Chinchillas are known to be one of the softest pets out there to cuddle with, but what is it that makes them so soft and snuggly?
Chinchilla fur is unique among some of the most common household pets.
Their fur is so soft and thick because there is so much of it, each hair follicle has around 80 hairs coming out of it, making their fur extremely dense. Because of the density of their fur, chinchillas should not be bathed in the traditional with soap and water.
Instead, they should be given regular access to dust baths.
A dust bath is exactly what it sounds like; a container large enough for the creature to comfortably move around in, is filled with dust, and the chinchilla then will roll around in the dust. This should be a supervised activity that happens a few times a week, this number can vary depending on the temperature and humidity of your area.
But why do they need to partake in this strange ritual?
Well, because chinchilla fur is so dense, if they were to be bathed in the normal way their fur would never fully dry and that could lead to a sick and unhappy pet. Dust baths help to evenly distribute the oils that the chinchillas naturally produce, and removes any dirt or debris the animal may come into contact with.
In the wild, chinchillas bathe in volcanic ash, and many of the dust bath mixes available on the market today utilize volcanic ash in their formulas as well.
Basically, the finer the dust the better the bath. Sandy mixes, or those with larger grains, can get trapped in the animals fur which defeats the whole point of the bath, it can also cause them irritation.
Along with helping the health of the animal, they also seem to love it.
To get the most out of their baths, chinchillas happily roll and flop around in the dust making sure to completely cover themselves. They can sometimes even be heard chirping or “barking” with joy as they partake in this activity.
Are chinchillas good pets?
Chinchillas are one of the most popular small mammalian pets that are available today, they are curious and friendly in nature and adorable to look at and play with. They can be a bit reclusive at first but after getting used to you and bonding, they are sweet and silly little animals to have around.
They need a large cage with room to run and climb, constant access to water, and a high fiber type of hay.
Aside from that, and of course regular dust baths, chinchillas are very low maintenance creatures and want nothing more then to play with their humans. It should also be noted that chinchillas are happiest in herds, and while having 14 chinchillas would be a little much for anyone, it is recommended to have at least 2 at a time.
Watch Taro the adorable velvet chinchilla taking his dust bath in the video below!
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