Finding the right type of sand for hamsters can often feel like a daunting task, as any of you who’ve conducted a quick search on the topic already know that the information available is sparse and often contradictory. For this reason, many can be tempted to give aquarium sand a try; after all, it’s designed with animals in mind. However, is this practice really safe?
Aquarium sand can be safe for hamsters as long as it’s not colored and doesn’t contain any added calcium. Otherwise, it can be too toxic and gravelly to use in a hamster bath. Generally, aquarium sand is safe for hamsters as long as it isn’t poisonous when ingested.
In the following sections, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about how to safely use aquarium sand in a hamster bath, what kind of sand would be ideal in this situation, and how to provide your pet with the safest and most comfortable experience overall.
When To Use Aquarium Sand for Hamsters
When researching the safety of using aquarium sand for hamsters, the information that comes up is often contradictory. While some owners swear by it, others claim that it’s the worst thing you can do for your pet; so which one is it?
The short answer is: it depends. While plain aquarium sand brands that don’t contain any added colorings or calcium are perfectly safe to use, many average store-bought alternatives are not. For this reason, it’s crucial to carefully read the label before deciding on the approach that best suits your circumstances.
However, keep in mind to never use any product whose label describes it as “dust,” as its small particles could potentially lead to respiratory problems in hamsters.
Therefore, I’d suggest being wary of any aquarium sand you plan on using for your hamster. I personally wouldn’t recommend using it at all, not because it’s inherently bad, but because the extra care and research isn’t really worth it. Especially considering there’s no shortage of safer, more affordable options in the market today.
In short, if you’re in a pinch, additive-free aquarium sand will do the work just fine. Otherwise, there’s a wide variety of more suitable alternatives you can choose from. Read on to find out the best kind of sand you can use for your hamster.
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Is Cat Litter Safe To Use on a Hamster Sand Bath?
Cat litter isn’t safe to use in a hamster sand bath. Although their purposes might seem similar, cat litter and hamster sand are designed with different functions in mind. Thus, the former can contain a variety of toxic substances that could severely damage your hamster’s lungs.
Although cat litter may be cheaper, it isn’t worth it in the long run. It contains additives that could lead to irritation and respiratory system failure in hamsters. Plus, its particles are too big and can cause damage to a small rodent’s feet.
Do Hamsters Need Sand Baths?
With so many dos and don’ts to keep in mind, you might be wondering whether giving your hamster a sand bath is even worth it. If you feel like the whole process seems too complicated and challenging, I might have some good news.
Hamsters don’t necessarily need sand baths. Most of them are well-equipped to clean themselves. However, if you want to help them with this process and give them the best treatment possible, sand baths are an excellent way to ensure that your pet is thoroughly clean.
Sometimes, a hamster’s tongue and paws simply aren’t enough to clean those hard-to-get-off stains. That’s where sand baths come in. Due to the substance’s rough texture, they can efficiently remove any type of dirt, grease, and stubborn parasites from your pet’s fur.
However, as I mentioned, you won’t need to give your hamster this treatment regularly, as they usually do a great job themselves when it comes to day-to-day cleanings.
However, if the fur is unusually filthy or you notice problems arising from parasites or harmful microorganisms, it might be time to set up a sand bath.
Read Why Is My Hamster Losing Hair
How To Give Your Hamster a Sand Bath
No sand bath is effective if you don’t know how to set it up properly. So, here’s a quick guide on how to give your hamster the best sand bath possible:
- Find a container and fill it with your sand of choice. Although the name suggests a bath being involved, any container big enough to fit your hamster will do. This container should be spacey but shallow to allow your hamster to easily enter and exit it. After finding the ideal container, you’ll want to fill its bottom with your sand of choice (more on that below).
- Don’t use water or detergent throughout the process. This is another area where the name could be misleading. Upon hearing “bath,” most of you would rush to find a warm water faucet and an animal shampoo. However, this method only relies on mechanical cleaning, as the sand’s texture will suffice in removing any impurities from your hamster’s fur.
- If necessary, put a sand bath on your hamster’s cage. If you feel like constantly observing your pet for any sign of excessive uncleanliness can get tiring, you can opt to put a sand bath within the cage, giving it the chance to take one whenever needed. Hamsters love sand baths, and whenever they feel especially dirty, they won’t hesitate to go in. Just make sure that your set-up is easily accessible.
Read Is Vita-Sand Safe for Hamsters?
What Kind of Sand Should You Use for Hamsters?
If you’re still unsure whether choosing aquarium sand for your hamster’s bath is the right choice, the good news is there are some better, widely available alternatives you can buy with the click of a button.
The best kind of sand to use for hamsters is children’s play sand. Its particles are the right size and texture, while its ingredients aren’t poisonous if ingested. Additionally, play sand is one of the most affordable varieties you’ll find on the market, making it ideal for everyday use.
The good news is play sand is not only cheaper but also more widely available than its aquarium counterpart. Therefore, if you have the option, I’d recommend always choosing the former, as it’s overall the best choice for a hamster bath.
Furthermore, given that play sand is designed for children, it goes through a long refining and sanitizing process to eliminate any harmful bacteria.
Given that hamsters are highly likely to ingest any small enough substance they come in contact with, choosing a non-toxic option like this one can be crucial.
What’s more, the play sand’s grains are pressurized to become smaller, but not to the point of becoming dusty. This feature gives them the perfect size and consistency to support your hamster’s small feet while keeping its respiratory system safe.
If you’d want to use regular sand for the same purpose, you’d have to take it through a refining process yourself and resize it until it reaches the optimal consistency.
As you can imagine, this process isn’t feasible for most hamster owners, which is what makes children’s play sand an alternative you shouldn’t miss out on.
Most commercial play sands come combined with a small amount of dimethicone, a silicon-based organic polymer that serves as a moisturizer that prevents dry, itchy, or scaly skin.
As you can imagine, the mechanical sand cleaning process, although effective, can be really taxing to a hamster’s skin. Therefore, the addition of dimethicone can help you avoid any friction damage during the process.
However, although not poisonous, play sand can present a choking hazard if ingested too quickly. Therefore, it’s important to choose the right size for your pet’s comfort and safety.
Additionally, as a general rule of thumb, try to avoid overly-scented play sand brands, as they can often cause irritation to your hamster’s skin.
Moreover, given that hamsters have an especially sensitive sense of smell, the experience might be uncomfortable at best or cause respiratory problems at worst.
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Best Play Sand Brands for Hamsters
I know that keeping in mind a grocery list’s worth of specifications when shopping for a pack of play sand for your hamster bath may seem unnecessarily complicated.
For this reason, I’ve researched and found some of the best alternatives available on the US market that check all the previously mentioned boxes and more.
Classic Sand and Play Sand for Sandbox
This Classic Sand & Play product (found on Amazon.com) is one of the best play sands you’ll find on today’s market. Not only is it high-quality and carefully washed and curated, but it’s also usable in both wet and dry environments.
Additionally, it’s non-toxic and doesn’t pose any health hazards when ingested, which, as mentioned, can often occur with your curious-natured hamster. This Classic Sand & Play product is unscented and additive-free.
Furthermore, its grains are the ideal size to gently support your rodent’s small feet while not posing any dangers to its respiratory system.
The brand’s manufacturing facilities are based in Orlando, Florida, meaning that all of their products go through strict local safety regulations.
Additionally, the sand is the perfect gentle-yet-firm consistency, which can efficiently clean your hamster’s fur while not scratching or damaging its skin.
Kinetic Sand, The Original Moldable Play Sand
If you’re looking for a high-quality product to invest in, Kinetic Sand (also available on Amazon.com) is the brand for you. Their play sand is made up of 98% regular grains and 2% dimethicone, which, as mentioned earlier, can do wonders for your pet’s skin.
Furthermore, their product can be easily cleaned and stored, meaning that although it might be a pricier purchase at first, you can use it for a much longer time than other alternatives. This feature makes it a worthwhile investment in the long run.
While not excessively dry, their sand won’t stick to your pet’s skin, making it an ideal choice for a sand bath. Its grains are neither dusty nor too big, which means that your hamster will have a fantastic time playing with it while still keeping its respiratory system safe.
Additionally, this play sand is 100% toxin-free and hypoallergenic, which means that no matter how much of it your hamster ingests, you won’t have to worry about any potential reactions or side effects.
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How To Bake Sand for Hamsters
No matter the kind of sand you purchase, it’s always a good idea to bake it beforehand. Doing so will ensure there isn’t any remaining dust or debris when using it for a sand bath, which could be more dangerous than you’d think for your hamster’s health.
Although the brands I’ve mentioned, along with many others, come pre-sanitized, accidents can always happen during transportation or storage. A single bag puncture could turn into an entryway for impurities and bacteria, rendering the sand unusable for your pet.
For this reason, although unnecessary, baking your sand before usage would instantly put your mind at ease if you’re worried about your hamster’s health.
It’s always better to err on the side of safety, not to mention it requires minimal time and effort. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Gather your materials. For this process, you’ll only need an aluminum baking tray and an oven. You might need an additional utensil to check on your sand from time to time, but that’s the extent of the preparation you’ll need.
- Pour the sand into the aluminum tray and bake. Bake for at least an hour at 400 °F (204.4 °C) and frequently check to see if the sand is dried out using a wood or metal utensil.
- Take the tray out of the oven. Once the sand is fully dried out, you can take the tray out of the oven and let it cool down. Afterward, the substance will be sanitized and ready to use.
FAQs
Are aquariums safe for hamsters?
There’s no definitive answer to this question since there are a lot of different types of aquariums and hamsters can have different reactions to them. Some people have had success using regular, unfiltered aquariums while others recommend using a filtered aquarium specifically designed for small animals.
The most important thing when setting up an aquarium for a hamster is to make sure that it’s escape-proof. Hamsters are very curious creatures and they’re likely to try to climb out of an unsecured tank, so be sure to use a tight-fitting lid and place it in a safe spot where the hamster can’t get into trouble.
Related Hamster articles:
- Why Is My Hamster Drinking So Much Water?
- My Hamster Has a Tumor: How Long Until She Dies?
- Why Do Hamsters Eat Their Babies
- How To Tame a Hamster
- Why Is My Hamster Biting Me
- Why Is My Hamster Not Coming Out at Night?
Conclusion
Finding the right type of sand for your hamster can be challenging. While aquarium sand is safe to use in certain conditions, going for a safer, more affordable option like play sand is always a good idea if you don’t want to have to worry about the adequacy of the products you’re using for your pet.
My name is Everly. I am a Milwaukee-based mom of 2 and have been a proud owner of many hamsters throughout my life. Like many of us, my introduction to hamsters happened when I was very young. My family saw several hamsters come and go through the years, and I enjoyed playing with them, but I never fully appreciated them until I grew up and my own children decided to jump on the hamster bandwagon. At that point, I was determined to learn all I could about caring for these adorable pets. Read more