Sand Baths

matinee_92 · 08-14-2005, 01:25 PM

Do Syrian hamsters like having dust baths?

My hamster bites the bars a lot, and i thought that a dust bath might distract him. He has lots of toys in his cage, and plenty of things to chew, but he just seems to ignore them, so I dont think he bites the bars because he is bored.

**babyboos** · 08-14-2005, 04:36 PM

Oh yes Tumble will love a sand bath

Check out this previous thread discussing sand baths and potties

Don't be too disgusted that he pees, poops and bathes in the sand - hamsters like their own smell

matinee_92 · 08-15-2005, 02:54 AM

Ok, thanks, I will get some chinchilla sand at the weekend. What do you put it in? A really big food bowl or something?

**babyboos** · 08-15-2005, 03:53 AM

You get potties in Pets at Home or some petshops also sell them but you can also use a large food dish or the empty cream cheese tubs like you get Philidelphia in - do you know the ones I mean? I get the Charlie Chinchilla sand it comes in a two pint like plastic milk carton with a green label - costs around £2.50 a bottle and lasts for over 6 months as you only need a tablespoon per change and I clean mine out every couple of days .

matinee_92 · 08-15-2005, 05:39 AM

Yeah, I know the kind of tubs that you mean. I thought you would need a lot more than a tablespoon of sand!

**babyboos** · 08-15-2005, 08:00 AM

No that is sufficient - of course you can give more but I prefer to change frequently and give less. See how Tumble likes the sand - if he wants to roll around in it maybe give him more

hammydude · 08-18-2005, 08:50 AM

In my opinion all hamsters like sandbaths, Just experiment with your ham and find out.

SnuggleHam · 08-18-2005, 09:12 AM

My Syrian and Roborovski both love sandbaths. I've seen my Syrian Gerald roll around in it a few times, he wakes up late at night, and one of the first things he does it take a sand bath, then sits in a corner until he wakes up a bit more

Just make sure you get something that says "sand" stay away from products that say "powder and/or dust"

matinee_92 · 08-20-2005, 10:39 AM

OK, thanks

I went to Pets at Home today but they didn't have any chinchilla sand, just the dust so I asked the person at the counter and she recommended potty litter instead, which Tumble really seems to enjoy! He keeps trying to eat it,

but luckily it's non-toxic

**babyboos** · 08-20-2005, 01:14 PM

I use potty litter too either on its own or mixed with the sand depending on how the hamster uses his/her potty. The sand is more for those who bathe in it rather than just pee and poop.