Dust..best kind & where do I get it?

[jrosler04]

So, upon reading, I have discovered I should purchase a different type of dust. When I got my 3, they were on Kaytee Dust, and I keep reading blue cloud is best (I think that's the name?)... What other brands should i consider? and what brands should be avoided?

Where do I get it? Can I buy it around here or do I need to order it online??

Could this be part of the reason that Luna's coat is in rough shape??

Man, there is a lot to learn with these guys, and to think I had chinnis about 5 or 6 years ago & it seems a lot of information has changed in that time!

 

[Ash]

Basically, Blue Cloud or Blue Sparkle are your best options. Blue Cloud is superior to Blue Sparkle, but comes at a bit higher of a price. Some people also are using Sweet PDZ (myself included) but depending on where you get it and where it was milled, it seems to not work as well.

You can order any of them from various members on here. Susan (AZChins) has an awesome price on 20lbs of Blue Cloud shipped, or you could maybe even purchase it from Ryersons or Shoots, depending on how close you are to either of those guys. They are large ranchers in Ohio.

 

[jrosler04]

Ok, thanks for the help Ash,

I will search ryersons & shoots & see where they are.. we are basically 2 hours south of columbus, but I go up there once a month usually. I def. need something better, and I want to get luna's coat back into shape...
It looks horrible where cinnamon tore her up (prior to me getting them)

 

[3CsMommy]

Blue Cloud is what the breeders/showers use before events, and it's generally considered the best choice by most users here. Blue Sparkle is a somewhat less expensive but still good dust, but in a pet only home, I found it a pain in the butt to clean up when it stuck to furniture, etc. Some owners also avoid it because the silicates that make it sparkle have been linked to lung damage in other animals and they don't want to risk it in chinnies. You'll usually pay $2.00/pound or less for the good stuff through the sellers in the classified section here. I get mine from Dee since she's local, so you've probably got somebody close to you to save on shipping costs.

DO NOT get the cucumber scented crap pet stores sell. Not only is it overpriced, but the scents haven't been tested in chins long enough to know if they contribute to respiratory infections, etc.

 

[jrosler04]

Thakns for the info. especially with the blue sparkle causing lung damage to other animals. The chins are in my room, and my papillon, & sometimes the danes sleep in there (they have been raised with guinea pigs, so they know to ignore the cages) and I don't want to chance any harm to them. I also have a turtle in there, and soon to be another guinea pig or 2...

Sounds like I will go with the blue cloud...they are just pets, but I want to be sure it's good for them & the other animals!

Generally, when I give them thier dust bath, I cover the end of the cage with the bath in it with a towel, so most of it is confined... and they use an old enclosed glass fish bowl..which they just love!

 

[3CsMommy]

Oooh, what kind of turtle?

Yours sounds like a really fun house to live in; a chinchilla, great danes, reptiles... I had to give up my snakes when I moved out of my apartment, but I can't wait to get my own place and adopt a leopard or crested gecko.

 

[jrosler04]

My turtle is a red eared Slider, I have had him for 6 or 7 years. he was a TOTAL impulse buy, cause I thought he was cute (silly me) and I have learned a lot from him. I have to say, he is definately the EASIEST of all of the critters here!

We are a fun house (animal-wise) with the chinchillas, great danes, cats, scarlet macaw, horse, even have chickens, & a turkey.. We do animal rescue, so we frequently have critters of all shapes & sizes coming & going!