Chinchilla dust

[de4life]

I use the Charlie Chinchilla sand, it's good and lasts quite a long time.

Unfortunately with any pet shop it is to extent luck of the draw when it comes to finding a staff member to dish out advice. When I went to adopt my Chinese the guy was my age and I expected him to know nothing about hamsters, but it became obvious very quickly he knew exactly what he was talking about and made sure everything I had was suitable for her needs.

Alternatively, other times I've been gobsmacked by the ignorance of shop staff. Sadly because the animals are treated as stock as opposed to living creatures, there is little difference between the kind of shop assistants you get in your average pet store and the type of person you'd get serving you in Staples or PC World. Some know their stuff, others really don't.

As a result, even though there are some shop staff who know what they're talking about, I'd always do my own research and find it very difficult to trust a member of staff at a pet store.

[Queen Of The High Teas]

Pets at home chinchilla "dust" is actually sand, just like Charlie Chinchilla. There is no difference in it, if you put a bit of each in two unmarked bowls, you couldn't tell which was which. I don't know why they call it dust, it isn't!

[fluffydd]

I use Charlie Chinchilla sand and I get it from The Range, in a carton rather than a plastic bottle. I got given a bag of Chinchilla dust by a friend and like Wobbles, I really can't tell the difference between the two - the dust looks as much like sand as the sand does, so it really isn't dust at all.

[lucy1666]

i tried moo on sand and she prefer to toilet in it
its ok i have chinchillas to use it up on anway

[slatted]

I think a lot of hamsters also pee in their sand. Mine seem to use one side as a toilet and the other for cleaning...it is large enough for both.

[njwilde]

Hi guys,
I am in a similar dilemma and seeing this thread only recently got revived I hope someone can help me.
I used the p@home one before too as I was told that despite it saying powder it's sand. Now I ve come to an end with my bag and saw that my local pet shop "pets and aquatics centre stockport road manchester" is selling some sand so I thought that would be easier and more accurate but when I came home I started doubting it's sand as it is more beige than grey and looks less grainy. It s not dustier than the other though and not particularly sticky on hands either, I'd say less than the p@H stuff.

What do you guys think?I ve looked for so many pictures but cannot find anything from which I could distinguish whether it's sand or dust apart from teh fact that teh dust seems more xpensive and comes in fancy bottles....

[DrKMcK]

I just jumped offline, ran inside and got a box of Chinchilla Sand. Got my camera and snapped a photo, cropped and resized it and there you go. I buy this at Petco online and I get 5 packets for $5.99. It clearly says Chinchilla Bath Sand so I don't know why on earth the people in the pets shops are acting like you're asking for something strange. Hope this helps.

[Queen Of The High Teas]

Originally Posted by njwilde

Hi guys,
I am in a similar dilemma and seeing this thread only recently got revived I hope someone can help me.
I used the p@home one before too as I was told that despite it saying powder it's sand. Now I ve come to an end with my bag and saw that my local pet shop "pets and aquatics centre stockport road manchester" is selling some sand so I thought that would be easier and more accurate but when I came home I started doubting it's sand as it is more beige than grey and looks less grainy. It s not dustier than the other though and not particularly sticky on hands either, I'd say less than the p@H stuff.

What do you guys think?I ve looked for so many pictures but cannot find anything from which I could distinguish whether it's sand or dust apart from teh fact that teh dust seems more xpensive and comes in fancy bottles....

Some sand is a more beige colour. I've had a few bags myself, and personally I think it looks nicer. As long as it feels like charlie chinchilla or pets at home one, it will be sand. You can tell dust as it is like talc powder, chalk dust or baking flour.

Here's what I do, if it feels/looks like sugar it's sand. If it feels/looks like flour it's dust.

And here is how I remember: Unless it's sugar leave the b*gger

[njwilde]

Originally Posted by Wobbles

You can tell dust as it is like talc powder, chalk dust or baking flour.

Here's what I do, if it feels/looks like sugar it's sand. If it feels/looks like flour it's dust.

And here is how I remember: Unless it's sugar leave the b*gger

Aw, that's great, this is the clearest I ve read and heard anywhere and makes sense. The one I have is defo more like sand on the beach and is not chalky or talc powdery so my girls will be safe And I agree, it looks nicer, teh p@h always reminds me of cigarette ash...

[njwilde]

And also thanks to the picture as this really looks liek what I ve got