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What You Should Know About Buying A Chinchilla

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:09 pm

What You Should Know About Buying A Chinchilla

Chinchillas are available for purchase from breeders or pet stores. When you purchase one from either place, you’re probably getting a reputable one. Beware of those who are amateur breeders. They try to sell their chinchillas also, but it’s usually in classified advertisements. Personal preferences decide on whether or not they should buy the pets from breeders or pet stores.

If you do buy one from a pet store, make sure that facility has a reputable following. The employees there should be knowledgeable about what you’re looking to buy. They should also be able to offer you tips and suggestions to keep your pet healthy. If you’re looking more on the breeding side, you should get one from a breeder. They will be able to advise you on the different aspect of breeding, etc.

Buying a chinchilla from a pet store is not without its risks. It’s been noted that some pet stores take chinchillas that can’t be bred or the skin can’t be removed. If you are considering one of these pets from the pet store, ask about the breeders and related sources, along with a history of how they were raised. This way, if they have any problems, you’ll know up front.

Then you can decide whether or not you want to still take on the task. If you can’ insist a breeder in your area, then a pet store is probably your only recourse. If you have to get one from the pet store, ask how long have they been in the store’s care. If you do decide to buy one from there, consult with the employees about getting a contingency agreement. This agreement allows you to return the pet if they don’t pass a checkup. You would also get a refund from your purchase.

There are other factors to consider before buying a chinchilla. Make sure your are prepared to take care of the animal. This is something you have to be committed to and it takes time for them to nuture and develop. Check and make sure that the chinchilla is healthy. Check out their entire body for any abornormalties. The animal’s cage should be clean. If it isn’t, it may mean that it wasn’t taken care of properly. The chinchilla may be disturbed and irritable if it has been paired up with different animals, such as birds or rabbits. This throws off their system during the day because chinchillas are night owls.

If you do buy a chinchilla, get one that is at least four months old. Anything younger than three months is not ready to be trained. Make sure the animal is in a cage that is located in a dry area. They need to be somewhere where they don’t have direct exposure to the sun. They need to be away from heat and humidity because it can cause them harm. If you find that the chinchilla has a nervous tendency when you get close to it, it may be a sign of being nervous and scared. It’s difficult to use these type of pets.

It is important that the chinchilla have food, hay and water. These are essentials that your pet should have in order to stay healthy.

Want A Chinchilla As A Pet? Here’s Where To Star

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Want A Chinchilla As A Pet? Here’s Where To Start

If you want a chinchilla as a pet, you can keep a domestic chinchilla. They are known to have nervous tendencies and are night owls. They like to stay up at night and be active. They also don’t care for someone holding them. However, they can be friendly animals, but it will take a while for them to get used to their owner. They’re not easily coerced into getting close to people. The owner has to earn their trust, just like a human relationship.

Chinchillas that become captive have a life span from 15 to 20 years. /They can be noisy, making sounds in the form of chirping, barking and squeaking. They use these noises to communicate and express their feelings. If you are not an early riser, you may have to deal with them making noise in the wee hours of the morning. If you are sensitive to noise while you sleep, a chinchilla may not be for you.

It’s ok to have more than one chinchilla of the same gender, as long as their personalities don’t clash. If they interact when they’re still young, they have a better chance of enduring each other. If they’re older, it may take a little longer for them to form a bonding. If you have a male and female in the same domain, they will have to be sterilized so to prevent procreation of offspring. The chinchillas are so full of life, that it’s necessary for them to have plenty of space for them to roam.

If you have a house, you should set aside a room just for them. You can also house them in a cage, as long as it’s large enough with items that they can play with. They also require wooden toys (birch, willow apple tree or manzanita is acceptable) and chew toys to entertain them. Please keep in mind that chinchillas should not have plastic toys because the plastic can damage the intestinal area. The cage itself must have plenty of air circulation because they don’t sweat much.

Getting too sweaty can cause them to have a heat stroke. Don’t keep the animals in the cage the whole time. It’s good if they get some outside exposure (at least 30 minutes a day, under the watchful eye of the owner). They need exercise and get a feel of their outside surroundings.

If the chinchilla gets wet, they have to be dried off rather quickly. If not, their fur will collect fungus. You can use a blow dryer on a low cool temperature and you can also use a towel (best choice).

For their eating regimen, chinchillas cannot consume fatty foods. They can only eat so much of green plants. The best dietary plan for them is loose hay. They can also have a raisin or other kinds of dried fruit, but only in moderation. Don’t give them fresh vegetables as their stomach can expand and cause a fatal reaction. When they eat, they do so in small portions and they also drink water in small sips.

They can drink water from a water bottle and the water must be fresh at all times. Because they can’t ingest a lot of fat in their system, nuts are to be avoided.

The Effect Of Exercise For Chinchillas

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:04 pm

The Effect Of Exercise For Chinchillas

Chinchillas raised on a ranch get treated differently than those that are raised by breeders and pet owners. Breeders and pet owners raised and treat their chinchillas like pets; ranchers treat their chinchillas like livestock. To the ranchers, this is a business and they could care less about the animals getting adequate exercise or any exercise at all. Their main concern is making a profit at the animal’s expense. Don’t tell that to the breeder or pet owner. In order to sustain their livelihood, they make sure that their pet chinchillas get in enough exercise to get them through each day.

Chinchillas should have time to exercise out of their cages every day. They need to have time to be free, provided there is supervision. This would only happen with breeders and pet owners. They know that these exotic animals get stressed when they feel they are being confined. Stress can cause them to be anti-social and withdrawn. They get irritated and start biting their fur. The chinchillas raised on the ranch can’t move very well because the ranchers don’t take the time for them to exercise. When they do get a chance to roam, it’s at a snail’s pace because of the confinement.

In order for the chinchilla to live a long and healthy life, it is imperative that they get out of their cage and get some type of exercise, even if it’s just walking around. The chinchilla will also stay happy. So if you’re a breeder or a pet owner, you should do what you need to do to make this happen. A regular exercise regimen will decrease stress and in turn keeps your immune system from harm.

When you really care for a chinchilla, they know it. They know when you really love them and have their best interest at heart. They have a positive attitude and they will be able to trust you and relate to you better. This will definitely show when you allow them to have time out of their cage. This eliminates other stress-related actions, such as spraying urine or fighting with other chinchillas. This will help them relate to other chinchillas and get along with them as well. The best exercises for them are walking and getting on the wheel located in their cage. Doing exercises on the wheel can reduce the presence of being overweight and/or obese.

There is no such thing as a chinchilla getting too much exercise or eating too much. They know when they’ve had enough of both. When they’re tired, they’ll stop and take a break. Exercising on a regular basis can eliminate potential health or behavioral problems, including stress.

The key with exercise is that it needs to be regular and consistent. You can help your pet do this by increasing the muscle tone, agility and mobility. You have to remember not to confine them like they’re in jail. Otherwise, they’ll look dumpy like the ones that are raised on the ranch. That is one way for them not to stick around for the long haul.

How To Select The Right Vet For Your Chinchilla

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:58 pm

How To Select The Right Vet For Your Chinchilla

When an owner is looking for the right veterinarian for their exotic pet, they want someone who can relate to their pet’s special needs. They must also have the available resources to take care of their pet on an ongoing basis.

Just because they may like exotic animals doesn’t mean that they’re qualified to take care of them. They must have special training to medically care and treat them. You will probably have to do a “Sherlock Holmes” number in searching for the right one to treat your chinchilla. It’s best to search for a veterinarian that specializes in exotics and exotic animal medicine or one who is board certified in it). You can ask veterinarians what kind of training they’ve had.

You can also check through certain organizations, such as the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). If you still need assistance, try a regular veterinarian with an interest in exotic animals that can consult with an exotic animal specialist. It’s better if they’re experienced, but if not, this would be the route to go.

You can also try finding one through recommendations. You can ask people that you know or search out some breeders. You can also try other organizations that are into exotic animals. Search for forums online that discuss chinchillas and exotic animals. Try the yellow pages, your state veterinary directory or on the web to look for local veterinarians that specialize in exotic animals.

You should try to find one as soon as you can. It’s not best to wait until your chinchilla has an emergency where you’ll need someone right away. Then you’ll be taking more time away trying to find someone. It could be a matter of life and death for your pet.

When you do find one that specializes in chinchillas and other exotic animals, set up an appointment. Check to see how the veterinarian handles your pet and see if your pet takes to the veterinarian. That’s very important in establishing a relationship. If there’s not bonding between the two and yourself, then that’s probably not a good match and may not result in a quality relationship.

A good veterinarian will sit down and talk with you about your chinchilla’s care, health and diet. This is also important because they should be comfortable in talking with you as well. Besides, it’s your pet and you are the owner.

During the visit, you should evaluate the facilities to see if they are up to standards for taking care of exotic animals. Find out how frequent do they have exotic animals for patients. Do they have special equipment or facility to accommodate them? Have they had much experience with exotic pets?

What kind of training was involved? If your veterinarian can answer these questions, then you may have yourself a winner. It’s not easy to find the right person to fit the bill. Even though looking for one may be a challenge, when you find the right person, it will be worth it for you and your chinchilla.

How To Re-home Your Chinchilla

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:56 pm

How To Re-home Your Chinchilla

Re-homing your chinchilla is not necessarily a delight to accomplish. However, if you are in a situation where you can no longer properly care for your chinchilla, the best thing to do is to seek out someone who can give it the love and care that they need. It will break your heart to let your pet go, especially if you’ve become bonded to it. It’s also better if you let someone else handle it rather than let it suffer and die.

You can start your search by placing classified advertisements in the section designated for exotic animals or chinchillas. Make sure you let them know that there is an adoption fee attached. You should set the fee at a starting price of $50.00. It has been advised that you should set it higher than that. This way, you will weed out the freebie seekers or cheapos. These types of people are usually not interested in taking care of a chinchilla; they just want to purchase it for their own corrupt whims.

The purpose of the adoption fees are to see if the candidate can properly and is financially able to take care of an exotic pet such as a chinchilla. Chinchillas need routine care not only from you, but also from a specialized veterinarian. When you’re dealing with specialties, that usually costs more than general things. If the interested person has an adverse reaction to the fees, then that’s a strike against him. You’ll know that they’re not interested in the chinchilla’s well being. You want to make sure that the person getting your pet is the most qualified.

Find out how long this person has been taking care of chinchillas. Did they keep them healthy and active? Ask them what kind of food did they feed them. Let them know what brand of pellets and hay you used, in the event it’s different from what they use for their pets. If they already have a chinchilla, will they try to get them together as mates?

Find out more information about trying to have more than one chinchilla in the same household. Find out about their veterinarian and how he or she takes care of their chinchilla(s). Does he or she have the best interest of the pet in mind? If the person were to go on vacation or had an emergency, is there someone available who is knowledgeable in taking care of chinchillas?

If they can answer your concerns and you feel comfortable with them, then your chinchilla may have a new owner and a new home. Before the prospect signs on the dotted line, take your chinchilla over there to see if they will adapt to their new environment.

The place should be clean and free from a lot of noise. Chinchillas aren’t comfortable with excessive noise in their domain and it’s easy for them to get infections. See how your pet interacts with them. If they do well and pass the test, then you probably have a winner. If your pet clams up and doesn’t get comfortable, then you may have to continue looking.

How To Get Your Chinchilla To Trust You

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:48 pm

How To Get Your Chinchilla To Trust You

If your chinchilla is not tamed, it may take them a while to get used to you. Just like with human relationships, you will have to earn their trust before they allow you to form a close bond with them. You will have to provide your pet with a lot of love and care. Don’t get discouraged if after a few months, they still don’t reciprocate. It just means it may take a little longer than you thought. It is much easier to get a baby chinchilla to trust you than it is an adult.

Chinchillas have more of a problem with being tamed than say, dogs or cats. They are filled with a lot of smugness and they demand your respect. They don’t pay attention to you when you call their name. If you want your pet to really trust you, try doing some of the following:

- Provide treats for your pet as they come to whatever side of the cage you’re located on.

- Talk to them in a calm tone to keep them calm.

- You will know when they no longer fear you if they remove the treat from your fingers in the cage.

There are other things you can do to get your pet’s trust. There are also some things you shouldn’t do in order to get their trust:

- A Chinchilla’s body is delicate and you must handle it with care. If you pick them up, avoid grabbing their ribcage. You could injure it or possibly fracture a bone.

- Your pet should be close to your body if you’re carrying it.

- Like humans, chinchillas need to breathe easily. Don’t squeeze or hold your pet tight. They will let you know when you are by squealing loudly or biting you.

- Help your pet feel safe by allowing it to bury their head under your arm or cover their face with your hand. Chinchillas like to know that their owners like to keep them safe in any way possible. They want to know they have a protector at all times.

- Hold your pet by it’s tail base and hold your pet’s weight with your other hand. Don’t hold on to the tip of its tail. If the chinchilla tries to get free, that part will come off.

- You can also hold your pet as though it were standing up. Use one hand for its hind legs, and your other hand to hold his body. Your pet’s hands should rest on yours.

You will know when your pet trusts you when they start doing these things:

* Snuggling up to you
* Allowing you to stroke their body
* Follows you around
* Comes to see what’s in your palm
* Sniffs your clothing and other items on your body
* Allowing you to curl their tail
* Sniffs your nose

It is an honor to have a pet such as a chinchilla that is fond of you and you have gained their trust. You must remember to continue doing things with your pet to continue that trust.