hamster trouble.

[1frankie7]

Ok my friend has a hamster and she uses wood shaving and she wont use carefresh because she read that newspaper is bad for hamster's (wich I cant argue with) and she says better safe then sorry even though carefresh is safer than shavings! Also can you put a brick in a hamster cage because i suggested that and she thinks her hamster is gonna eat it!
sorry im kind of ranting and raving.

[PiggiePaws]

As long as the shavings aren't pine or cedar, then it should be ok. Pine and cedar shouldn't be used for the same reason it shouldn't be used for pigs (unless it's kiln dried), the phenols can cause respiratory ailments. Carefresh would be much more comfortable for burrowing though, I used it in my gerbils cage and they were much more happier with that than the shavings.

I would imagine the hamster would chew on the brick, but I don't think there would be anything wrong with that. I may be wrong, of course.

[Wodentoad]

From what I gathered from that, you're asking:
1) Is Carefresh okay?
2) Is it better than shavings?
3) Is a brick okay?
4) Is it safe for the hamster? (ie, will he eat it?)

I don't know from hamsters, but I'm hoping I parsed that out a bit for ya.

[fieryone]

Wood shavings are fine as long as it's aspen or a kiln dried pine. Carefresh is a nice bedding but not essential.

Why would a hamster need a brick? It wouldn't hurt them to have one but I think they would be happier with something to hide and burrow in than a brick.

[1frankie7]

Originally Posted by fieryone

Wood shavings are fine as long as it's aspen or a kiln dried pine. Carefresh is a nice bedding but not essential.

Why would a hamster need a brick? It wouldn't hurt them to have one but I think they would be happier with something to hide and burrow in than a brick.

I said a brick because she has tunnels connecting the cages and he has to climb the walls to get to them so I suggested a brick.


I mean she thinks its unsafe and i know that its safe(careFRESH and brick)

[Wodentoad]

Blame me for that, I must have read it wrong. A brick should not hurt the little fella if he's having trouble climbing up to his tubes. Alternatively, a little ham-house might also work, something to climb on.

I kinda wish I had a hamster or two, but (insert whining here) I'm half buried in a zoo already! Lol!

[1frankie7]

He doesent climb his hamster house he sleeps in it and puts all his food in it.

[fieryone]

Provided that the cage is big enough that a brick wouldn't take up a lot of room, then yes, it would be helpful for climbing up to a tube that's too high. Or better yet, maybe she can lower the tube?

[fridzalone]

I use vitakraft wood shaving and it's pine. But i don't know if it's kiln dried or not. There's only two kinds of hamster bedding in my country : pine wood shavings, and zeolite sand. Which one should I use?

[fieryone]

Originally Posted by fridzalone

I use vitakraft wood shaving and it's pine. But i don't know if it's kiln dried or not. There's only two kinds of hamster bedding in my country : pine wood shavings, and zeolite sand. Which one should I use?

If it isn't kiln dried or you aren't sure, you can leave it out for a few days to air out. You can do that when using it for pigs anyway so I would assume that the same would be true for hamsters. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

[YayPiggies]

Firstly, wood shavings are fine.
Secondly, hamsters don't need bricks. They like pumice stones though, which are safer than bricks. I got a pumice stone set at a petstore and my hamster loved them.