Can I use desert sand as a sand bath for my hamsters?

Question

I can easily get fresh desert sands since I live close by to a desert.

I've heard that hamsters are desert dwellers, so was wondering if I should use them.

The only pet shop over here was closed because of the few customers they had and their buisness wasn't going good.

Now I don't know how to get wood shavings as the shop is closed.

Anyways, can I use desert sand until I find the dust bath somewhere else?

Answer 1

yes hamsters originate from deserts so it will be fine

Answer 2

No, it is not good to give them desert sand to take bath. The idea of chinchilla sand as bath sand in the hamster cage is for hamsters to have fun rolling in the sand as well as an added benefit of cleaning their fur. It is not a necesscity, just a luxury. So you can wait until you find some good chinchilla bath sand but don't use desert sand. Though hamsters are desert animals, the ones you have at home are tamed and don't have the same immunity that wild hamsters have. So the desert sand can cause allergy and irritate their fur as well as cause infection if it has some insects / mites in it. So better to go for packaged sterilized chinchilla sand from pet shops.

Do not use the sand as bedding instead of wood chips. Also pine or cedar should not be used, only aspen shavings is good for hamsters.

Until you can source some commercial bedding, you can use ripped toilet paper as hamster bedding. I have used it for years and have had no problems whatsoever. All my hamsters love toilet paper. Make sure that the toilet paper you give them is untreated / unbleached and does not have any fragrance in them.

Don't throw away the empty tubes after using the toilet roll. Give them to your hamsters and watch them have great fun playing with it.

Answer 3

I don't know about a sand bath for hamsters...we never have done that.

Our chinchilla takes volcanic ash baths though.

Desert sand may be contaminated with something harmful to your pets esp. one as small as a hamster...like concentration too much for hammie

Desert sand may also be too coarse for the tender pet and cause scratches that could get infected