Best bedding for hamsters?

[Brendan]

Hey guys.

Somebody is giving away a free hamster along with its cage and accessories, and well, I couldn't resist. I'll be picking it up possibly today.

Anyhow, I'd like to know what would be the best bedding for it.

Pine shavings? Cedar shavings? Aspen shavings? I heard that pine and cedar can harm it, but I don't know too much about this.

What type of bedding would you recommend that isn't harmful to the animal?

 

[spydrhunter1]

I agree...stay away from cedar, pine or fir because of the turpenols and essential oils. I would use something like aspen shavings.

 

[tigger_my_T.]

There is stuff specially made for hamsters i would get that my sisters hamster seems to like it.

 

[RoachGirlRen]

Aspen or something made from recycled paper (ie. carefresh) are your best bets. I would probably aim for Aspen; I personally think Carefresh is overpriced, dusty, foul smelling crap that often comes with a healthy helping of mites - lovely. I've also seen a few cases in at the vet office that stuffed their cheek pouches with it, whereupon is swelled and either resulted in choking or had to be carefully removed by a vet.
Cedar is a huge no-no for basically all species of... everything. Pine, if kiln dried and thus almost entirely free of scented oils, can be OK for some hardy rodents, but hamsters are notorious for pine allergies and hypersensitivity to even traces of turpenols.

 

[Bedlam]

Try hot lava.