Pet Habitat South Africa

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02 Apr 2015

Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust Bath

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Chinchillas | Pet Care | Chinchilla Bath Dust

Chinchillas have dense fur. Over time, oils and moisture collect in their fur. In the wild, chinchillas have no way to clean their fur other than to roll around in volcanic ash which acts as an absorbent. You should never bathe your chinchilla in water. Doing so would remove the natural oils which protect their skin and helps them regulate their body temperature. Instead, it is best to give them a bowl or container filled with "special" dust for them to roll around in. The finer the dust, the better.

A regular dust bath is an absolute necessity for chinchillas. Taking a vigorous dust bath is one of their natural behaviors, and is how chinchillas keep their lush coats clean and healthy. Not only does this dust bath help to keep their thick fur smooth and silky, it is thought to be relaxing and fun for chinchillas.

Blue Cloud is the best chinchilla dust you can use. This ultra-fine aluminum silicate powder contains no limestone, glass, or sand and shakes completely out of fur. It is specifically made for chinchillas for this purpose. When the chinchillas roll in Blue Cloud dust, it penetrates their coat down to the skin and absorbs oil and dirt from the fur and removes odours. Other powders or sand may look or feel similar, but just won't work the same way –Blue Cloud chinchilla dust is made to mimic what they would have access to in their native habitat.

The frequency of such baths will depend on the climate you live in. Chinchillas in a dry climate will require fewer dust baths than a chinchilla in a humid climate. The dust bath should be left with the chinchillas for around 20-30 minutes. More often than not, they'll stop using it before the time is up. Offer the dust bath to your chinchilla at least twice a week, typically in the evening when they are getting most active. Twice a week is usually sufficient, though you can offer the bath more frequently if your chinchilla's fur starts to look rough or feels damp or oily.

You'll also want to watch out for dry, flaky skin on your chinchilla. If you see signs of this, consider increasing the time between dust baths. It is fine to re-use the dust for several baths. Make sure to scoop out any waste when the chinchilla is done each bath. If the dust starts to look clumpy or dirty, discard and use fresh dust.

Not all dust are made the same, and it is important to buy only dust which is specifically labelled for Chinchillas. Most pet stores in South Africa sell chinchilla bath sand which is not the same thing as bath dust. Bath sand is not recommended because it can be rough on your chin's fur and is not fine enough to do a really good job.

If you enjoy watching your chinchillas roll around in the dust like we do, consider buying a glass container for them to use. Plastic will get scratched over time impairing your view. Make sure the glass is strong and securely held in place. The last thing you want to have is your chinchilla rolling around in broken glass.

Finally, the dust bath shouldn't be kept in the cage because it may end up being used as a litter box. Also, there's a chance that the constant exposure to the dust will cause inflammation or infection to your chinchillas eyes or eyelids (conjunctivitis).