What kind of wood bedding should I buy for my syrian hamster?

Question

I know, I know, I'm a total worry wart for asking my FOURTH hamster bedding question, but I'm really worried. So I'm getting a syrian in about a week, and I'm going out to buy bedding today, and I found out how bad pine and cedar is. I did some research on Aspen, and it says that people have reported reactions in their hamsters things like, hair loss, and increase in drinking and urinating. These were in Campbell hamsters, syrians, and dwarfs. I'm getting a syrian. What bedding should I buy? Is there even a safe one? And I bought a pack of hamster fluff to put in a hamster hide out and I found out fluff is bad. Do you use fluff? Is it okay?

Answer 1

Fluff is bad.  They can eat it and end up with impacted cheek pouches or get it tangled around them and cause injuries.  As for the bedding no one can tell ahead of time if your hamster will have a reaction or not.  Aspen is the only safe wood bedding.  Just like humans hamsters are different and have allergies to differnt things.  Carefresh is also safe but when I used it one of my hamsters had a terrible reaction to it.  You can try either one they are both safe.  If your hamster has a reaction switch to another safe bedding.

Answer 2

aspen is actualy pretty much the best bedding for all small mammals and even reptiles that you can get.so get the aspen and no fluff.if they eat the fluff he could get an impacted bowl and die slowly and painfully.if he does get an impacted bowl kill him.im not trying to be sick but thats the best thing to do for him.i hope i helped.

Answer 3

If it has to be wood, buy pine or aspen. Just do not buy any SCENTED bedding, it if says Pine scented, instead of just Pine bedding, do not get it. and DO NOT GET CEDER, it will give them a rash or bad reaction. If you don't mind not getting wood bedding, you can get carefresh. It is expensive, but very good.

Answer 4

I never had any problems with aspen but, if your concerned you can get the ground up corn cob substrate.  I use fluff as bedding (even cotton balls do the job) and I haven't had any problems, as long as you give it enough to make a small nest around itself. Remember that hamsters are hardy little desert animals and aren't very needy pets(I've found this especially true of Syrians).

Answer 5

In my opinion, aspen is pretty safe. I feel it's the only safe wood bedding. However, Carefresh seems to be the most popular bedding among hamster owners. You may want to try that out. You can try aspen first. Just get a small bag of it. If you notice a reaction from your hamster, immediately switch to Carefresh.

I, personally, feel fluff is very unsafe, The fibers can wrap around limbs. If ingested, it could cause a blockage. I wouldn't risk it with my own small animals (I have gerbils), so I don't recommend it. I've heard of hamster owners using it without a problem, though. I think I may just be a little too paranoid about something happening with fluff. I love my gerbils, and would never want to give them something that could potentially harm them. I stay away from all that fluff stuff.

Thank you so much for doing your research BEFORE getting your hamster. It's so, so important for new pet owners to do that. It's better to be safe than sorry, right? You're only looking out for your new hamster, and that's never a bad thing. I'm pretty much the same way when it comes to my gerbils. I constantly worry about them. It really helps to have your hamster's cage all set up before bringing him/her home. It helps to minimize the stress. Good luck!

Answer 6

i already answered one of ur questions anyways buy the ASPEN wood bedding.

Answer 7

aspen bedding it is the most safest so that the hamster cant get and uri.....

HOPE THIS HELPS,

-Amanda

Answer 8

For the bedding I don't use wood bedding I use Carefresh It removes the smell :D