Colored tissue paper

[Axeriax]

I tried searching but could not find anything relevant, so if there is a thread about this that I missed I am so sorry for making another one.

I have been binge watching ErinsAnimals on youtube, and I came across a video of her using cheap kitchen roll and colored tissue paper (napkins really) to make colored nesting material and bedding. I found it super cute and could really see myself doing that, have even looked into getting a paper shredder to ease the process. Since the tissue paper is food grade I figured it to be safe. but I really wanted to hear what you guys think? is it safe?

[Ria P]

I'd test the coured paper by soaking it in water. If the dye runs i wouldn't use it but if it doesn't it should be fine.

Carefresh confetti is multicoloured and a safe option.

[LunaTheHamster1]

i've used coloured serviettes/napkins. Like Ria says soak a bit in some water and if it is colour fast you are good to go.

[Axeriax]

Thanks for the reply both of you!

I am going to get a shredder and some cute and safe colored napkins to make my own nesting material. We dont have much from carefresh here anymore its all sold out everywhere for some reason. it was SUPER populat here last I had a hamster. But I bought the Uber paper bedding for the bottom of the cage in the natural color cause the colorful ones where sold out. I might add some cat litter pellets (not the sand ones ofc) in the very bottom for odor controll, but havent really made up my mind yet.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Axeriax

Thanks for the reply both of you!

I am going to get a shredder and some cute and safe colored napkins to make my own nesting material. We dont have much from carefresh here anymore its all sold out everywhere for some reason. it was SUPER populat here last I had a hamster. But I bought the Uber paper bedding for the bottom of the cage in the natural color cause the colorful ones where sold out. I might add some cat litter pellets (not the sand ones ofc) in the very bottom for odor controll, but havent really made up my mind yet.

I'd stay away from anything odour control and cat litter. Unlike cats, hamsters don't smell. It's not worth risking respiratory issues.

[Axeriax]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I'd stay away from anything odour control and cat litter. Unlike cats, hamsters don't smell. It's not worth risking respiratory issues.

Oh okay, I have just seen ErinsAnimals on YT use it in her cages under the fluffy paper bedding. She seems to know what she is doing?
But if it isnt safe I will stay way clear

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Axeriax

Oh okay, I have just seen ErinsAnimals on YT use it in her cages under the fluffy paper bedding. She seems to know what she is doing?
But if it isnt safe I will stay way clear

Hmm, i wonder sometimes. I saw her pouring a big bag of compost into an enclosure once and had my doubts after that. A small area of coco coir is fine as an enrichment but i've never seen gardening compost without some sort of additive. That's the whole point, to feed the plants.

[Axeriax]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Hmm, i wonder sometimes. I saw her pouring a big bag of compost into an enclosure once and had my doubts after that. A small area of coco coir is fine as an enrichment but i've never seen gardening compost without some sort of additive. That's the whole point, to feed the plants.

was that her naturalistic setup in the Billy XL? Wasnt it ordinary potting soil?

anyways I thought to myself watching that video that it looked awfully moist, but so much have changed since I kept hamsters last that I felt I could not judge without looking into it. And since I wont use soil myself I didnt bother doing more research on it xD

[AmityvilleHams]

Originally Posted by Axeriax

was that her naturalistic setup in the Billy XL? Wasnt it ordinary potting soil?

anyways I thought to myself watching that video that it looked awfully moist, but so much have changed since I kept hamsters last that I felt I could not judge without looking into it. And since I wont use soil myself I didnt bother doing more research on it xD

Potting soil etc is extremely unsafe for hamsters due to risk of fungal growth & mold, the way it holds way too much moisture, etc. In my honest opinion using the pelleted litter isn't worth doing, and they almost all have baking soda added which is best avoided with bedding and litter. Even without baking soda added they can still have other odor control ingredients added(zeolite etc - also unsafe), though I have seen Small Pet Select wood pellets which would be a good choice if you really wanted to bother with a pelleted option in the bottom of the cage. It's not necessary though and you could spend the extra money on much better things!

ErinsAnimals does have some good ideas at times, but take everything with a grain of salt from any youtuber etc - even if they're popular they can absolutely make mistakes or do unsafe things, questionable things, etc!

[Ria P]

I think it was. At the time i had a Syrian who loved climbing into my plant pots to dig the soil up so i searched in all the garden centres and diy stores for compost without additives or fertilizers and couldn't find any. I wanted to give him his own plant pot with soil and used coco fibre in the end which was a palaver, either too moist or dusty dry.

He ignored it anyway, probably because he was allowed to dig it up, unlike my plants he got lifted out of.