Degu sand and dust baths

Why do degus need a sand bath?

To keep their coat clean. Degus don't wash in water. Like chinchillas, they roll in fine sand, which works through the fur and soaks up grease and dirt, as Burgess and Chewy both explain. Degutopia adds that dust bathing is a behaviour degus need to do, not just a grooming job: it keeps their fur in top condition and they clearly enjoy it.

A degu without regular baths gets a greasy, clumped coat that loses its fluff, and that oily coat doesn't keep them as warm or dry. Bath time is also a good chance for you to watch them closely and see how they move.

How often should degus have a dust bath?

Two or three times a week is the safe middle ground. The sources differ a little, so here is what each says and which we'd follow.

We'd follow the RSPCA: two or three sessions a week, about 20 minutes each. Degutopia's daily figure is the outlier, and the PDSA's warning that constant sand dries the skin points the other way. If your degus' coat still looks greasy on three baths a week, you can add a fourth, and if their skin looks flaky or their fur dull, cut back.

What sand is best for degus?

A fine, clay-based chinchilla bathing sand. Degutopia recommends sepiolite, a soft clay mineral also sold as meerschaum, and says plain sand on its own doesn't absorb grease the way clay does. Burgess says to use chinchilla sand, not builders' sand. Both "chinchilla sand" and "chinchilla dust" are sold; the RSPCA, PetMD and the PDSA accept either, as long as it's made for bathing.

• Labelled for chinchilla bathing, with nothing added.
• Quartz-free, so the grains have no sharp edges. Sepiolite or meerschaum sands say so on the pack.
• Fine and soft, so it works into the fur.
• Unscented, with no talc, perfume or "conditioning" additives.
• Low dust, if anyone in the home has asthma; finer dusts float more.

For a named product, our best degu toys and accessories page includes a quartz-free bathing sand and a covered bath.

How to give a degu a dust bath

1. Choose a heavy, deep bowl. Use a heavy ceramic bowl or dish big enough for a degu to roll right over, with high sides to keep sand in. The RSPCA asks for a shallow, heavy bowl big enough to roll in; Degutopia prefers high sides, which cut mess.
2. Add about 4 cm (1.5 in) of sand. That's the RSPCA's depth, enough to roll in without wasting sand.
3. Offer it in the play area or cage. Degutopia places the bath in the play area rather than the cage. If you use the cage, put it on the floor or a wide, low shelf.
4. Let them roll. Most degus dive in, roll, flip and kick for a few minutes. Let each degu have a turn if they can't share.
5. Take it away after about 20 minutes. Remove the bath once they lose interest, and after 30 minutes at most.
6. Sieve and store the sand. Tip it through a fine sieve to catch droppings and hair, then keep it in a lidded tub for next time.
7. Change it weekly. Degutopia says to replace the sand about every week, sooner if it's soiled or clumped.

Can you leave a sand bath in the cage?

Not all the time. The PDSA says not to leave the sand in permanently because their skin may become too dry, and Chewy and PetMD both say to offer it and then remove it. Sand left in the cage also gets used as a toilet, kicked into the bedding and filled with food. Put it in for a session, then take it out.

What a healthy degu coat looks like

Glossy and clean, the RSPCA says, with a clean tail and no droppings stuck round the rear. Bath time is when you'll spot problems, so look the coat over while they roll.

• Fur fluffy, soft and evenly coloured, with no bald patches.
• No greasy, flat or clumped areas.
• Skin pale, with no flaking, scabs or redness.
• Tail clean and fully furred to the tuft.
• Eyes bright and clear, and no sand stuck in them.

Some patchiness can be normal. Degutopia says degus usually moult once a year, around March to July in the UK, sometimes with a lighter moult in autumn, and the new coat can show as grey stripes along the body. Degutopia lists a matted or greasy coat, fur loss and skin problems among signs of illness, and the RSPCA asks owners to check their degus daily. If the coat stays greasy despite regular baths, or you see bald patches, scabs or constant scratching, book a vet visit. Our degu health guide lists the other warning signs.

Dust baths in hot or damp weather

A damp room makes it harder for their coat to stay clean and dry, and Burgess says degus dislike damp, so keep the cage somewhere dry. In hot weather, offer the bath in the cool of the morning or evening. Our degu temperature guide has the safe room range. Clean up spilled sand when you clean the cage, and for everything else, start with our complete degu care guide.