Eating sand?

[Doodleham]

Has anyone else ever had a hamster who eats sand? I got a new hamster on Wednesday and set up his cage put in a sand bath and noticed he was sitting in it and appeared to be licking the sand. He's a dwarf hamster and apparently he's 9 months to a year old and has likely never had a sand bath in his life . I tried again on the Thursday with the sand bath but he did the same and I could hear him crunching on the sand. Anyway here's the culprit "waffles". (I need more bedding for the cage as I got him very last minute to get him safe)

 

[Maz]

He's gorgeous. He's maybe just testing it out if he hasn't seen sand before. I have had hamsters pouch sand and hoard it before! I thought that was rather clever actually as it kept the hoard dry being stored with sand, but it did make me wonder how on earth they ate from the hoard without getting sand in their mouth as well! I've had a baby syrian try to eat potty litter before (yes that dangerous clay stuff - before I knew about it!), but he spat it out again - very sensible. He was just testing.

Maybe just see if it stops after a day or so. He isn't blind is he? I know they go by scent rather than seeing but just wondered if he might think it was food to nibble.

 

[Maz]

I think Waffles would like to be entered into this month's photo competition!

 

[Doodleham]

He's gorgeous. He's maybe just testing it out if he hasn't seen sand before. I have had hamsters pouch sand and hoard it before! I thought that was rather clever actually as it kept the hoard dry being stored with sand, but it did make me wonder how on earth they ate from the hoard without getting sand in their mouth as well! I've had a baby syrian try to eat potty litter before (yes that dangerous clay stuff - before I knew about it!), but he spat it out again - very sensible. He was just testing.

Maybe just see if it stops after a day or so. He isn't blind is he? I know they go by scent rather than seeing but just wondered if he might think it was food to nibble.

Thanks. I'm not sure if he's blind. Doesn't seem to be walking into things. However I've been away for the weekend visiting family. My husband has been home with the pets. He wouldn't notice that kind of thing. He just puts in food and water. Lol.
I'm scared to try again with the sand as he was crunching on it.

 

[Doodleham]

I think Waffles would like to be entered into this month's photo competition!

He's gorgeous. He's maybe just testing it out if he hasn't seen sand before. I have had hamsters pouch sand and hoard it before! I thought that was rather clever actually as it kept the hoard dry being stored with sand, but it did make me wonder how on earth they ate from the hoard without getting sand in their mouth as well! I've had a baby syrian try to eat potty litter before (yes that dangerous clay stuff - before I knew about it!), but he spat it out again - very sensible. He was just testing.

Maybe just see if it stops after a day or so. He isn't blind is he? I know they go by scent rather than seeing but just wondered if he might think it was food to nibble.

Looking at the pic. He may actually be blind in one eye. It's kind of shut looking isn't it. I'll have a good look at him once home. It was all very last minute getting him. Mind you it always is in emergency situations. He was advertised on a Facebook post. And my hairdresser tagged me in it. I messaged and commented was then told he'd been rehomed. Then the lady that had rehomed him said that she was allergic and wanted to find a home for him so she saw I commented on the post and she messaged me if I wanted him and how soon could I collect him.

 

[2manyhamssz]

waffles is absolutely adorableeee (I have a thing for grey dwarfs)

I had the exact same experience
I have had one of my Syrians do this with the pets at home red reptile desert sand though she doesn't do it with any other type of sand.
What type of sand do you use? does It have any type of small stones?
if he keeps doing it you might be best off getting another type of sand to try? Its interesting!

 

[Maz]

It's so good you got him and it's always a bit of settling in for both of you Yes one eye does look a bit smaller than the other. It's may be better to leave the sand out for now, while he's settling in and try him with it again later. It might even be a bit of a stress thing, but I'm sure he'll settle in soon. I don't think it would do him much harm. It could be he has some nutritional deficiency he's trying to make up for, but now he's with you I'm sure he'll thrive and be healthy? I would keep a check on that eye though. It may be a past injury or he may have a bit of an infection.

 

[Doodleham]

waffles is absolutely adorableeee (I have a thing for grey dwarfs)

I had the exact same experience
I have had one of my Syrians do this with the pets at home red reptile desert sand though she doesn't do it with any other type of sand.
What type of sand do you use? does It have any type of small stones?
if he keeps doing it you might be best off getting another type of sand to try? Its interesting!

Hi it's the desert sand from pets at home. In the black bag.

 

[Doodleham]

It's so good you got him and it's always a bit of settling in for both of you Yes one eye does look a bit smaller than the other. It's may be better to leave the sand out for now, while he's settling in and try him with it again later. It might even be a bit of a stress thing, but I'm sure he'll settle in soon. I don't think it would do him much harm. It could be he has some nutritional deficiency he's trying to make up for, but now he's with you I'm sure he'll thrive and be healthy? I would keep a check on that eye though. It may be a past injury or he may have a bit of an infection.

He hardly had any bedding either so was a bit overwhelmed with that too, so I've put a good but in for now and will top it up again after, when I get another platform for heavy items. Plus it was shavings and straw he was kept on He's now on paper bedding. However it's saved me buying straw to put under my strawberry plants. I hate waste.

 

[2manyhamssz]

Hi it's the desert sand from pets at home. In the black bag.

that's exactly what I had an issue with a few of mine eating. I used a kitchen sieve to get the rocks out but for a peace of mind I just used a different sand.

 

[Doodleham]

What one did you get? I'll maybe try that next.

 

[Maz]

that's exactly what I had an issue with a few of mine eating. I used a kitchen sieve to get the rocks out but for a peace of mind I just used a different sand.

That is very helpful - thank you for that tip! I wonder if it smells different somehow.

 

[Doodleham]

That is very helpful - thank you for that tip! I wonder if it smells different somehow.

I think he hasn't ever seen it before so maybe not sure what it is. Poor wee soul. I mean his cage wasn't totally awful it was a hamster heaven so not the worst I've seen size wise. However it really lacked enrichment. He had a coconut house and a large maze thing from pah (with the plastic roof) however he'd peed in it so it had to go . No wheel apparently it broke. And no sand or different substrates, no sprays, very shallow bedding. He's now in a plaza 100 with enrichment and he seems happier.

 

[Maz]

No wheel

 

[Doodleham]

No wheel

Yip no wheel. My Hubby said he was up at 1pm today running in his wheel. Saving for another nite angel wheel. As Bruce has one.

 

[Maz]

That makes me happy that he's enjoying a wheel now and he must be happier already I'm really looking forward to hearing about his progress

 

[Socks' Mum]

Has anyone else ever had a hamster who eats sand? I got a new hamster on Wednesday and set up his cage put in a sand bath and noticed he was sitting in it and appeared to be licking the sand. He's a dwarf hamster and apparently he's 9 months to a year old and has likely never had a sand bath in his life . I tried again on the Thursday with the sand bath but he did the same and I could hear him crunching on the sand. Anyway here's the culprit "waffles". (I need more bedding for the cage as I got him very last minute to get him safe)

View attachment 10265

Lovely photograph, hello Waffles, you are cute