Like every loving pet parent, you want your Syrian hamster to be happy and well cared for. As you make sure you give it a large cage and plenty of toys to play with and stay active and amused, you should take care to provide it with the best bedding possible.
The best bedding for a Syrian hamster are Aspen wood shavings. This type of bedding is non-toxic and regulates moisture and odor well. It is also dust-free and lets your Syrian hamster build its tunnels without them collapsing.
In this article, I’ll explain why Aspen wood shavings are the best choice of bedding for your Syrian hamster. I’ll also explain what to avoid when buying bedding and present you with another safe alternative.
Why Are Aspen Wood Shavings the Best Bedding for a Syrian Hamster
When buying bedding for your Syrian hamster, it’s important to think about what are the needs of the hamster in regard to bedding. Also, remember that the bedding needs to be natural and not contain anything that can affect your hamster’s health.
Your hamster needs bedding it can burrow in, and the bedding needs to provide it with a safe and soft surface. It also needs to soak up the moisture from urine and have good odor control – this will benefit both you and your hamster.
Aspen wood shavings are non-toxic and dust-free, ensuring the health of your Syrian hamster. They are also long-lasting, so they need to be changed once a week.
Unlike pine shavings, another popular choice among hamster owners, Aspen wood shavings are made from Aspen wood that doesn’t have natural aromatic oil, so it won’t bother the hamster’s highly developed sense of smell.
I recommend this Small Pet Natural Aspen Bedding (available on Amazon.com). This 249 lb (113 kg) jumbo pack is a very low-dust, safe, high-quality choice for your Syrian hamster. It doesn’t contain harmful dyes, chemicals, or additives and is made from the shavings collected directly from a tree, making it organic and easily disposed of in your garden or compost.
Small Pet Select Premium Natural Aspen Bedding, Animal Bedding for Small Indoor and Outdoor Pets, Made in The USA, Jumbo Size 141 L Pack
The bedding is soft and highly absorbent and absorbs odors without any added artificial scents. Aspen wood shavings are good for your hamster and good for you – since this type of bedding is disposable, the fact that it is very affordable is a big plus.
Considering hamsters tend to nibble on their bedding, Aspen wood shavings are a great choice since they are 100% natural and don’t contain artificial colors or aromatic oils.
However, they are a bit sticky and can stick to the long hair of your Syrian hamster, but that is only an aesthetic issue since they can be easily removed.
The only situations where you should not use Aspen wood shavings as bedding for your Syrian hamster is if it has extremely sensitive skin or it has undergone any type of surgery recently that has left it with open wounds. In that case, your hamster will need softer bedding, like fleece.
Alternative Bedding for Syrian Hamsters
Alternative bedding for your Syrian hamster are pine shavings – if the pine shavings are processed correctly (kiln-dried) and dust free.
This is of utmost importance because dust and phenols are dangerous for hamsters – they cause severe respiratory problems.
Pine wood shavings are very soft and absorb odors and moisture very well, and they need to be cleaned out once a week.
If you choose pine wood, keep in mind to buy unscented shavings, and be mindful of the fact that, unlike Aspen wood shaving, pine wood shavings take longer to compost.
What To Avoid When Buying the Bedding for a Syrian Hamster
When buying the bedding for your hamster, choose disposable bedding in the form of wood shavings. Even though washable bedding like fleece or bath mats are a popular choice, keep in mind they need to be washed every few days.
Also, avoid using sawdust, cat litter, and newspaper as bedding – sawdust is too dusty and can cause respiratory problems, cat litter is too rough and can contain harmful chemicals and additives, and newspaper ink is quite toxic to your hamster.
Also, avoid soft granule blends and paper pellets because although they are soft, non-toxic, and dust-free, they are not firm enough to allow your Syrian hamster to burrow tunnels or nests in them.
Conclusion
Aspen wood shavings offer the best ratio of quality and cost in the sea of available options for you to choose from for your Syrian hamster’s bedding.
They are soft but sturdy enough for building tunnels, offer good absorption of moisture and odors, and are natural and without added chemicals. They are natural looking and can be used in outdoor enclosures, making them the best choice of bedding for your Syrian hamster.