Sand bath for gerbils: how they keep their coat clean

Gerbils do not wash with water, but with sand. They roll, burrow and twist in fine sand, which removes dirt and excess grease from their coat. That is natural behaviour for an animal from dry steppe regions. Without a sand bath the coat can become greasy and sticky. On top of that, a sand bath is pure enrichment for gerbils: they dig in it, roll in it and you can often see them visibly enjoying it.

In this category you will find Zooply Bathing Sand, our own premium brand, and sand baths made of ceramic, wood with acrylic, and glass on a wooden base. We use Zooply Bathing Sand ourselves every day for the gerbils, hamsters and degus in our shop and breeding facility.

At a glance

• ✓ Always give gerbils a sand bath with fine, low-dust bathing sand, such as Zooply Bathing Sand.
• ✓ Do not use play sand, building sand, calcium sand or dusty sand.
• ✓ Choose a tray in which your gerbil can roll over completely.
• ✓ Put the sand bath on a firm, flat spot, so it does not sink into the bedding.
• ✓ Scoop out dirt and, according to the packaging, replace the sand about twice a week, or more often if it is dirty.

What will you find in the Sand & Sand Baths category for gerbils?

Zooply Bathing Sand

Zooply Bathing Sand is 100% natural sand, made for dwarf hamsters, Syrian hamsters, gerbils, degus and chinchillas. According to the product information, the sand comes from Europe and is specially filtered and quality-checked before it is packed by Zooply. It is free of harmful substances. You can choose a 1 kg pack, handy to start with or for a single sand bath, or a 3 kg bucket, so you have a supply to refresh the sand bath regularly. According to the packaging, you offer the bathing sand without limit in a sand bath that suits the size of the enclosure.

Ceramic sand baths

Trixie makes ceramic sand baths for hamsters and gerbils. There are two taller models: 16 × 8 × 14 cm in turquoise and 20 × 10 × 16 cm in grey. There are also two open dishes with a rainforest look: 18 × 4.5 × 17 cm and 24 × 5.5 × 20 cm. They look like a piece of rock and fit beautifully into a naturally furnished enclosure. Ceramic is heavy, stands firmly and is easy to clean. For an adult gerbil, the larger sizes are the most comfortable.

Wooden sand baths with acrylic

The Trixie sand bath with two entrances is made of wood with an acrylic viewing window, in 22 × 12 × 12 cm and 28 × 15 × 15 cm. Thanks to the closed top, the sand mostly stays inside, and thanks to the two entrances a gerbil can always get in and out, even if a companion is sitting in the other opening. For gerbils, the larger 28 cm size is a good choice. Wood can absorb moisture and gets gnawed, so check the sand bath regularly.

Glass sand baths on a wooden base

Gigan Garden & Deco makes glass digging boxes and sand baths on a Gamal root or trunk, in sizes from 12 to 25 cm. The glass tray stands on a wooden base and therefore stays above the bedding. That means less wood shavings end up in the sand. The larger sizes are roomy enough as a sand bath for gerbils; the smaller ones are more practical as a food or digging dish.

Which sand is suitable for gerbils?

Gerbils roll with their nose close to the sand. So use fine bathing sand that is low in dust and intended for rodents, such as Zooply Bathing Sand. Play sand, building sand and sand from outdoors can be too coarse or too dusty, or become contaminated. Sand with perfume or added scents is not suitable. Calcium sand and reptile sand are not intended for gerbils. If you are unsure about a type of sand, always choose a bathing sand made specifically for rodents.

Choosing the right sand bath

Big enough to roll

A gerbil turns right over in the sand and rolls onto its back and sides. So the sand bath must be big enough for it to do that without hanging halfway over the edge. In a small group of gerbils, they sometimes take turns and sometimes go in together. A roomier sand bath then prevents jostling.

Open or covered

In an open dish your gerbil can roll freely, but more sand flies around. A covered sand bath keeps the sand inside better. Both work for gerbils; with a covered model, look for a roomy entrance, preferably two.

Standing firmly

Gerbils dig in everything. A light sand bath on loose bedding sinks or gets undermined. Put the sand bath on the floor of the tank before you add the bedding, on a platform, or use a glass tray with a wooden base.

A sand bath for a small group of gerbils

Gerbils live in pairs or small groups, and the sand bath is often a favourite spot. Sometimes they roll in it together, sometimes one animal wants the sand bath to itself for a while. For a pair, one roomy sand bath is usually enough. With three or more gerbils, or if you notice one animal guarding the sand bath, put a second sand bath in another spot in the enclosure. A sand bath with two entrances also helps: a gerbil can then always get out again.

Young gerbils discover the sand bath by themselves, often within the first few days in a new enclosure. Let them get on with it calmly. Do not sink the sand bath too deep into the bedding, so small animals can also get in and out easily.

What does the coat tell you?

A healthy gerbil has a dry, soft and glossy coat. If the coat looks greasy, sticky or matted, first check whether there is enough clean bathing sand available and whether your gerbil is using the sand bath. Sometimes a larger or more accessible sand bath is enough to help. If you see bald patches, flakes, small wounds or your gerbil is scratching a lot, there is usually another cause. In that case, contact a vet with experience of rodents. A sand bath supports coat care, but does not replace treatment.

Keeping the sand bath clean

Scoop droppings and food leftovers out of the sand daily. Many gerbils also choose the sand bath as their regular pee spot. That is handy, because you can then scoop out the wet clumps in a targeted way and the rest of the enclosure stays dry. According to the Zooply Bathing Sand packaging, you clean the sand bath about twice a week, or more often if it is visibly dirty. Wash the tray now and then with warm water and let it dry thoroughly before putting in new sand. Store the bathing sand dry and tightly closed; damp sand clumps and goes musty.

Where do you put the sand bath?

Choose a fixed, dry spot, away from the water bottle and not right next to the food bowl. Gerbils kick sand around when they roll, and you do not want sand in the food or wet drops in the sand. A spot along the edge or in a corner works well. If you have a gerbil scape with zones, the sand bath often becomes the centrepiece of an open area where your gerbils like to lie for a while.

Useful combinations

• Bedding: a deep digging layer around the sand bath, with Zooply as our own brand.
• Gerbil scaping: cork, moss and Zooply forest mix to furnish the sand bath zone beautifully.
• Cages: an enclosure with enough room for a good-sized sand bath.
• Food bowls: a heavy bowl for the food, in a different spot from the sand.

Frequently asked questions about sand and sand baths for gerbils

Does a gerbil really need a sand bath?

Yes. Gerbils groom their coat with sand. Without a sand bath the coat can become greasy and they miss out on an important piece of natural behaviour. So a sand bath with fine bathing sand is a permanent fixture in every gerbil enclosure.

Can I use chinchilla sand?

Fine, low-dust bathing sand for chinchillas is generally suitable for gerbils. Zooply Bathing Sand is made for gerbils, hamsters, degus and chinchillas alike. Avoid sand that puffs up dust when you pour it into the tray, sand with added scents and calcium sand.

How much sand do I put in the sand bath?

Put in enough sand for your gerbil to roll over properly and dig a little, without the sand spilling over the edge with every movement. A layer of a few centimetres is usually enough. It is better to top up regularly than to fill the tray to the brim.

My gerbils pee in the sand bath. Is that a problem?

No, many gerbils do that. It is actually handy: you scoop out the clumps in a targeted way and the rest of the enclosure stays dry. Do refresh the sand a little more often, though, so there is always clean sand to roll in. If the sand gets dirty very quickly, consider adding a second sand bath.

How often should I replace the bathing sand?

According to the Zooply Bathing Sand packaging, you clean the sand bath about twice a week, or more often if it is visibly dirty. In between, scoop out the droppings and wet clumps daily. With the 3 kg bucket you have enough supply to keep up that routine.

Sand and sand baths at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find everything for a good sand bath. Zooply Bathing Sand is our own premium brand, which we use every day for our own gerbils, hamsters and degus. Combine it with a sturdy sand bath and your gerbils can groom their coat every day, just as they do in the wild.