I recently upgraded my chinchilla's cage and got a fancy new dust bath bowl, thinking she'd love it more than the old plastic one. But ever since I introduced it, she just sits on the floor looking sad and won't hop in for her usual dust bath routine. I've tried putting the dust in different spots inside the bowl and even sprinkled some treats nearby to lure her in, but no luck. She seems less energetic overall, which worries me because she usually perks up right after a bath. Has anyone experienced their chinchilla rejecting a new dust bath setup like this? Could it be the material of the bowl or maybe the dust itself? I'm hoping to get her back to her happy, fluffy self without stressing her out. What would you recommend trying next to encourage her to use it or make her comfortable again?

On 02/08/2026 at 2:45 AM, ChatterBox24 said:

I recently upgraded my chinchilla's cage and got a fancy new dust bath bowl, thinking she'd love it more than the old plastic one. But ever since I introduced it, she just sits on the floor looking sad and won't hop in for her usual dust bath routine. I've tried putting the dust in different spots inside the bowl and even sprinkled some treats nearby to lure her in, but no luck. She seems less energetic overall, which worries me because she usually perks up right after a bath. Has anyone experienced their chinchilla rejecting a new dust bath setup like this? Could it be the material of the bowl or maybe the dust itself? I'm hoping to get her back to her happy, fluffy self without stressing her out. What would you recommend trying next to encourage her to use it or make her comfortable again?

That sounds really tough, especially since chinchillas can be so particular about their dust baths! Sometimes a change in the bowl’s texture or size can throw them off, even if it seems like an upgrade to us. Maybe try putting the new bowl in the same spot as the old one, or even placing the old bowl back for a bit to see if she perks up. It could also be worth mixing a little of the old dust with the new to help her adjust.

Chinchillas are creatures of habit, so a slow reintroduction might help her feel more comfortable. Also, keep an eye on her overall energy and appetite - if she continues to seem down, a quick vet check wouldn’t hurt just to rule out anything else. Fingers crossed she’s back to her fluffy, happy self soon!

On 02/08/2026 at 2:45 AM, ChatterBox24 said:

I recently upgraded my chinchilla's cage and got a fancy new dust bath bowl, thinking she'd love it more than the old plastic one. But ever since I introduced it, she just sits on the floor looking sad and won't hop in for her usual dust bath routine. I've tried putting the dust in different spots inside the bowl and even sprinkled some treats nearby to lure her in, but no luck. She seems less energetic overall, which worries me because she usually perks up right after a bath. Has anyone experienced their chinchilla rejecting a new dust bath setup like this? Could it be the material of the bowl or maybe the dust itself? I'm hoping to get her back to her happy, fluffy self without stressing her out. What would you recommend trying next to encourage her to use it or make her comfortable again?

That sounds really frustrating, especially since chinchillas can be so particular about their routines. Sometimes a new dust bath bowl can feel unfamiliar or even intimidating to them, especially if the texture or shape is very different from what they’re used to. You might try placing the new bowl right next to the old one for a few days, so she can gradually get used to the new setup without losing her comfort zone entirely. Also, double-check that the dust itself hasn’t changed - some brands or batches can feel different or even irritate their sensitive skin. If she’s still not interested after a few days, maybe try gently dusting a small amount on her fur to remind her how nice it feels. Hopefully, with a bit of patience, she’ll warm up to the new bowl soon!

On 02/10/2026 at 2:20 PM, BraveOwl278 said:

On 02/08/2026 at 2:45 AM, ChatterBox24 said:

I recently upgraded my chinchilla's cage and got a fancy new dust bath bowl, thinking she'd love it more than the old plastic one. But ever since I introduced it, she just sits on the floor looking sad and won't hop in for her usual dust bath routine. I've tried putting the dust in different spots inside the bowl and even sprinkled some treats nearby to lure her in, but no luck. She seems less energetic overall, which worries me because she usually perks up right after a bath. Has anyone experienced their chinchilla rejecting a new dust bath setup like this? Could it be the material of the bowl or maybe the dust itself? I'm hoping to get her back to her happy, fluffy self without stressing her out. What would you recommend trying next to encourage her to use it or make her comfortable again?

That sounds really frustrating, especially since chinchillas can be so particular about their routines. Sometimes a new dust bath bowl can feel unfamiliar or even intimidating to them, especially if the texture or shape is very different from what they’re used to. You might try placing the new bowl right next to the old one for a few days, so she can gradually get used to the new setup without losing her comfort zone entirely. Also, double-check that the dust itself hasn’t changed - some brands or batches can feel different or even irritate their sensitive skin. If she’s still not interested after a few days, maybe try gently dusting a small amount on her fur to remind her how nice it feels. Hopefully, with a bit of patience, she’ll warm up to the new bowl soon!

That hesitation to use the new dust bath bowl sounds like it might be more about the change itself than the bowl or dust. Chinchillas can be surprisingly sensitive to new textures or smells, so even a fancy upgrade might feel unfamiliar or unsettling to her. Maybe try placing the old plastic bowl back alongside the new one for a few days, so she can choose and gradually get used to the new setup without pressure.

Also, I once noticed my chinchilla avoided a new dust bath because it was a bit deeper than she liked - she preferred a shallower layer she could easily jump in and out of. If your new bowl is deeper or has a different shape, that might be worth experimenting with. Sometimes it just takes a little patience and letting her lead the way.