Hamsters are naturally present in deserts and arid areas with an absence of water. This is the reason they’ve tailored a novel method of protecting their fur clear and glossy. In contrast to different animals, they don’t clear themselves with saliva to protect valuable water. As a substitute, they roll round within the sand to take care of their hygiene.
As hamster house owners, it’s our accountability to supply the proper of sand for our pets. Not all sand is created equal, and a few varieties may even be dangerous to our pets. By selecting the suitable sand, you’ll promote good hygiene, forestall well being points, and contribute to a happier and more healthy atmosphere on your hamster.
On this article, we’ll discover the most effective sand choices for hamsters, discussing their benefits and potential drawbacks. We’ll additionally undergo unsafe choices, so you already know what to keep away from.
Why Hamsters Want a Sand Bathtub in Their Cage
The primary purpose why a sand bathtub is a must have is that hamsters clear themselves utilizing sand.
Your pet ought to by no means be washed with water until there’s a medical purpose. Water strips the pure oils off hamsters’ coats, which might result in pores and skin irritations and infections. As a substitute, it’s best to present your hamster with a sand bathtub.
A sand bathtub is important for hamster grooming, as they use sand to wash themselves. Your hamster will roll round and rub themselves within the sand to coat their fur and pores and skin. This removes extra oils, grime, and particles from their fur.
Not solely does a sand bathtub assist preserve your hamster’s fur clear and glossy, however it additionally reduces the danger of parasites making their pores and skin and fur their house.
Lastly, sand baths present a type of enrichment on your hamster. The chance for these little guys to roll round and dig within the sand generally is a nice supply of leisure, psychological stimulation and pleasure. It’s a small but important addition that goes a great distance in protecting your hamster blissful and wholesome!
Varieties of Sand to Keep away from
First, let’s go over the varieties of sand to keep away from so that you don’t purchase one thing unsafe on your pet!
- Scented Sand: Keep away from utilizing scented sand on your hamster’s sand bathtub. Fragrances could also be nice for you, however they’ll trigger irritation and discomfort on your hamster. Hamsters have delicate respiratory programs, and scented sand can doubtlessly set off respiratory points.
- Merchandise Labeled as Mud or Powder: Avoid merchandise labeled as mud or powder. These merchandise are often too fantastic and may create a dusty atmosphere that’s dangerous to your hamster’s lungs.
- Coloured Sand: Steer away from utilizing coloured sand in your hamster’s sand bathtub. Coloured sand might include dyes or components that may hurt your pet. The chemical substances within the dye may irritate your hamster’s pores and skin, eyes, or respiratory system. As a substitute, go for pure, untreated sand for a safer different.
- Sand with Added Minerals or Calcium: Don’t use sand with added minerals or calcium on your hamster’s sand bathtub. If ingested by your pet, most of these sand might flip into sludge of their stomachs and trigger well being problems. Hamsters are inclined to groom themselves after a sand bathtub, and consuming sand with added minerals may result in well being issues.
- Something That Is Too Dusty: Any sand that seems too dusty or fantastic needs to be averted on your hamster’s sand bathtub. A dusty atmosphere could cause respiratory points and discomfort on your pet. All the time select a sand product with bigger particles and minimal mud to maintain your pet secure.
Finest Sand for Hamsters
It’s necessary to decide on the proper of sand on your pet to maintain them clear, secure, and comfy. Listed here are a few of the greatest sand choices on your hamster.
Reptile Sand – Pure Colour with No Added Minerals or Calcium
Reptile sand is likely one of the greatest and hottest sand bathtub choices. Though it’s designed for reptiles, it serves completely on your hamster as properly. Go for pure colour sand with no added minerals or calcium to make sure it’s secure on your pet.
Probably the most generally used model of reptile sand is ReptiSand (you’ll find it on Amazon and Chewy).
Kids’s Play Sand
Kids’s play sand is extensively available in shops or on-line and is way more reasonably priced than merchandise designed for small pets. Watch out to keep away from any play sand containing added chemical substances or fragrances, as these are unsafe.
Play sand can be utilized as is on your hamster if it’s heat-treated. If it hasn’t been heat-treated, it’s best to bake it within the oven to kill potential micro organism or parasites. Bake at 350°F for 20-Half-hour, then depart it to chill down earlier than touching it because the sand will get extraordinarily scorching!
Some hamster house owners additionally prefer to sift by means of the play sand if it appears too tough or has massive pebbles, however it relies on what sort of sand you get. One of the common choices is Quikrete play sand. It often prices round $5-7 for 50 lb bag in shops like Lowe’s, however the value can go as much as $50 in some locations so it’s value procuring across the discover the most effective deal.
Small Animal / Chinchilla Bathing Sand
Small animal or chinchilla bathing sand (not “mud” or “powder”) is one other good possibility on your hamster. Such a sand is particularly designed for the wants of small animals and is light on their fur. Select high-quality, dust-free sand to keep away from respiratory points.
Small animal or chinchilla bathing sand may be present in most pet shops and is a handy, secure possibility on your hamster. A very good and generally used possibility is Niteangel Desert Sand.
Sure Aquarium Sands
Aquarium sands are one other appropriate different on your hamster’s wants, however not all merchandise are created equal. Make sure that the aquarium sand you select is freed from calcium, chemical substances, and components, as these may be harmful to your furry pal.
A secure possibility is CaribSea Tremendous Naturals Aquarium Sand which may be bought on Amazon, Chewy, and Petco. Double verify what you’re shopping for as you don’t need to get CarbiSea Crystal River or Torpedo Seaside.
The way to Set Up a Sand Bathtub for Your Hamster
Establishing a sand bathtub on your hamster is a reasonably simple course of. Simply comply with these easy steps to create the proper sand bathtub on your furry pal:
- Purchase and put together the sand. In the event you’re utilizing youngsters’s play sand that wasn’t warmth handled, don’t overlook to bake it within the oven to make it secure on your hamster. Baking it for 20-Half-hour at 350 F ( C) will get rid of all of the micro organism and parasites that is perhaps residing on it. Alternatively, you possibly can go for
reptile sand or different secure choices we listed above that don’t want prepping. - Contemplate the place you’ll put the sand. A ceramic dish or massive pet food bowl works properly – or every other sizable, shallow container. However do not forget that Roborovski hamsters require extra sand than different species since they’re unique desert dwellers. It’s advisable that ⅓ of their enclosure is full of sand. For Robos’, it’s greatest so as to add sand straight into their cage as it may be exhausting to discover a sufficiently big container to cowl ⅓ of their cage (which needs to be minimally 775 sq. inches in dimension).
- Add the sand. After getting your sand (and container) prepared, add a beneficiant 1-2 inch layer on your hamster to dig and roll in. Including a chunk of dirty bedding to the sand bathtub will help encourage your hamster to make use of it and get conversant in their new grooming station.
As your hamster makes use of the sand bathtub, make certain to preserve it clear. Many hamsters select to make use of their sand bathtub as a rest room. If yours does, too, use a sifter to take away pee and poops each couple of days. Prime up with new sand when vital so the sand bathtub stays contemporary and clear.
