I'm getting confused over what sand to use. Is this on okay?

[scoobyloubydoo]

This is the only one that p@h do... And the other small pet shop round the corner. The online title calls it chinchilla dust, the packet reads chinchilla dusting powder.

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/searchterm?searchTerm=chinchilla+sand

I've read from someone saying the sand is to coarse for their skin and can cut it, and that this one is sort of inbetween.

Sorry for such a newbie question 

[ninestone]

"Dust" baths are really not suitable for gerbils, whose sensitive respiratory systems can be irritated by the dust and cause health problems. The info you read saying coarse sand could cut their skin is false, I'm pretty sure. They're protected by their thick fur, and even the Chinchilla "Sand" products I've used are still quite finely sized grains.

It is also possible to use reptile substrate sand, as long as it is fairly dust free. An example from P@H is
www.livefoods.co.uk/product_info.php/pro-rep-desert-sand-yellow-10kg-p-1823
although I haven't used that myself so I'm not sure it's dust free.

Here's one that is specifically marketed as dust-free:
www.amazon.co.uk/Lucky-Reptile-LSW-5-Sahara-Desert/dp/B004G68IHG

I use a white marble reptile sand that is very fine but also dust free that works great! Unfortunately, I don't think it's available in the UK; at least I couldn't find it on a UK site.

[mothman]

I have also read that hermit crab sand is a good alternative, and I have tried that myself. I am a new gerbil owner and have only provided them with the bath once, and they didn't know how to use it, they just sat in it, tried to eat the sand, and dug in it. lol

It is not dusty, seems to be a good coarseness. The only think I note with the sand I got is it contains some fibers of some kind, almost like some bits of some kind of grass mixed in. I've run the sand through a sifter to remove most of those fibers.

[reesesturtles]

I have used chinchilla sand mixed with cornmeal, as well as reptile sand and reptile sand mixed with cornmeal. Never had any problems. They enjoy the baths, but seemed to like the finer sand best.

[Lily]

I use aragonite sand. It's made from crushed coral and is much less a chance of giving your gerbies respiratory problems. In my opinion anything labeled chinchilla sand chinchilla dust ext is to fine for gerbils.
Lily