Sand baths

All healthy hamsters need a sand bath in their enclosure. The sand must be calcium and dye free. Avoid 'chinchilla dust' or 'powders'. Safe sands include ReptiSand, Komodo sand and the Pets at home sand without added calcium or dyes.

Their sand bath should be large enough for them to bathe in comfortably. I recommend 30 x 15cm. The sand can be in a specifically made sand bath, a glass dish or a deep baking tray. Make sure these are on platforms. 

Hamsters use the sand bath ro remove excess grease from their fur. Roborovski hamsters are originate from the Gobi desert so it's beneficial to provide them with a larger sand area.

Many hamsters use the sand bath as a toilet, which makes cleaning their enclosure much easier.

Make sure you add a hideout to the sand bath to make your hamster more comfortable cleaning themselves.