Hi Deb:
There are several types of Chin Dusting powder.
The best is Fullers Earth. I used medium grade but pet supply companies such as
SunSeed typically used fine grade. Fullers Earth is basically silica sand. A capsule
description may be found at
<http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,36308+1+35638,00.html>. Alas, the
major source of Fullers Earth, a mine in West Virginia, ceased production of it a
couple years ago. This has been reflected in the doubling and tripling of the prices
of small containers in pet stores.
Another high quality type is Blue Sparkle. It is a cement by-product that is produced
in Kansas. While very effective for Chins, it is also quite dusty.
A similar product is Blue Cloud from California. As it is mostly sold in the Western
USA, I don't have ready access to it and don't know its composition.
Currently, I use crushed limestone [mixed with a bit of Blue Sparkle] from a quarry in
Ontario.
Diatomaceous earth is often used as a pesticide, particularly for cockroach control.
It is composed of the silicon skeletons of diatoms. These skeletons have very sharp
points which disrupt the membranes between the joints in insects, thereby dissicating
them. A capsule description of diatomaceous earth may be found at
<http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/1/0,5716,30791+1+30299,00.html>. I am not
aware of any Chin dusting product derived from diatomaceous earth.
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On Sat, 19 Aug 2000 10:19:23 Deb Rebel wrote:
>>The other thing is that a vet told me to take out the sand because it
>>could have all sorts of parasites in it
>
>Raw sand, collected from outside, can harbor all sorts of stuff. If
>you want to use it for rodent bathing, it has to be 'washed' and
>baked in the oven to kill the stuff that can be hiding in it.
>
>>So yesterday I bought something that is called "chinchilla sand " which
>>is not made of sand .
>
>Chinchillia 'dust' is diatomaceous earth. Mostly. It is 'clean'
>of stuff that can cause allergies, though, unless you inhale a lot of it.
>
>>But now there is a another big problem - this sand is more like flour
>>than sand . and also it is white .
>
>That sounds right.
>
>>So now my gerbils are all white ! and when we touch them our hands
>>are covered with this stuff too
>>Should I take it out also ? and leave them with the wood shavings only ?
>>Is there any other solution ?
>
>
>I give my gerbils a wide flat dish with about a centimeter and a half
>(around one half an inch) of chinchilla dust about 20-30 minutes
>before I give their cage the weekly cleaning.
>
>They can mess in it all they want, then I take out the saucer and clean
>the cage, and they quickly lose what little is in their fur in the new
>clean bedding.
>
>>hila .
>
>
>I hope this helps.
>
>Deb
>Rebel's Rodent Ranch.
>
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