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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 15:49:43 GMT
I got this sand from petsmart. I was going to mix it half a cup of it with the bath dust i have from "you and me" brand. Is this acceptable or should i get something else? Im trying to prevent the dust from licking up in the air and getting everywhere.
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Sand
Jun 4, 2018 15:56:04 GMT
Post by savvy on Jun 4, 2018 15:56:04 GMT
You need chinchilla dusting powder. I'm not sure about the one in the picture.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 17:00:03 GMT
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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 17:02:29 GMT
I havr the dust powder already, but the problem is its so fine and kicks up in the air, which causes me to have breathing problems, burning eyes, and constant sneezing.
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Sand
Jun 4, 2018 17:16:34 GMT
Post by savvy on Jun 4, 2018 17:16:34 GMT
Is there any way you can put a cover over the sand box with an entrance for the degus? It may help contain the dust.
Unfortunately it has to be fine to do its job.
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Sand
Jun 4, 2018 18:02:12 GMT
Post by bouncy on Jun 4, 2018 18:02:12 GMT
Ditto the others. I'm afraid it has to be the right kind of sand, or it won't do what they need it to. There are various solutions to the dust bath thing. Am I right in thinking you have an open tray for them at the moment? I wanted less mess, so I switched to a glass goldfish bowl, which has lessemed it but not stopped it. Some use enclosed boxes with a perspex or glass side so they can see, and have a small, raised entrance for the culprets. There was a link on here recently for a bathing box that had an additional "porch", so anything that came out of the dust bath was still contained. You may need to consider making something: goo.gl/images/x7iKYkgoo.gl/images/pU7BNV
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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 18:26:15 GMT
We have used enclosed containers for their baths. All four like to roll together and they managed to get the dust everywhere. Its on all the surfaces of our room, which baffles us really. We arent sure how so much could get on our surfaces. Ive seen other people sat they mix the sand and dust together, so that the dust doesnt kick up so much. But i dont want to use something if it isnt safe. Ditto the others. I'm afraid it has to be the right kind of sand, or it won't do what they need it to. There are various solutions to the dust bath thing. Am I right in thinking you have an open tray for them at the moment? I wanted less mess, so I switched to a glass goldfish bowl, which has lessemed it but not stopped it. Some use enclosed boxes with a perspex or glass side so they can see, and have a small, raised entrance for the culprets. There was a link on here recently for a bathing box that had an additional "porch", so anything that came out of the dust bath was still contained. You may need to consider making something: goo.gl/images/x7iKYkgoo.gl/images/pU7BNV
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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 18:28:58 GMT
Is there any way you can put a cover over the sand box with an entrance for the degus? It may help contain the dust. Unfortunately it has to be fine to do its job. I figured as much in regarding the finest of the dust. We have tried enclosed containers, and the girls all get in together, always in frantic like mode, which causes so much of the dust to kick up in the air
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Sand
Jun 4, 2018 18:32:50 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Jun 4, 2018 18:32:50 GMT
Do you give them permanent access to the dust, or just for a short time and then remove it again?
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Sand
Jun 4, 2018 18:42:08 GMT
Post by bouncy on Jun 4, 2018 18:42:08 GMT
The other option is to make sure the bath is big enough for one?
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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 19:44:47 GMT
Use to be permanent, and then we started taking it out because they destroyed the container. Do you give them permanent access to the dust, or just for a short time and then remove it again?
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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 19:45:34 GMT
We did that, and it caused a lot of fighting. As funny as it was to see them all try and squeeze in, i dont want them to get in the habit of fighting. The other option is to make sure the bath is big enough for one?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 19:51:08 GMT
We did that, and it caused a lot of fighting. As funny as it was to see them all try and squeeze in, i dont want them to get in the habit of fighting. The other option is to make sure the bath is big enough for one? Re that kind of fighting; don’t be scared to try and be “top degu”. I recently had a m/f pair fall out majorly. Nice mushy gentle intros were not working. Put them together and every time they tried to scrap I’d bang the side of the Viv really hard so it made a sharp slap sound and shout NO in an authoritative voice. Spent the next few hours doing this and they finally thought “she ain’t gonna let us scrap so might as well be friends” and they’ve been fine since.
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Post by degumom100 on Jun 4, 2018 19:56:23 GMT
I wish my girls would listen. Ive done similar, and even my partner. They have a very teenage girl defiant attitudrle, i swear when we get authoritive, they have this look of "naaaaa mom" We did that, and it caused a lot of fighting. As funny as it was to see them all try and squeeze in, i dont want them to get in the habit of fighting. Re that kind of fighting; don’t be scared to try and be “top degu”. I recently had a m/f pair fall out majorly. Nice mushy gentle intros were not working. Put them together and every time they tried to scrap I’d bang the side of the Viv really hard so it made a sharp slap sound and shout NO in an authoritative voice. Spent the next few hours doing this and they finally thought “she ain’t gonna let us scrap so might as well be friends” and they’ve been fine since.
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Sand
Jun 4, 2018 20:41:53 GMT
via mobile
Post by misscatafer on Jun 4, 2018 20:41:53 GMT
When my girls were in the heat of adolescence I had to keep a spray water bottle on top of the cage at all times to discipline them or break up fights when they got out of hand. It was also to protect them all as I have two groups sharing one cage which is risky. I only had to use it a couple of times, usually when they would go flying round the cage together fighting over toys etc. I found it quite effective and it doesn't hurt them - but certainly corrects behaviour!
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Sand
Jun 5, 2018 1:48:07 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Jun 5, 2018 1:48:07 GMT
Being/becoming top goo is very helpful with keeping the order, but you have to take that role with complete belief in your own authority. You also need to have several hours to dedicate to "dictating" their obedience to the order that they not fight. You can't budge and inch and you can't let one challenge go unanswered. When I first decided that I was going to be top goo and there was going to be NO MORE fighting, I looked like a crazy woman, especially if I had left the room for a brief break and they decided to challenge my dictate when they thought I was far enough away. I would come roaring into the room and if the roaring wasn't enough (which it wasn't in early days), then I'd bang the cage a time or two until they backed off. For my boys it took a week of looking insane, but once they realized I was not backing down and I was INDEED top degu . . . they fell in line and all was golden after that. After that, if I heard a kerfuffle that sounded suspicious, it didn't matter where I was in the house, a growl from me would immediately halt things. Degus that are between the 6 and 18 months of age stage are harder to persuade, but it can be done!
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 5, 2018 1:50:36 GMT
That said . . . not everyone feels like they can be top goo . . . . Mind you . . . it wouldn't have occured to me either, and I would have laughed had it been suggested to me, except I had just been through 8 months of totally insane fighting and wounds and ugliness and I had had enough. So I decided I was top goo and didn't look back. LOL!!
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Sand
Jun 5, 2018 16:39:48 GMT
Post by moletteuk on Jun 5, 2018 16:39:48 GMT
It is possible to buy bathing sand which is actually sand and should mix with the dust well to keep the cloud in the air at bay. I just can't remember any particular brands at the moment, I think Kaytee or Versele Laga might make it? Personally, I wouldn't have too big an issue trying the reptile sand since you are mixing it with dust, but since everyone else thinks it's a bad idea, you might want to ignore me.
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Sand
Jun 5, 2018 19:53:00 GMT
Post by bouncy on Jun 5, 2018 19:53:00 GMT
It is possible to buy bathing sand which is actually sand and should mix with the dust well to keep the cloud in the air at bay. I just can't remember any particular brands at the moment, I think Kaytee or Versele Laga might make it? Personally, I wouldn't have too big an issue trying the reptile sand since you are mixing it with dust, but since everyone else thinks it's a bad idea, you might want to ignore me. From memory, the goo and chin stuff is made from ground pumice/volcanic rock, which helps absorb the crap in their coats. Try the Supreme Science bathing sand. It's not as dusty, but still doesn't stop it spreading across the floor as they toss themselves around in it!
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 6, 2018 10:42:18 GMT
It's the 'dust' that is made from sepiolite (or similar) clay which absorbs the oils. There are some sand products that are made from actual sand, I'm presuming they work to slough off dead skin cells. That's why I mix the two to get both actions.
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