Chinchilla Dust Bath
One of the chinchilla natural behaviors is to take a dust bath. In their natural habitats, chinchillas do not have any way to clean themselves except to take a bath in volcanic ash. A regular bath of dust is necessary for chinchillas to be able to keep their luxurious coats clean, smooth and healthy. A dust bath is also thought to be fun for the chinchilla.
New chinchilla owners might not be too sure of how to provide a dust bath for their chinchillas. It is fairly simple. You should never give your chinchilla a bath in water. Going in water will remove the natural oils which protect the chinchilla’s skin and help them regulate their body temperature.
That is why most local pet stores sell chinchilla dust for bathing. It is specially made for chinchillas. It is made to mimic the kind of dust they have access to in their natural habitats. Other sand or powders may look and feel similar but they might not penetrate the chinchillas fur the way that this special chinchilla dust does. As the chinchilla rolls in the dust, it penetrates their coat down to the skin. It helps clean the fur by absorbing oil and dirt from the fur.
Provide a heavy, tip-resistant bowl or deep dish to put the chinchilla dust in. It must be slightly larger than he chinchilla that will be using it. Using a slightly enclosed container like a glass fish bowl or a canister will keep the dust from flying everywhere. Fill the bottom of the container with a couple of inches worth of dust. You can place the dust bath in the chinchilla’s cage each night when they are active.
The dust itself can be used several times in a row as long as you clean out any wastes left by visiting chinchillas. Discard the old dust and use fresh dust if it is starting to look dirty or clumpy. It is recommended not to leave the dust bath within the cage indefinitely. Too much bathing can dry the chinchilla’s skin and they might get in the habit of using their dust bath as a litter box.
It is better to offer the bath for a short time, and then remove it when it has been used. It is also possible that the constant exposure of the bust within the cage may lead to inflammation or infection to the chinchilla’s eyes or eyelids.
Offer the dust bath to your chinchilla at least twice a week, typically in the evening when they are 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. In humid weather, baths should be offered more frequently.
A chinchilla living in a dry climate will require fewer dust baths. Usually 10 to 15 minutes is plenty of time for a chinchilla bath. If your chinchilla has dry, flaky skin or seems itchy, decrease the bathing time and frequency a bit.
Chinchilla owners love to watch their chinchillas rolling around in their dust bath. There is something so innocent and unique about this adorable behavior. If you enjoy watching your chinchilla bath, buy a glass dish for them to use. A plastic dish might get scratched over time impairing your view of your furry friend.
