Safe Bedding & Depth

Hamsters are burrowing animals which in the wild dig and inhabit tunnels which can range up to 70 cm (about 27.5 in) deep and several meters long. They contain multiple caves and tunnels connecting them to serve as sleeping den, toilet area and storage to house their large hoards. Hamsters have a natural urge to burrow and build these tunnels, closing off old ones and constructing new ones on a regular basis.

The hamsters we keep in our homes still have the same natural urges as their wild counterparts which is why we need to offer them a safe, stable substrate to be able to burrow in.

We recommend the following minimum depth to be added to the majority of the enclosure:

Syrian Hamsters – 30 cm or 12 in

Winter White, Campbell and Hybrid Dwarf hamsters – 20 cm or 8 in

Chinese Hamster – 25 cm or 10 in

Roborowski Dwarf Hamster – 15 cm or 6 in

More is always better! As already mentioned, hamsters a very avid burrowers and the more bedding offered, the more likely they’ll follow their natural urges and create intricate tunnel systems.

Table Of Content

Safe Materials

The following materials are safe to be used as a substrate in the majority of the enclosure:

Wood Shavings made from Aspen, Spruce or Birch trees

Unscented Paper Bedding

Hemp Bedding

Teabag Bedding (which is also hypoallergenic)

Sand

All hamsters require a sand bath where they’re able to dig and roll in. We recommend a dish or box that is at least 20 cm or 8 in in diameter and 5 cm or 2 in deep. The following sands are recommended:

Chinchilla Sand, not to be confused with Chinchilla Dust!

Reptile Sand, both in yellow and red

Dig Box

Additionally, the following materials can be used in dig / burrow boxes for further enrichment. They usually don’t hold burrows very well, but can be a fun way to entertain your hamster.