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Old 03-09-2020, 11:41 AM   #11
Geo92
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Default Re: New hamster.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Chinchilla bathing sand is what most people use. I have used the hamster potty litter in the past- it is only dangerous if they eat it. Our hamster tried a bit but spat it out again (that’s before I knew about issues with it). Most people use sand because it’s safer. The tiny friends chinchilla bathing sand is fine if that’s what you have. I now buy a big bag of jr farm chinchilla sand ftom Zooplus as it works out cheaper and lasts for a very long time.


all these products, and there's always a person that disagrees with it, so it's hard to pick the right one lol, I can get play sand at argos for cheap for lots, though most people just oven it rather than the whole rinse process.

just heard people using the sand from pets at home then said the hamster died in 2 days, but it's not to say that was the cause.

but I might go for https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3650574 this playsand I've heard people using this for hamsters, but kinda confused as some said they just put it int he oven to dry, when someone on this post said i'd have to rinse and sift it.

Last edited by Geo92; 03-09-2020 at 11:51 AM.
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Old 03-09-2020, 12:09 PM   #12
Ria P
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Default Re: New hamster.

My four hamsters use the tiny friends sand tub from pets@home, on offer for £2 at the mo and never had any issues with it. You'll get different opinions from different sources so you'll have to sieve through it.
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Old 03-09-2020, 12:35 PM   #13
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: New hamster.

Rinsing helps to remove any excessive dust, as well as being one of the two initial steps at preparing and sterilizing play sand. Yes, even "sterilized" or similarly labelled sand must be treated this way. It is well worth the effort to remove any dust, bugs(as bugs can get into any packaging especially sand bags and these bugs can introduce harmful things such as pesticides into your hamster's body - also why wild insects should never be fed to any pet), and the odd foreign bits that sometimes end up in sand.

Baking is only 1/3rd of the sand preparation and while it helps a lot in terms of bacteria and physically killing off bugs, you still need to rinse and sift to physically remove said bugs and any dust, foreign objects if present, etc.

Argos sand specifically is not heat treated despite being washed(even washed sand and/or heat treated sand still needs to be rinsed, sifted, and baked as contamination from bugs etc tends to happen after the product is manufactured such as in storage at your local store).
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Old 03-09-2020, 12:42 PM   #14
Geo92
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Default Re: New hamster.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
My four hamsters use the tiny friends sand tub from pets@home, on offer for £2 at the mo and never had any issues with it. You'll get different opinions from different sources so you'll have to sieve through it.

I know, some people said they changed the formula, and it's like more dusty now, and others say it's fine, so it's mixed lol

I have just decided to buy Tiny Friends sand, hoping my hamster doesn't have an issue with it.. he is only like 8 weeks old or something.

Last edited by Geo92; 03-09-2020 at 12:54 PM.
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Old 03-09-2020, 02:59 PM   #15
Pebbles82
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Default Re: New hamster.

You can't really go wrong with the tiny friends sand . Some people swear by childrens play sand - others find it dusty and it needs baking to sterilise it. The only two options really are childrens play sand or chinchilla bathing sand (sand not dust).

I was using the tiny friends one but now get this one from Zooplus as it's a bigger 4kg bag. Probably last me a couple of years!

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...ter/sand/42425
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Old 03-09-2020, 03:14 PM   #16
Geo92
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Default Re: New hamster.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
You can't really go wrong with the tiny friends sand . Some people swear by childrens play sand - others find it dusty and it needs baking to sterilise it. The only two options really are childrens play sand or chinchilla bathing sand (sand not dust).

I was using the tiny friends one but now get this one from Zooplus as it's a bigger 4kg bag. Probably last me a couple of years!

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...ter/sand/42425
I here some people don't even bake it, some say they buy it and it's not damp but dry and it's really fine, so some don't even bother with any of the process.
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Old 03-09-2020, 03:27 PM   #17
Pebbles82
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Default Re: New hamster.

I am not sure to be honest as I haven't actually used childrens playsand, just the chinchilla bathing sand. I thought people said the play sand needed baking.
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Old 03-09-2020, 03:33 PM   #18
Geo92
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Default Re: New hamster.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
I am not sure to be honest as I haven't actually used childrens playsand, just the chinchilla bathing sand. I thought people said the play sand needed baking.

most would, but I've heard of some people who didn't bother with it. as long as it was dry and that.
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Old 03-09-2020, 03:38 PM   #19
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: New hamster.

The people who don't bake, sift, and rinse are not using play sand properly. It is a requirement of safe usage - bought dry or not. In fact if any of the three steps are left out that isn't proper usage.
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Old 03-09-2020, 04:07 PM   #20
Geo92
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Default Re: New hamster.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
The people who don't bake, sift, and rinse are not using play sand properly. It is a requirement of safe usage - bought dry or not. In fact if any of the three steps are left out that isn't proper usage.


I am not saying it's correct, I am just saying I've heard it, if I did do play sand I'd do all the steps but I am going with the tiny sand.

my hamster just woke up.. so I tried to interact with him, got him friday so been a few days, he doesn't approach me yet my hand or anything... even with food on my hand or even if I try offer it to him.. and think I didn't even move that fast, and he jumped., he is only few weeks old so that is probably to be expected with a baby hamster. shouldn't take it to heart to be honest.

he seems to wake, get water, etc, then go to his wheel and he just always poos on it, he pulled out like 5 poos , now running on it lol, so hoping the Potty with the sand he will pick it up and use that instead. gotta clean it tomorrow.
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