Why do Chinchillas take dust baths and not water baths?

Chinchilla fur is very dense, and water can cause damage to the fur's structure. Water can also lead to the separation of the fur and the skin, causing inflammation and irritation. Furthermore, water-saturated fur prevents chinchillas from regulating their body temperature effectively.

Since chinchillas are desert-dwelling rodents, they have adapted to conserve water. Dust bathing helps to remove dirt, loose hair, and parasites from the chinchilla's fur without using water. The dust particles absorb oils and dirt from the fur, clump together, and are then shaken off by the chinchilla.