Dust and Cleaning foam

[Jinxxy]

My mom recently got chinchilla dust for the gerbs after me telling her NOT get it.
She refused to listen because it said it was made for gerbils aswell.

It's called Bathing Dust for Chinchillas and below it it says it's ideal for chinchillas, gerbils, degus and hamsters. Can I use it? I'm still not sure so some opinions would be nice.

Then there's this other thing. Citrus Magic Pet. Never used it before. Apparently it's a foam thing. If the dust is safe to use, then of course I wouldn't think of using this stuff on my gerbils. It says is all natural, fragrance free, and non toxic. However, if it is safe for gerbs then I might use it on them. If not, well we have two cats and a dog lol

[lizb]

I'm interested in opinions, too, but my instinct tells me the foam thing would not be a good idea.

[mothman]

I don't think I'd use the foam... I can't imagine gerbils being a fan of being left wet from it, let alone wondering if it was safe.

[Jinxxy]

Yea thats exactly what I was thinking. I looked at reviews, and everyone said it worked perfectly for their dog or cat. No one said anything abut rodents. (Though there is a picture of a gerbil on the bottle)


Any ideas on the dust?

[qtoffer]

Gerbils never ever need to be bathed - they just don't. I would not use the foam cleanser on them. I'd be wary of using it at all, since the manufacturer apparently has no idea what they're doing. "Ideal for hard to bathe pets - ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, kittens, etc." Bathing ferrets is controversial. Hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits never need bathing. Cats benefit from baths once or twice a year - mostly to remove shedding hair. Not everything that they sell in pet stores is beneficial to pets

I've purchased the chinchilla bath DUST and found it to be way too fine and dusty - I ended up returning it.
The chinchilla bath SAND is also dusty, but nowhere as bad as the bath dust. I use the chinchilla bath sand, but my gerbils have limited access to it. Every few days, they get to roll around in a square plastic jar containing about 1/8 cup of bath sand. It leaves their coats silky, smooth, and glossy. I don't leave the sand bath in their cage 24/7 - it's just too messy when they kick it everywhere.
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Arwen (F) and Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper
Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper

[Jinxxy]

I wont be using that, then.

Yes, I know its sand that works best, dust isn't recommended etc, but we don't have it where I live and ordering online just isnt an option. Therefore, I want to know if the dust we have will be fine at all since it says its for gerbils too. I tried looking online(away from this site) but found nothing on it except for gerbil owners asking if regular dust would be safe. or stuff only on chinchillas.

[mothman]

Have you tried finding hermit crab sand? I have used that and it is more sandy, and less dusty, than even chinchilla sand.

People have also said they've used cornmeal.

My two gerbils still don't know what to do with their sand bath beyond eating it, so my advice is maybe not worth a lot. lol

[MoonstoneGerbils]

What ever the citrus pet magic foam thing is, its probably safe to use, just impractical. I personally wouldn't use it, but i don't think it will harm the gerbils.

As far as chinchilla dust, i use it, and i use it often. Chinchilla sand is actually too abrasive and coarse (so is regular sand, hermit crab sand, and any other sand you're going to come across). Dust works because it is small and fine and able to absorb the oils in the coat and then fall off. The amount you need is very small litterally a pinch in a tupperware container. Sometimes i just rub the dust on my hands and then handle the gerbils, and that helps smooth their coats.

[Jinxxy]

-sorry for late reply-

Then why is the sand commonly used then? xD

I've just been hearing that the dust is too fine and drys out their skin. Is that why I should only use a little bit?

Thanks though, I will try it out ^^

[reesesturtles]

I'll mix dust or sand with cornmeal and use that combination for bathing. The chinchilla dust and chinchilla sand, though effective on their own, seriously affected my allergies due to the fine particles. I tried then using just cornmeal, but then they would only eat it, not bath in it. A combination of sand and cornmeal though they happily bathe in (though still can't resist the occasional taste, haha!). I just mix it all up in a plastic ziploc. You can mix it half and half, or 1/3 and 2/3rds. Whatever ratio works best for you and your critters.