Affordable paper bedding?

[mealwormdevourer]

Hi. My hamster (Stig) has been in his Bucatstate for around a year now, and I have slowly been removing bedding as I spot clean. I think I should now be replacing all of the bedding with fresh (I probably should've done this a few months ago, but I'm a student and it's hard to get organised and find the time).

The bedding in his enclosure was about three large bags of carefresh, which was fine but just really expensive.

What bedding should I be going for that is not going to cost a ridiculous amount, but is going to be pretty much dust-free, not only for him but also me and my other animals (all in the same room)?

He is definitely slowing down now, I haven't seen or heard him run on his wheel for a while. He is about 18 months old, so I guess he's getting on a bit in hamster age, it is very strange to me though as I am used to small animals that live around six years!

 

[Maz]

I use Fitch which is about £31 for a 70 litre bag and will more than fill your enclosure to at least 10" of bedding I think. Others have recently been buying Bucatstate paper bedding. I think @Yorkie has a link. There is Kaytee clean and cosy as well but that ends up costing a bit more than Fitch for the same amount. On paper it doesn't, but it doesn't go quite as far I find.

So a 70 litre bag of fitch will probably give you 8 to 10" of bedding in a 100cm cage and some left over for spot cleaning. If you get a second bag when needed it will last for a very long time! Because you'll be doing partial cleans only every few months most likely.

https://www.fitchfirst.com/products/70ltr-fitch-pet-bedding £31.99 plus shipping.

It's also sold on Amazon - it costs a bit more but that includes the shipping.

Fitch Paper Pet Bedding 70L for Guinea Pigs/Hamsters/The Small Critters Favourite! : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Fitch Paper Pet Bedding 70L for Guinea Pigs/Hamsters/The Small Critters Favourite! at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[mealwormdevourer]

I use Fitch which is about £31 for a 70 litre bag and will more than fill your enclosure to at least 10" of bedding I think. Others have recently been buying Bucatstate paper bedding. I think @Yorkie has a link. There is Kaytee clean and cosy as well but that ends up costing a bit more than Fitch for the same amount. On paper it doesn't, but it doesn't go quite as far I find.

So a 70 litre bag of fitch will probably give you 8 to 10" of bedding in a 100cm cage and some left over for spot cleaning. If you get a second bag when needed it will last for a very long time! Because you'll be doing partial cleans only every few months most likely.

https://www.fitchfirst.com/products/70ltr-fitch-pet-bedding £31.99 plus shipping.

It's also sold on Amazon - it costs a bit more but that includes the shipping.

Fitch Paper Pet Bedding 70L for Guinea Pigs/Hamsters/The Small Critters Favourite! : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Fitch Paper Pet Bedding 70L for Guinea Pigs/Hamsters/The Small Critters Favourite! at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

Thank you! I remember hearing about fitch about ten years ago when I first got guinea pigs but had completely forgotten it existed. I have the Bucatstate 3.0 120cm, and it took about three 60L bags of carefresh to get it up to the right height, so I think it might take more than one 70L bag. I will order some.

 

[Yorkie]

https://share.temu.com/sPEj2EUto6B this is one shop I have bought from,but if you are prepared to wait ,you can.get 4 20 litre bags for around fifteen pounds from other shops

 

[mealwormdevourer]

Does anyone use megazorb? I just came across it while comparing fitch prices and it looks like it's really soft and is much cheaper than everything else. I'm just wondering whether anyone knows if it is dusty or not?

 

[Maz]

If you have the 120cm Bucatstate you'll need two 70 litre bags of Fitch but you'll have quite a bit left over I have never used Megazorb. I know some people were put off by a) the smell and b) black dust. On the other hand a few people I've heard of like it. But not that many! I think it was popular with gerbil owners at one time. I find hamsters love the paper bedding though. It's soft for them nesting and pouching and it holds tunnels.

 

[Daisy]

I've used Megazorb occasionally. It is very dusty. And I find it's not very good for burrowing because the pieces are quite small, like granules really. It's more coarse than soft. It also has an odd smell!

 

[Socks' Mum]

I've used Megazorb occasionally. It is very dusty. And I find it's not very good for burrowing because the pieces are quite small, like granules really. It's more coarse than soft. It also has an odd smell!

Yes, I found it smelled awful and was dusty

 

[Amy]

Hello if you have got the time and patience you can replace half the amount of bedding by shredding cheap non scented toilet paper. I do this for his nest as he seems to even prefer it it’s basically the same and far cheaper. It just takes time. I shred it whilst watching YouTube and then mux it with Bucatstate bedding.

 

[mealwormdevourer]

Thanks for all the replies! Megazorb is a no then as I can't have any dust. I will go with the fitch as that seems safest. He's a silly thing and when offered different textures for digging (in dig boxes) he gets upset and fills them up with bedding! So he may be quite offended by a whole new bedding type.