Sand bath - how often to re-fill?

[Humphrey Furball]

So, I have just watched Humphrey take his first sand-bath, with lots of digging and kicking about; he seemed to have fun, but only spent about 5 minutes in the sand. The carton says 2-3 baths per week for hams, and to change the sand weekly; what do you think? This could mean throwing sand out after only 10 mins use, which seems a bit excessive to me. How often does everyone change hammie sand?

[stellanova1]

I personally keep the sand in all the time, and i've never had a problem with doing this, and i change it when my hams get cleaned out, but some of my hams use it as a potty so it gets changed more often with them.

[WinterbellHams]

When I used sand, I left it in at all times. They loved it. I would scoop out the soiled bits daily, and then once a week, clean and rinse the litterbox the sand was in.

[Smysha]

I give my hamster a sand bath once a week. I use children's play sand so I'm not that fussed about throwing it out - it's as cheap as chips!

[BrainGirl]

I wasn't aware that hamsters would use a sand bath. I bought bathing dust for my gerbils at the pet store and then was told that bathing sand is preferable because the dust is dangerous. Unfortunately, the pet stores don't sell bathing sand, only the dust! Is it safe to use for my hamster if I limit the amount of time she has access to it or should I just scrap it and use something else entirely, like the children's play sand that Smysha mentioned? If the dust is dangerous, why don't the pet stores sell sand instead?

[Sammybingo]

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

I wasn't aware that hamsters would use a sand bath. I bought bathing dust for my gerbils at the pet store and then was told that bathing sand is preferable because the dust is dangerous. Unfortunately, the pet stores don't sell bathing sand, only the dust! Is it safe to use for my hamster if I limit the amount of time she has access to it or should I just scrap it and use something else entirely, like the children's play sand that Smysha mentioned? If the dust is dangerous, why don't the pet stores sell sand instead?

I don't think so, they way I understand it is it is too fine for their respiratory tracts, and can irritate them. Which is a shame, as I ordered some dust by mistake! I do have a good bit of Chinchilla sand left though, woo.

I leave Chewbaccas sand bath in all the time. He doesn't bath so much these days as just sit around in it like it's a jacuzzi. When I took it out, he just didn't seem to know what to do with himself.

[wofunny]

i have some chinchilla sand i give it to him 3 times a week because on the pack it said it can sometimes give them dry skin

[Jesse]

Hi all - excuse my ignorance and probably really dumb question, but what's the benefit of a sandbath for hamsters? Things have really changed since I used to keep them years ago

[wofunny]

^^ it gives them healthy fur and gives them lots of enjoyment ^^

[Jesse]

And what do you use for the actual bath, a chinchilla bath? If it makes my little furry happy, she must have it, not that I'm obsessed or anything!