Polymer Clay and Mod Podge?

[climber008]

Recently, my sister found a really cute diy sand bath bowl for hamsters/gerbils. However, we weren't sure if the polymer clay and Mod Podge (we would be using that as a glaze) that it is made out of would be safe for a hammy. Since Mod Podge is non-toxic, we both are assuming that it should be fine, but we both wanted to ask to see if anybody else has safely used this for their hammy!

Thanks everybody so much!

[zany_toon]

Originally Posted by climber008

Recently, my sister found a really cute diy sand bath bowl for hamsters/gerbils. However, we weren't sure if the polymer clay and Mod Podge (we would be using that as a glaze) that it is made out of would be safe for a hammy. Since Mod Podge is non-toxic, we both are assuming that it should be fine, but we both wanted to ask to see if anybody else has safely used this for their hammy!

Thanks everybody so much!

I really, really wouldn't recommend polymer clay. There are a variety of polymer clays on the market and although they are non-toxic they can crumble and could be chewed very easily depending on what one has been used. Even for humans they are marketed as not being safe for anyone under 3 years old, so if it isn't safe for a human baby I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't tried it myself - nor do I know anyone who has used it - but i do make things out of polymer clay and having seen the way it can affect my skin before being baked (I have eczema and the plasticisers can make this break out) I wouldn't like to see what it could to do a tiny furballs insides. It's just my opinion though, hopefully some one will come along who has some experience in this.

[climber008]

Originally Posted by zany_toon

I really, really wouldn't recommend polymer clay. There are a variety of polymer clays on the market and although they are non-toxic they can crumble and could be chewed very easily depending on what one has been used. Even for humans they are marketed as not being safe for anyone under 3 years old, so if it isn't safe for a human baby I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't tried it myself - nor do I know anyone who has used it - but i do make things out of polymer clay and having seen the way it can affect my skin before being baked (I have eczema and the plasticisers can make this break out) I wouldn't like to see what it could to do a tiny furballs insides. It's just my opinion though, hopefully some one will come along who has some experience in this.

Oh my! I definitely would NOT want something bad happen to my hammy over something silly as a sand bath!

Would baking it do anything to prevent the clay from crumbling and injuring a hammy do you think?

[zany_toon]

Originally Posted by climber008

Oh my! I definitely would NOT want something bad happen to my hammy over something silly as a sand bath!

Would baking it do anything to prevent the clay from crumbling and injuring a hammy do you think?

I still wouldn't recommend it. Even baked it will still have a load of things in it that aren't present in natural clays. And if it doesn''t bake right the way through you still have the problem of your hamster ingesting something that could make him or her really ill Sorry!! It might well be safe, I genuinely don't know but I've not known anyone who uses polymer clay to produce things for animals of any kind because of the way the clay is.

[climber008]

Originally Posted by zany_toon

I still wouldn't recommend it. Even baked it will still have a load of things in it that aren't present in natural clays. And if it doesn''t bake right the way through you still have the problem of your hamster ingesting something that could make him or her really ill Sorry!! It might well be safe, I genuinely don't know but I've not known anyone who uses polymer clay to produce things for animals of any kind because of the way the clay is.

Hmm. The polymer clay idea doesn't sound as safe as I originally thought! I think I'll just use a pre-made and safer alternative for my hammy instead! Thanks for the wonderful advice zany_toon!

[flowerfairy]

Mine have rather unexciting rabbit ceramic food bowls for their sand baths (the roborovskis).

One syrian has a plastic rabbit corner litter tray the other syrian has a dog ceramic food bowl.

I have seen lots of different and interesting sand bath ideas. My last hamster (a syrian called Harvest) had an old margarine tub!