toilet paper, moss, hay or leaves. Avoid materials that separate into thin strands when chewed (such as cotton wool or similar 'fluffy' bedding products), as entanglement or ingestion poses a serious health risk to hamsters. Softwood shavings (such as pine or cedar) are also unsuitable as they contain harmful chemicals which can damage a hamster's respiratory system. Conversely, hardwood shavings such as aspen are perfectly safe to use. To provide a means of cleaning itself and to help mimic its natural habitat, a large bowl of sand should be available at all times. sand bathing is a vital part of a hamster's daily routine and helps to keep their coat healthy and shiny by removing excess oils. The sand can be kept clean by sieving or washing out with water and drying. Children's play sand is a viable option for this, but be sure what happened to it (such as if you need to bake it). Sand must be dust-free. Chinchilla sand is too dusty for hamsters and can cause respiratory problems. Bird sand is also not suitable, because it contains sharp elements such as shards of broken shell. In film The short film Roborovski, about a hamster, co-written and -directed by Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel, premiered at Flickerfest in Sydney in January 2020, and won several awards Antipodean Film Festival at Saint Tropez, France, in 2021. Gallery References Further reading Lissenberg, J. Dwerghamsters. Aanschaf, verzorging, Voeding, Fokken Zuidboek Producties: Lisse, The Netherlands: 2002 Verhoeff-Verhallen, E. Konijnen en Knaagdieren Encyclopedie Rebo Productions: Lisse, The Netherlands: 1997 External links Animal Diversity Web - Phodopus roborovskii Phodopus Mammals of Asia Mammals described in 1903 Taxa named by Konstantin Satunin