Here are some of our most commonly asked questions
Substrate questions
Does the sand contain calcium?
The sand doesn't contain calcium. It is natural quartz sand. It is very fine and soft and doesn't contain any dyes or chemicals.
Can I use aspen as the main substrate for my hamster?
Some hamster owners do use aspen as the main substrate, personally I prefer paper because I think it holds tunnels better and is a bit less dusty.
How often do I need to replace my hamster's substrates?
In most cases, with regular spot cleaning, you shouldn't need to totally replace all of the substrate at once. You can just remove any soiled substrate when you clean and top up the remaining substrate. This way it tends to last for a long time.
Is soil suitable for my hamster
Soil is one of the more difficult substrates to manage. It is naturally damp and so can cause mould if it's next to something like cardboard or wood in your enclosure. If your hamster is kept in a very warm room the soil can dry out and become dusty. Not to mention that hamsters are notorious for kicking the soil out of their substrate dish and getting it everywhere!
However, with a tiny bit of knowledge on how best to handle the soil, it can still be a great and enriching part of your hamster's enclosure. When you buy soil from hamster helper you'll also get a guide on how best to use it and how to avoid the pitfalls that can come along with using hamster soil.
Slate questions
I want my slate to be a specific size can you help?
Yes. Since the slates are a natural material there are differences in size between each one. However, if you have specific needs you can send me a message and I'll do what I can to help.
I may not always be able to provide the size or shape you're after, but I will do my best.
I want my slate to be flat, can you help?
All of the slates I sell in the shop are flat. I chose slate for nail maintenance because it is so flat and easy to walk on. It can be put in a hamster's cage in any of their normal walkways and it will be pretty unobtrusive.
How long will the slate last for?
The slate will last pretty much forever.
Because it is relatively thin, it may crack or shatter if it's dropped onto a hard surface, for instance, kitchen tiles. Also it is a softer type of stone, so using harsh chemicals or acidic cleaners on it may cause it to become damaged (and I wouldn't recommend using these types of cleaner on your hamster's items).
Provided it is cleaned with a gentle cleaner like baby shampoo or a plant based washing up liquid it will last for a long time.
Will one slate help keep my hamster's nails short?
Even though I own a hamster store, I still only use two slates with Flamey.
One slate will be enough provided it is positioned properly.
When you buy a slate from Hamster Helper I will send you a guide which will advise you on how best to use it for nail maintenance.
The trick is to put the slate in an area your hamster walks through regularly. I keep Flamey's under his water because it means he walks on the slate several times a day.
Having more than one slate is useful if you have a large cage or if you want to keep one in the cage while the other is being cleaned.
Microgreen questions
I'm not good at growing plants will this work for me
Microgreens are super easy to grow! If you're new to growing them or you're worried that you're not green fingered, stick to some of the microgreens that are crazy easy to grow:
- broccoli
- alfalfa
- wheatgrass
- red clover
Are all excellent choices. The hardest ones to grow that I sell are sunflowers. But even they are straightforward, they just take a while.
When you buy microgreens I provide growing instructions, and you can always message me at any time to troubleshoot your growing process if things appear to be going wrong.
Can I leave the plant in my hamster's enclosure?
Every hamster is different, so you have to use your own judgement.
I leave Flamey's plants in his cage with him, but he doesn't chew the pots so I feel he's fine to be left alone with them.
If your hamster is a chewer, the terracotta pots are unlikely to cause any issues, but if you're using plastic pots and your hamster is a chewer, it may not be a good idea to leave the pot with your hamster.
My advice is to monitor your hamster when you first use microgreens with them to see how they respond.
How long do the microgreens last
It depends how quickly your hamster eats them!!
flamey tends to finish one off in about 3/4 days, but every hamster is different.
If you want to make it last a bit longer you can take the pot out of the cage and just give it to your hamster now and again.
Provided the plants are kept watered, they'll last for quite a few weeks.
Do microgreens count as fresh food?
Yes. Microgreens count as fresh food, so I tend to avoid giving Flamey other fresh food like fruits and vegetables while he has a plant on the go. This is probably just me being over cautious, but better safe than sorry.