Things to get

[Jbab]

Hi everyone - if anyone is online and can help ASAP as I'm just going out! Can anyone give me a basic list of things I may need straight away - foods, toys for cage etc, best substrate etc just to get them settled in. I can add at a later date so just need the basics

Thanks guys

[Emma9383]

ok, here goes...

I use newspaper in the bottom of the cage, as they can't get to it, it's a seperate section (Ink on it's not good for them). Don't use sawdust, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere the dust is bad for them.
Bedding, I use small rodent bedding, some use shredded paper.
Look in the Diet section, Tillie has made recipes, I make up two, alternate each day for a week,
Look on Maries site (shropshire exotic) she has everything you need, wheels, trim trax, pouches, supplements, bonding pouches etc. She's pretty good at sending it straight out that night if she can. She posts 1st class. She does a fab starter kit, you can choose from 4 kits ranging in price, I used this to set mine up, it includes treats too.
I have a little Java branch (java is suggie safe) from pets at home that fits onto the side of the cage.
I bought some wooden fingers from e-bay as extra climbing things to fit to cage side.

Hope this helps a little...

[Amalthea]

Newspaper ink isn't bad for them in the UK. The ink is non toxic and avoid that fluffy small animal "bedding" like the plague! So dangerous.

[wjohnw]

points up..... nuff said lol

[Emma9383]

ah, that's ok then, nearly had a break down a week or so ago when one of the rascals had managed to reach down to the bottom through the bars and found a corner of the newspaper, pulled it through the bars and riped it to sreds!
The bedding I use looks a  bit like toilet paper in strips, comes in tight seasled bags, but then when you pull it out it goes massive, if that makes sense. Bit like shredded toilet peper, but not as thin as toilet paper?

[Amalthea]

Yeah, paper bedding is fine Just wanted to clarify the "animal bedding" I just let them have ripped up newspaper to take to their bed, if they want to...  I never do it for them, so it's kind of an enrichment.