Alternative for digging tower

[peculiarplanets]

Originally Posted by Ria P

In the meantime you can put some cardboard around the sand pit or put it inside a cardboard box and cut entrance holes out.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[sarahbutterflies]

My hamster likes to do the same thing so I’ve created a digging area for her. I have sand and coconut fiber for the sections and they’re not in any sort of container. I just have them in my cage and it takes up a good amount about 1/4 or 1/3 of the cage. The sand will get stuck on your hams fur and get other places you don’t intend for it to be. I wouldn’t worry too much about that though. A lot of people use bendy bridges to separate sections.

[peculiarplanets]

Originally Posted by sarahbutterflies

My hamster likes to do the same thing so I’ve created a digging area for her. I have sand and coconut fiber for the sections and they’re not in any sort of container. I just have them in my cage and it takes up a good amount about 1/4 or 1/3 of the cage. The sand will get stuck on your hams fur and get other places you don’t intend for it to be. I wouldn’t worry too much about that though. A lot of people use bendy bridges to separate sections.

I do have coconut fiber scattered across her cage but I was thinking of making a sectioned part of her cage just for digging. Do you use chinchilla sand? And do you mix the two?

[sarahbutterflies]

Originally Posted by peculiarplanets

I do have coconut fiber scattered across her cage but I was thinking of making a sectioned part of her cage just for digging. Do you use chinchilla sand? And do you mix the two?

I use childrens play sand that I get at my local hardware store for about $5, it's a 50 pound bag. I'm not sure what type of sand you have access to. I would only use the chinchilla sand that is not dust because a lot of them are dust baths rather than actual sand and it can cause a lot of respiratory issues. Also another good alternative is reptile sand without added calcium.

You could also section off the area with rocks or cardboard, probably some other things too I can't quite think of. I forgot to add that I don't have it intentionally mixed, it just has kind of gotten mixed together along with some bedding but I don't see a problem with mixing the sand and coconut. My hamster mostly utilizes the sand part over the coconut but I have seen her dig in it.

[Petite]

Originally Posted by VOESSY

Oh, a little misunderstanding there!
I should have written 'something like this', it is a picture I found while looking for inspiration for my own hamster Mocha. I did build him something like it, only bigger. It is super simple to do. I'll post another picture of the one I built myself.

Thank you - I will look forward to seeing it!

[peculiarplanets]

Originally Posted by sarahbutterflies

I use childrens play sand that I get at my local hardware store for about $5, it's a 50 pound bag. I'm not sure what type of sand you have access to. I would only use the chinchilla sand that is not dust because a lot of them are dust baths rather than actual sand and it can cause a lot of respiratory issues. Also another good alternative is reptile sand without added calcium.

You could also section off the area with rocks or cardboard, probably some other things too I can't quite think of. I forgot to add that I don't have it intentionally mixed, it just has kind of gotten mixed together along with some bedding but I don't see a problem with mixing the sand and coconut. My hamster mostly utilizes the sand part over the coconut but I have seen her dig in it.

Is children's play sand safe? And my chinchilla sand isn't dusty, so it should be fine. I'll look into the reptile sand though!

[AmityvilleHams]

Children's play sand is your best choice. Reptile sand is controversial at best and I really wouldn't recommend it, especially when children's play sand is known to be safe and happens to be significantly cheaper!

[EmmaAndChester]

There’s literally nothing controversial about reptile sand. Once it is not dyed, it is perfectly safe.