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Post by harrythedegu on Mar 23, 2021 11:52:48 GMT
Hey all,
Looking to change up my degus substrate and bedding but wanted to know what you are all using? What do you use for both the substrate and bedding?
I read somewhere that some people use paper based litter, some use wood chips, but wanted to see what you are all using!
Thanks in advance! X
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Post by bouncy on Mar 23, 2021 12:16:12 GMT
I've personally tried standard woodshavings (messy), Carefresh (expensive), Auboise (VERY messy), but I've settled on horse bedding woodshavings called Bedmax. These are much larger, have less dust, and less of it ends up on my floor. They also like chewing on pieces, and I don't get worried when one of them digs to the bottom of the burrow. Other members here use Fitch, which is cardboard based ( savvy?) I would avoid the hard wooden pellets. I can see it being easy to turn a furry ankle. They were also used as a sustainable cat litter, so digested pellets could swell and cause a blockage. |
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Post by savvy on Mar 23, 2021 12:54:32 GMT
bouncy I use either finacard or green mile, both are basically shredded cardboard. Both are available from ratrations, and work out at about £10 per month, per cage (adventura) Does get kicked on the floor (Reggie I'm looking at you!) does get chewed, but it's less messy than most substrates I've used in the past.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 23, 2021 15:16:02 GMT
When I had degus, I always used Carefresh, but the options in Canada are fewer.
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Post by harrythedegu on Mar 23, 2021 22:52:41 GMT
I've personally tried standard woodshavings (messy), Carefresh (expensive), Auboise (VERY messy), but I've settled on horse bedding woodshavings called Bedmax. These are much larger, have less dust, and less of it ends up on my floor. They also like chewing on pieces, and I don't get worried when one of them digs to the bottom of the burrow. Other members here use Fitch, which is cardboard based ( savvy?) I would avoid the hard wooden pellets. I can see it being easy to turn a furry ankle. They were also used as a sustainable cat litter, so digested pellets could swell and cause a blockage. Thanks very much!! This was very helpful and I shall look into these!  |
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Post by harrythedegu on Mar 24, 2021 0:00:30 GMT
When I had degus, I always used Carefresh, but the options in Canada are fewer. Thank you very much! That’s really helpful! |
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 24, 2021 13:47:45 GMT
I used to use Fitch, it's paper based, similar to carefresh but softer and cheaper.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 24, 2021 16:56:54 GMT
Fitch is something I wished I could find in Canada . . . I don't think I was looking in the right places. Should have looked into farming supplies I think.
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Post by bouncy on Mar 24, 2021 20:22:12 GMT
Think about what you want from your bedding/ substrate. How important is lack of dust, the noise it may make (wooden pellets anyone?), how easily they can eject it from the cage to your floor, where it's going in the cage etc. Also think about the size of your habitat too. I have 64,000cm2 to fill each change, including two deep burrows. That uses just over 20kg woodshavings by volume, more if I don't use any packing paper I've accumulated for part of the borrows.
You also may want to see what's available locally to you, as shipping costs could be huge. For example, just looking at Amazon (yes, there are cheaper sources) with free delivery:
20kg Bedmax flakes £17. I get mine from a local tack shop in the next village for £8.50.
60l Carefresh is £25, cheapest I've found online is £12, but I would need at least eight of these to make up to the Bedmax volume.
178l Small Pet Select (paper) is £40, about 75% volume of the Bedmax
20kg regular shavings £16, P@H sell the same for £14 instore, tack shops will sell for around £7
20kg Auboise or equivalent £14. Local tack shop sells for the same price as Bedmax.
See if you have a Mole Country Stores near you, which are comparable to my local tack shop.
I've never bought Finacard or Fitch, but I'm sure the owners that use it can fill you in.
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Post by savvy on Mar 24, 2021 20:29:37 GMT
I get through a bale of either finacard or green mile each month, I say either because it depends what's in stock.
Green mile is £12 for a 15kg bale, shipping is about £8 via dpd and can be cheaper depending on the carrier, but you can click and collect for free, but the shop is in Norfolk.
Finacard is £10.80 for a 15kg bale, shipping is the same as Green Mile as it's calculated by weight.
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