

A good help - thanks!

fluffymunchkins · 03-06-2010, 12:55 PM

i also get my megazorb from my local horse tack shop, its amazing

But you mentioned that its not suitable for long hair males!
Porridge is a long haired male, his hair is not particularly long and although he sometimes has a bit stuck to him its never tangled?
Do you think he'll be ok on megazorb still?
I don't really want to change it

littlepeanut · 03-06-2010, 01:09 PM

how long does one of those bags last?

fluffymunchkins · 03-06-2010, 01:15 PM

AGES

i'm telling you!
I have two hamsters and it lasts me at least 2-3 months depending on your cage size.

souffle · 03-06-2010, 01:30 PM

If it suits him fluffymunchkins and you don't have a tangle problem then stick with it. It is really males with long skirts that are the problem.
We use it in four large cages and it lasts us a good 2-3 months cleaning out every two weeks sometimes even longer if they don't need it.

fluffymunchkins · 03-06-2010, 02:11 PM

oh good, he doesn't have a skirt really just lil blond tufty bits

I probably underestimated how long megazorb lasts actually cause i'm only nearly half way through my first ever bag

So i guessed!

Emz · 03-07-2010, 03:00 AM

Wow Megazorb seems like it's great value compared to other kinds of substrate... where on earth do you keep the bag though? I could keep it in the cellar thing under the house but thats where all the spiders go...

annie81 · 03-07-2010, 08:08 AM

i love megazorb...i have to get the 85L bag from equinecaninefeline delivered though...so its a bit more expensive. but it really lasts ages. my flatmate doenst like the greyish look of it coz it makes her think its dirty....but i dont mind...and the hamsters definitely dont mind

fluffymunchkins · 03-07-2010, 11:09 AM

My bag is kept under my bed now that its about half full.
But before it was kept downstairs in my hallway and i just had a plastic box full in my room, so i didn't have to haul it up to clean out