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Old 09-15-2019, 12:00 PM   #1
Creampuff
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Question What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Hi,
What sand is good for sand baths? Thank you!
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Old 09-15-2019, 01:00 PM   #2
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Children's play sand is the safest and most economical choice, and while it does require extra effort to make it usable for hamsters and requires special storage considerations it is entirely worth it.

Reptile sand should be avoided at all costs though as the safety of reptile sand is uncertain at best. Some people will suggest chinchilla sand, but that will cost a lot more than just using children's play sand especially for those with multiple hamsters or those having to order products internationally.
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Old 09-15-2019, 02:07 PM   #3
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Okay, thank you! Is You and Me (brand from Petco) Small Animal Dust okay?
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Old 09-15-2019, 02:38 PM   #4
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Definitely not. You never want to use any kind of dust, it can lead to serious respiratory issues.
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Old 09-15-2019, 03:36 PM   #5
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Okay, thank you! Where could I get children's play sand and what do I need to do to make it suitable for hamsters? Is there a specific kind of children's play sand I should get?
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Old 09-15-2019, 03:44 PM   #6
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

It depends on what country you live in, but usually hardware stores and home improvement stores or something similar should have large bags of plain undyed natural play sand made for children.

You'd need to rinse it, sift it, and bake it. Instructions on that should be easy enough to find with a search on the forum!
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Old 09-15-2019, 04:16 PM   #7
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Okay, thank you so much for all your help!! I found something on Home Depot, it's SAKRETE 50 lb play sand. It says it's all natural but I can't find anything that says it's undyed but I think it probably is.

You mentioned something about you had to store it some way? How would you store it?
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Old 09-15-2019, 06:33 PM   #8
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

The Sakrete one should be fine.

If you can manage storing batches and baking some at a time and storing them that way, that will make it easier to move and use. You can store it in basically any container, but I would definitely suggest having a smaller container to keep the amount you'd use within the month or so for ease of access whether you bake small batches of sand or not. The main thing would be using a secure lidded container of some sort, usually plastic for the durability and low cost.
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Old 09-16-2019, 09:37 AM   #9
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Okay! Thank you so much for all your help!! I really appreciate it!!
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Old 09-18-2019, 02:38 AM   #10
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Default Re: What is Good Sand for Sand Baths??

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post

Reptile sand should be avoided at all costs though as the safety of reptile sand is uncertain at best. Some people will suggest chinchilla sand, but that will cost a lot more than just using children's play sand especially for those with multiple hamsters or those having to order products internationally.
Why is Reptile sand unsafe?... I haven't been using forums in a while, but this is new to me - it was wildly regarded as safe for a long time and this is the first I've heard otherwise.

Reptile sand is safe (for hamsters and reptiles alike) so long as it is plain sand (no added dyes, or supplements). Like all sands, some can be dustier than others. Generally speaking though, yes, it is safe to use - and I really can't think of a reason for why it wouldn't be.

For sand baths, play sand often is often very coarse and doesn’t always do the best job at cleaning their coat (which poses a particular problems for roborovski dwarfs) which is why chinchilla sand & reptile sands are favoured by many.
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