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Jeir · 12-13-2021, 10:10 AM

Komodo sand = Is not safe. Claims to be 100% calcium carbonate, which clumps when wet.
Vitakraft sand = Is not safe. It clumps/clots, which can cause some major issues for hamsters if they were to pouch or eat it.
Gimbi = is hay, rose petals and mint leaves. All are safe for hamsters, but not really necessary (they tend to prefer tissue for bedding).
Chipsi = Is safe. It's sold on Zooplus as well, and states it's had the resin removed, and as it's sold in the UK, should be kiln-dried (which I believe is the law here).
Plospan = Is probably not safe. I went to the site and it a) doesn't mention if it's kiln-dried, and b) comes in three scents (apple, lemon, lavender) which is bad for the sensitive noses of hamsters.

As an alternative, children's play sand (dried in an oven for 15-20mins) works well as a cheap alternative to the chinchilla sand many people like to use. Hemp is also a common and safe substrate if you can't get paper or safe wood-based bedding.

12-13-2021, 10:10 AM
Jeir Hamster Pup Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: UK Posts: 238	Re: Are any of these safe? Komodo sand = Is not safe. Claims to be 100% calcium carbonate, which clumps when wet. Vitakraft sand = Is not safe. It clumps/clots, which can cause some major issues for hamsters if they were to pouch or eat it. Gimbi = is hay, rose petals and mint leaves. All are safe for hamsters, but not really necessary (they tend to prefer tissue for bedding). Chipsi = Is safe. It's sold on Zooplus as well, and states it's had the resin removed, and as it's sold in the UK, should be kiln-dried (which I believe is the law here). Plospan = Is probably not safe. I went to the site and it a) doesn't mention if it's kiln-dried, and b) comes in three scents (apple, lemon, lavender) which is bad for the sensitive noses of hamsters. As an alternative, children's play sand (dried in an oven for 15-20mins) works well as a cheap alternative to the chinchilla sand many people like to use. Hemp is also a common and safe substrate if you can't get paper or safe wood-based bedding.