Didn't you know that Chinchillas can't get wet or bathe in water? Well, this is so due to their fur, which is very fine and abundant, and it takes a long time to dry, in such a way that if a little moisture remains inside, these rodents can suffer many skin problems.
That is why they have a special way to clean themselves and keep their fur in good condition, and that is by bathing with a special sand. When they are wild, chinchillas keep themselves clean with the volcanic ash found in their natural habitat, but when they are domesticated, these rodents must have a specific bathing sandfor them.
You want to know more? Well, keep reading this article on our site where we are going to explain everything you need to know about Chinchilla sand bathing and all the things you need to take into account when giving it to them, because it is not only part of their daily hygiene, but it is also an activity that they love to do and with which they have fun and relax.
How do chinchillas take a bath?
Unlike most living beings, due to their fur, chinchillas cannot bathe in water like any other rodent, but instead keep themselves clean thanks to water baths special sand that occur in their natural habitat when they are wild.
In reality, this sand is nothing more than volcanic ash, and although it may seem like a contradiction, the water, rather than cleaning them, could cause some common and/or serious illnesses such as pneumonia or fungal infections, since that his coat is very dense and takes a long time to dry properly. So even in cases where they suffer from heatstroke you should never bathe chinchillas with water, but soak a towel well and cool them down with it.
Despite what many think, the sand bath that chinchillas take instinctively and very often rolling over and over again in the volcanic ash, is enough to clean themselves and keep their fur in good condition, without tangles and without parasites, since the fine grains of sand penetrate between their hairs and absorb all the excess moisture and/or fat that may be present.
As today, our chinchillas are domestic, but like their congeners They are very clean and despise dirt, for sure that if you have any you will have seen it wallowing and cleaning the substrate of its cage to finish feeling cleaner. And unlike other rodents like guinea pigs or hamsters, clean chinchillas don't give off odors.
To take a sand bath, domestic chinchillas do not have volcanic ash as in their natural habitat, so you must provide them with a specific product for these rodents and make sure that their main component is attapulguita or sepiolite. You can find this bath sand for chinchillas perfectly in pet stores and veterinary centers, so please, do not use common sand or sand with other components because you can cause irritation in the eyes or even ingest it by accident and have problems. digestive.
The sand bath for chinchillas
Since cleaning with a sand bath is a natural and instinctive behavior for these rodents, it is necessary to provide it at least 2 or 3 times a weekand with a maximum duration of 15 or 20 minutes, although they can also bathe every day if the environment is very humid but only for 5 minutes. The more humid the environment where we keep our chinchilla, the more often it will have to take a sand bath to keep its fur clean and shiny, and not dirty or matted.
For the sand bath of chinchillas there are special containers or tubs that are sold in pet stores for you to use together with the specific bath sand. But in reality you don't have to buy those bathtubs since it is enough for you to prepare a container with a layer of sand between 3 and 5 cm to cover the bottom and where your chinchilla can roll comfortably, so it all depends on its size. But you shouldn't always leave it at his disposal but you have to take it away once he's finished because otherwise he could use that special container or bathtub to relieve himself.
What you can do is reuse the sand several times by straining it through a suitable sieve or strainer each time your chinchilla has bathed, in order to remove any dead skin that may have remained or any traces of urine, etc… Of course, once a week you will have to completely change the bath sand for chinchillas and place a new layer, to keep your rodent well cared for and without the risk of skin problems.
Things to consider for the sand bath
For sand bathing chinchillas it is advisable to take into account a series of things that will facilitate the process and avoid unnecessary risksWhat:
- It is best to bathe chinchillas in the afternoon when they start to be more active.
- Do not disturb them or be too close when they take their sand bath because these rodents are secretive and it is better if they are calm and not stressed.
- Try to check their eyes every time they finish taking a sand bath to see if they have any leftovers inside and they have irritated or watery eyes. In this case, wash them with saline solution.
- If you notice that your chinchilla sneezes a lot or that some part of its body has become irritated with that sand powder, you may have to buy it from another brand so that it does not have that reaction. If the problems still persist, see your vet.
- Do not bathe your pet with sand excessively because it could dry out its skin.
- But don't bathe chinchillas too little either because moisture could accumulate in their fur and it would be matted, frizzy and dull.
With all this, the last thing to know is that sand baths for chinchillas are essential, since it is a behavior that comes by nature, they also love it, and if they don't they can get sick and even become depressed. So take good care of your chinchilla with these baths, a good diet and a little exercise so that it is he althy and happy by your side.
