Chinchillas rely on a dust bath to keep their fur dense, fluffy and free of matting. So, a chinchilla sand bath should always be a part of every chinchilla cage setup.
The sand is designed to reflect the terrain chinchillas naturally use to clean themselves in the mountainous South American regions of the Andes. Ultimately, this sand must be soft to the skin, a great absorber of oil and dirt and also be able to successfully reach the roots of their thick hair.
You can buy an all-natural, high-quality dusting powder made for chinchillas, which is known as Chinchilla Dust. This is fine grey sand. The alternative is the superior option, Chinchilla Bath Sand. This is a 100% natural volcanic mountain pumice that is dust-free. Sand for other animals isn’t usually suitable, as it is too rough.
In addition to the sand, they will need a sand bathhouse. This is a large plastic or ceramic (we always recommend the latter) bath. It should be enclosed, to reduce the sand going everywhere. This also increases the contact they have with the sand. Around 1-2 inches should be used.
Finding specific chinchilla sand isn’t too hard. However, finding one that is actually quality and good for your pet can be harder.