my hamster doesn't like his bath sand

[hammy]

hi, i'm a beginner hamster owner. i adopted hammy two days ago. so far, he hasn't touched his bath sand at all. instead, he prefers playing in his zeolite sand. is this normal? or does he just need more time to get used to his new home? thankyouu

 

[Maz]

hi, i'm a beginner hamster owner. i adopted hammy two days ago. so far, he hasn't touched his bath sand at all. instead, he prefers playing in his zeolite sand. is this normal? or does he just need more time to get used to his new home? thankyouu

Hello. I just posted on your other thread First thing is, I would remove the zeolite sand. It sometimes contains pumice and can be dusty or unsafe if eaten. I think people get it for odour control but it isn't necessary. If you see my post on your other thread, there are better ways for managing pee and reducing odours

Two days is not very long! They need two or three days to settle in and adjust to their new environment and it can take 10 days to 2 weeks before they have fully adjusted and made their home their own. So he is just finding his feet so don't worry. It takes a bit of time and patience with a new hamster. Do you have a playpen or bathtub (dry bathtub with the plug in if used as a playpen area)? If he shows signs of wanting to come out, you could get him out for some bathtub socialising so he starts to feel more comfortable with you and becomes gradually handleable and tamer. They often don't show signs of wanting to come out for the first 10 days though while they're settling in. Also if he does want to come out it's best to use a "taxi". Something like a large tube - and have a box on the floor next to the cage. So the hamster walks into the tube when you offer it, you put both hands over the end so he can't run out and fall. Lift the tube like that into the box on the floor (make sure the box sides are high enough so he can't jump out), let him walk out of the tube into the box. Take the tube out so it doesn't roll around and scare him, and then you can transport him in the box to the safe area for some socialising and playtime. Having the tube and a hide or two and some treats or a chew stick in the dry bath so he has something to do and feels secure is good. When you get there, just put the box down in the bathtub and turn it on its side, so he can walk out. Same routine on the way back.

It's not safe to just pick them up and carry them from the cage as they are masters at wriggling free and leaping and can have a fall and get hurt.

 

[Thehampsterlover123]

What type/brand is his bath sand? if he is really not playing or bathing in it at all I would reccomend trying another brand because sometimes hampsters can be picky about that.