The Sand Bath

Sand baths are a favorite among dwarves, although many Syrians love them too. Dwarves tend to build up oils in their fur, causing itchiness and irritation to the skin. A simple solution is sand. Simply fill a small container with some sand, and put your hamster near it. He will eventually have to check it out. Some hamsters use it immediately, (by turning on their backs and rolling around in it)... others ignore it -or use it as a potty...       The sand baths featured above are filled with Chinchilla sand-- NOT CHINCHILLA DUST. Chinchilla dust is dangerous to hamsters- causing severe respiratory difficulty and eye irritation. If you choose chinchilla sand, make sure it's SAND, NOT DUST.      Many hamster owners use children's play sand. No problems have been reported from using it- except for "used" playsand-- collected from the beach or children's playgrounds. Used playsand often contains fleas or other irritants. If you opt for children's playsand, make sure you purchase it new. Walmart carries both types. Play sand is usually less expensive than chinchilla sand.

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