Why won't my hamster take his dust bath?

Question

Hello. Today I went to petsmart and got critter bath powder by super pet and i set up everything that needed to be done. I have a dwarf hamster and I put the container that my powder stuff is in, in the cage. He crawled in it it and sniffed around but then sturggled to get out and then crawled out and went in this box thing I made him. Do you know why he didn't even try to dust bath? Oh and his cage is small and the container took up most of his cage area so was he just freaked out about it being very big in his home? His name is Tobey if you need it for anything.

Answer 1

Hamsters dust baths??

That's for chinchillas.

Answer 2

Hamsters DO NOT need dustbaths (that's for chinchillas). This can cause conjuctivitis and other eye problems for the hamster

Answer 3

Yes you are right, it should be the sand, and not the dust. The dust will cause problems with eyes etc:. The Dwarf hamsters may use it occasionally, and some do take a delight in having a sand bath. When you put something new in the cage they are very wary of it because it smells different to every thing else, if you leave it for a day or so, till he has marked it (scented) as his own, then he should feel  more comfortable with it, and will probably begin to use it.

Answer 4

like off of roots lol  your name is tobby!! lol well think of it this way do hamsters take dust baths in nature??? no so why would it want to in captivity? what is a dust bath anyway i've never even heard of it lol

Answer 5

It just takes them a while to understand it. I have gerbils and put them in their dust box daily (for fifteen minutes) and they normally just fall asleep together in it! So it can take them a while to understand the concept. Just keep trying it for a few minutes daily.

Answer 6

he wasnt used to that thing invading his space. he'll get used to it. just give it time.