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dust bath

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eatting

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Total Members Voted: 4

[Hoppinchins]

Hi, I am a new member and I have two male chinchillas. I have a baby gray one I got about 3 weeks ago and a baby white one I got a few days ago. I was wondering if Chinchillas can have a dust bath too often? The gray one likes to take one about every other day. The white one hasn't wanted to take one yet.

Also, the white one is a picky eater and doesn't eat all the food. He throws out the pieces he doesn't like. Is that normal. He also likes to eat the bedding. Is that ok?

I also wasn't sure what some good toys were for them.

Thanks for your help.

P.S. I'm not sure what I was supposed to put for the options at the top of this post.

[Deeliteful]

Yes they can have a dust bath too much . That all depends on your climate. If you are in a humid climate then you might give them a dust bath more often than say if you were in a dry climate. I live on the coast in a humid area but I run the AC in the summer all the time so its not humid in the house. I dust bath twice a week.

What kind of food are you feeding them and what kind of bedding are you using?

[Hoppinchins]

I live in Ohio. We have cold winters and hot humid summers, but we have the ac on in the summer. I am feeding them nutriphase gold. Its got pellets and fruit treats mixed in with it. I have carefree bedding. I order different food online. It got shipped today. I forget what its called, but its what the chin club website recommended.

[Deeliteful]

Thats the reason he is not eating the pellets is because of the treats in it lol . If you ordered the recommended feed then you should be fine but I would get away from the carefresh and use pine or aspen bedding.

If you are running the ac I would say a dust bath 3 times a week would be enough. Though my chinchilla has a habit of chewing up his lava bite and making his own lol . Just dont leave the dust bath in there all the time .

[Hoppinchins]

I have the heat on now because it is winter. I think thats what my other chin does. I'v had him since Saturday and He doesn't want to take a dust bath when he's out of his cage. But I see dust in the cage from the lava bit. Lol

[Brazilnut]

Maybe he's experiencing "stage fright"?? My chinchilla Chloe wont take a dust bath in front of anyone but me. 

[mylittlechinchilla]

Since the other chin is new, give him a little more time to settle in.  He will come around and start bathing.

Chins can get too many dust baths.. I give dust baths 2-3 times per week here.

His feed is not a food feed, any chin that comes in here on Nutriphase, Sunseed, Kaytee, etc. go to an immediate cold switch to a better feed.  If you look into getting him on a better feed, you will most likely see a 'slight' weight gain from a better diet.

[Hoppinchins]

Aww, stage fright.. thats cute. He took one kinda the other day. I had to put it in his cage though. And yeah, I just switched their diet. There new food came in the mail today. They seem to like it.

[mylittlechinchilla]

A good diet always promotes a longer healthier life.  Good pellets, hay and water.. don't forget the chews..

[Hoppinchins]

What food do you use? I just switched to mazula, I think thats what it is called. They have hay now and new chew things. I'm not sure if they like the apple sticks yets.

[mylittlechinchilla]

I started on Mazuri, went to Tradition, now I'm swtiching (week 3) to Pen Pals.  This is all over an 8 year period..

[Hoppinchins]

Ok, thanks! 

[Hoppinchins]

I was thinking about switching their food to Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe Food. I was wondering if thats good food.

Thanks, 

[mylittlechinchilla]

Oxbow has good products, although if you just switched to Mazuri, I'd stay on that.  Too many changes can upset the GI tract.

[Hoppinchins]

Ok, Thanks!