sand bath

by Rodents rock! Fri 01 Jul 2016, 1:37 am

Hi everyone, do mice like to take sand baths? My gerbils do, but I wanted to make sure its ok for mice.
Thanks!

by AnonONIagent Fri 01 Jul 2016, 7:40 am

They don't need it, as their fur isn't fine enough to get greasy easily like that of hamsters or chinchillas. That said, it won't hurt them, and I have heard some people say that their mice enjoy taking sand baths.

by stephlisa Fri 01 Jul 2016, 8:15 am

I'm concerned by the idea of a mouse getting sand in its eye (for example) - the sounds like it could be pretty painful to me...

by CinnamonPearl Fri 01 Jul 2016, 8:32 am

I've never heard of anyone giving their mouse a sand bath, no.

by River Fri 01 Jul 2016, 9:18 am

I'd think that the respiratory system is too delicate to be near all those tiny particles - that being said, they don't really need them either, as they're every, every obsessive when it comes to cleaning themselves.

by Rodents rock! Fri 01 Jul 2016, 2:20 pm

Thank you for all the replies Smile

I've always given my gerbils and my hamster the opportunity to take a sand bath (Chinchilla sand - NOT Chinchilla dust- dust is too fine for gerbils and hamsters respiratory systems) and they really seem to enjoy it - they roll all around it in - so cute to watch.
So, I guess I won't try it with Mickey.

Oh, and a side note - one time I went into PetSmart to get Chinchilla Sand (as I had gotten it there before) and all I saw was Chinchilla dust. So I asked if they had Chinchilla sand and do you know what the girl told me . . . she said yes, we have dust, and I said no I want sand and she said they are the same thing! I wasn't going to argue with her - but they are most definitely not the same thing. There is Chinchilla sand and there is Chinchilla dust. The dust is much finer then the sand.

So I went home and ordered Chinchilla sand from Amazon. It does really irk me when people working at pet supply shops aren't educated on the products they sell and feel they can hand out "facts".

Ok, enough of my ranting about that (but she really peached me off).

Thank you all for you help on this topic, I appreciate you all!! Smile

by scaredymouse Fri 01 Jul 2016, 2:29 pm

The don't need it and they don't seem interested in it. I have a big playground for my hamsters that has a sandbath in it. I've let my mice run around in there and they don't seem to care much. As far as getting it in their eyes, I doubt that would would be an issue, just like it isn't an issue for gerbils or hamsters.

I don't think there are any actual safety concern if you use sand, as long is it isn't dusty. But I wouldn't leave it in the tank, it should be supervised.

by Rodents rock! Fri 01 Jul 2016, 2:37 pm

scaredymouse wrote:The don't need it and they don't seem interested in it. I have a big playground for my hamsters that has a sandbath in it. I've let my mice run around in there and they don't seem to care much. As far as getting it in their eyes, I doubt that would would be an issue, just like it isn't an issue for gerbils or hamsters.

I don't think there are any actual safety concern if you use sand, as long is it isn't dusty. But I wouldn't leave it in the tank, it should be supervised.

Thank you for your help. When I use the sand for my gerbils, I only put it in their tank for about 10 minutes or so, then I take it out. So they don't have access to it all the time. But they do get very excited when I put it in there - I have it in a glass cookie jar type container and they jump right in and have a ball. Smile

by scaredymouse Fri 01 Jul 2016, 2:48 pm

yeah, my hams and chins are the same. unfortunately, you are probably going to be disappointed with the mice. they might hop in to take a look around and sniff it, but I've never seen one roll around.

by MouseLover Fri 01 Jul 2016, 9:09 pm

Never even thought about letting the mice try a sand bath. Might try it for a bit at play time to see how they react.

Archie is nuts for his sand bath. When he rolls around in it he looks like he's break dancing. Dwarf hamsters - am I right? Wink

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