Suitable Hamster-Friendly Sand

[aimsdavies]

Hiya!
I was just wondering, in regards to suitable hamster sand, if there is any hamster-friendly sand available in Pets at Home? I am in the middle of attempting to litter train my new hamster, Puff, and he / she has yet to pee in her litter tray. I have heard that hamsters are more prone to doing their business in sand, as well as it being a sand bath for them. As Pets at Home is the closest pet shop to me, I was hoping whether anyone could tell me if there’s any sand (such as dust-free Chinchilla sand) that is suitable for hammies sold in Pets at Home? What kind do you use?
Thank you!

[SKB_Hamsters]

Yes p@h do sell safe sand for hamster - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...-sand-15-litre - this is the sand I use in my Syrian sand bath which she uses as her toilet

[aimsdavies]

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

Yes p@h do sell safe sand for hamster - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...-sand-15-litre - this is the sand I use in my Syrian sand bath which she uses as her toilet

Oh, Gosh! Thank you so much! I was a bit worried about getting the right sand for them. Thank you! Did your Syrian use it as a toilet as soon as you began using sand, or did it take some time? I don’t mind having to rummage around cleaning any bedding and putting it in the litter tray, but Puff using a single place, even if it is in sand, as her place would lessen cleaning time quite a lot.

[SKB_Hamsters]

My Pumpkin used it straight away when I put the sand into her care which I was quite surprised about - so she litter trained herself. Some hamster may take some time and you could place some soiled bedding into the sand to encourage Fluff to pee in the sand.

_______

I have noticed you aren’t certain of your hamsters gender if you want help identifying Fluff gender you could upload a photo to the forum and we will be happy to help you.

[aimsdavies]

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

My Pumpkin used it straight away when I put the sand into her care which I was quite surprised about - so she litter trained herself. Some hamster may take some time and you could place some soiled bedding into the sand to encourage Fluff to pee in the sand.

_______

I have noticed you aren’t certain of your hamsters gender if you want help identifying Fluff gender you could upload a photo to the forum and we will be happy to help you.

I have been putting soiled bedding into her litter tray already, but Puff never seems to care and just does their business wherever I hope I will have a situation similar to yours in which they litter train themselves.
I am not familiar with Puff’s gender as of yet. I forgot to ask. I feel as though Puff is not ready to be handled quite yet as I only got them not even a week ago. But as soon as they are, I will post a picture and hopefully you can help me As of now, I believe Puff is a girl as she doesn’t show signs of having any “boy parts” and is quite slender, but I can never be too sure. I have heard of people miss-gendering hamsters when they’re young (Puff is roughly 10 weeks old) and later finding out that they’re a male. I think I’ll have to wait to be sure.

[Nadia]

Im using argos play sand (baked in the oven before putting it in the cage) at the moment for my 9week old syrian. She uses it occasionally. Only peed in it once this past 4days. She also has a litter tray with sand and substrate she pees in regularly now, it didnt take her long to be litter trained. She does the occasional pee in her wheel and house.

[aimsdavies]

Originally Posted by Nadia

Im using argos play sand (baked in the oven before putting it in the cage) at the moment for my 9week old syrian. She uses it occasionally. Only peed in it once this past 4days. She also has a litter tray with sand and substrate she pees in regularly now, it didnt take her long to be litter trained. She does the occasional pee in her wheel and house.

My hamster pees regularly in her wheel which is one reason why I’d love for her to be litter trained, as it has become apart of my morning routine to clean it while she’s sleeping.
I’ve had Puff for roughly 4 days now and throughout I’ve been attempting to litter train her. I’d put any soiled bedding and things into the litter tray in hopes of her getting the hint and doing her business there. She seems to pee everywhere, so I have no real place to put the tray. I did read that the majority of hamster use sand as either a sand bath or a litter tray, the latter seemingly more common, so I thought it would work for Puff. Thank you for your suggestion! It’s been a great help!