How to choose sand for bathing chinchillas

Chinchilla fur is very thick and has a special structure – the lack of proper care will quickly lead to a loss of softness and shine. Fortunately, these decorative rodents carefully groom their fur and especially love bathing. But you will have to forget about the usual use of water – so that the fluffy fur coat of the pet does not lose its splendor, special sand for chinchillas is required. There are many varieties of sand on the market today, so it is important to carefully approach the choice.

Functions of sand

In nature, chinchillas inhabit mountainous desert areas with constant low humidity – no more than 30%. The structure of their fur makes water procedures impossible – because of its density, the wet woolen cover falls off and cannot dry out completely. This will lead to hypothermia, as well as various skin diseases. In our climate, the humidity is much higher than 30%, so the hairs of the animal’s fur, even when kept at home, are additionally saturated with moisture from the air. It can also lead to a deterioration in the appearance of the coat, as well as the appearance of skin fungus.

Chinchilla needs sand to not only clean the coat without the use of moisture, but also to dry it. Small grains and particles of sand absorb moisture, sebum, remove fallen hairs and dead skin cells, separate the fur, giving it splendor. Chinchilla bathing sand also helps protect animals from skin parasites.

Features of the composition of sand

For the bathing procedure, ordinary quartz or river sand is not suitable – its particles are too large and can scratch the delicate skin of the animal. The main damage will be done to the wool – the sharp edges of the quartz particles will cut through the thin hair and get tangled in it. Also, river sand may contain impurities that are harmful to the health of the pet.

It is best to use volcanic sand for chinchillas, in which animals bathe in nature. Its fine particles resemble dust, perfectly absorb moisture, and then are easily removed without damaging the hairs.

The composition of the sand, which can be bought at the pet store, also usually includes volcanic dust. Common components are also sepiolite, zeolite and talcomagnesite, which are similar in their properties.

sepiolite has a porous structure, like talcomagensite – they are highly hydrophilic, absorbing moisture and fats well.

Zeolite absorbs water depending on the level of humidity in the room, so it is readily used on chinchilla farms. The high dust content of zeolite is often balanced by the addition of heavier conventional fine sand.

Sometimes the basis of the mixture is used ground to dust quartz, in this case, usually other minerals are added to improve the absorption of moisture.

Talc and other additives

To protect the animal from fungal diseases, antibacterial drugs are usually added to the composition. If you buy clean sand, you need to add a fungus remedy yourself. For this, the preparation “Fungistop” based on sulfur and talc is well suited. This remedy is effective against fungal spores of various types, it will perfectly cope with bacterial infections. The drug is non-toxic and safe for the health of the chinchilla. Talc can also be added separately – it is a natural adsorbent that eliminates excess moisture and unpleasant odors.

Popular ready-made bath mixtures

The variety of bathing sand manufacturers is very large, so it is easy to get confused when choosing. Owners of furry pets also care about how much sand for chinchillas costs. The following mixtures are presented on the modern pet products market.

Mr Alex

Sand is of low cost and medium quality, made on the basis of quartz. The kit includes a bag of talc, which should be mixed with the main composition before bathing.

Lolopets

A mixture of volcanic dust and crushed quartz, processed about 400 degrees. The advantage is the low price.

Vaca

Inexpensive volcanic sand with the addition of crushed quartz from a Russian manufacturer. Comes with talcum powder. The composition sometimes contains large particles, so it is recommended to sift the mixture before bathing.

Little animals

An inexpensive high-quality version of Russian production based on talcomagnesite, does not dry out the skin, preserves the structure of the hairs.

Little One

A high-quality mineral mixture of a fine fraction of volcanic origin, a rather high price.

Benelux

Sand based on crushed zeolite from a trusted manufacturer. The cost is slightly higher than that of analogues.

Padovan

The composition of the mixture includes crushed zeolite 60% with the addition of other minerals, has a high hydrophilicity.

Vitacraft

Finely ground sepiolite and other minerals of volcanic origin, German production. One of the most common options, has a fairly high price.

Buying inexpensive mixes seems like a better deal, but quality sand does its job more efficiently. It also needs to be replaced less often, so it is more economical to use.

IMPORTANT: Even a high-quality mixture may not please the pet, or cause irritation on the skin, and badly affect the appearance of the coat. If you notice that the chinchilla itches after bathing, its coat has faded, it is better to try another brand of sand.

How to make sure you make the right choice

To check the quality of the finished mixture, there are several simple ways. Take some sand and rub it between your fingers – no tingling and large particles should be felt, the composition should feel more like flour to the touch. Then pour a small amount of the mixture into a container of water. High-quality sand will be on the surface for some time, then it will slowly sink into the water, and the quartz components will immediately sink to the bottom. You can also drop a few drops of moisture into the jar – if they are not absorbed, but rolled into balls that are soft in consistency, then the mixture is of high quality.

How to make sand for chinchillas with your own hands

If you do not trust ready-made mixtures, you can make chinchilla sand yourself:

1. To do this, you must have access to fine quarry sand. Also, this material can be ordered or bought at a hardware store.
2. Sand must be sifted, washed, and then calcined in a pan or oven.
3. To improve the quality of the mixture, a little talc and sulfur are added to it (1-2 teaspoons).

It should be noted that even calcination does not save from some pathogens and toxic substances, so sand from the street can be dangerous for the animal.

Video: chinchilla bathing sand