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Chinchilla Pet Care

  • Posted by admin on June 12, 2010 at 7:45 pm

25/01/2010 RSPCA Awareness

So you’ve found a chinchilla for sale that you want to buy but want to make sure that you can care for your chinchilla as good as possible? Good, that’s just the right attitude. Here are 7 important tips for chinchilla care that every owner needs to know.

1 Chinchillas Are Skittish

Though chinchillas can grow accustomed to human interaction especially if they were handled properly as kits, they are naturally averse to being touched and handled. Just keep this in mind for the first couple of months that you begin your chinchilla care. It’s especially important to let your children know this as many will have a tendency to want to play with the chin too much at first. If you have very small children it is recommended that you don’t buy a chinchilla until your child is old enough to understand proper chinchilla care.

2 Chinchillas Befriend Slowly

Partially because of their general skittishness, chinchillas take time getting to know each other. If you introduce two chins in the same cage, they might start fighting with each other. A slow introduction process is important, as some chins may never get along no matter what. If you introduce your chinchillas at a young age however they are much more likely to interact well. Be careful about placing members of the opposite sex together as they may get along too well and you might have a few extra unexpected mouths to feed.

3 Chinchillas Mimic Roosters

Chinchillas can be quite vocal at times. The noises they make range from squeaks and chirps to coughs and barks. Since they are active in the wild mostly at dawn and dusk, this is usually when they make the most vocalizations. This could mean that you won’t be able to sleep in as well on Saturdays since your chinchilla may start chattering away just before sunrise.

4 Chinchillas Need Space

The natural habitat of chinchillas are mountainous regions, so confining your chinchilla to a cage that is too small will seriously distress it. Chinchillas need room to climb and explore. They also need a diverse environment with different items of interest to keep them stimulated.

5 Chinchillas Need Fresh Dry Air

Also because of their natural habitat, it’s important to keep your chinchilla in a room that has plenty of ventilation. It also should not be too humid as this could lead to fungal infections. Chinchilla fur is susceptible not only to fungus, but also can cause the chinchilla to overheat if stagnant air reaches temperatures that are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The best idea is to keep them in an air conditioned room, as this will circulate dry air and regulate the temperature.

6 Chinchillas Are Finicky Eaters

Pellets, hay, and raisins for treats. If you stray too far from this simple dietary plan you will probably be doing more harm than good for your chin. Gastrointestinal problems are common if you don’t exercise good chinchilla care when selecting a proper diet. Overfeeding can also be a problem as bloat and diarrhea can have serious implications for the health of your chinchilla.

7 Chinchillas Need Love

But that’s why you got one in the first place, to give and receive love. As long as you follow the rest of the tips this last one should be easy to practice. Good chinchilla care means having loving compassion towards this small fuzzy being. If you have that then everything else will fall into place. And if you’re reading this then you’re off to a great start already. So keep it up because after you find and buy that special chinchilla for sale you both will be so happy together.

What To Do When Your Child Wants A Chinchilla For A Pet

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:08 pm

What To Do When Your Child Wants A Chinchilla For A Pet

Let’s say your child wants a pet. Ok, you think, “I can deal with a small puppy or a kitten”. Hmm……so you think. What if your child told you they wanted a chinchilla for a pet? A chinchilla? Yes, your child says again, a chinchilla. You think, they probably don’t know how to spell it, let alone pronounce the word.

It looks like you’ll have to do some research on chinchillas. First, you’ll have taken into account the age of your child. Find out why they would want a chinchilla. Maybe they saw someone else with one and couldn’t resist. Children like to compete against each other. Are they old enough to take care of a pet such as this? If so, will they need assistance? If it’s an exotic animal like this one, more than likely they will need your assistance. They would probably need your assistance anyway because most children have a short attention span.

When they find out the child’s explanation for wanting this exotic animal, they have to think about if they really want it in the house or not. Will they be good company for your child? Will the animal and your child have a human to animal relationship? Are they going to be responsible? You’ll have to make your child understand that caring for an exotic animal such as a chinchilla is very different than taking care of a puppy. A chinchilla requires more maintenance.

Once the decision is made to get the chinchilla, there are other factors to take into consideration. You must recognize and be ready for changes in your home. Their sleeping habits are different. Chinchillas are basically night owls, so if you or your child is not sensitive to noise in the wee hours of the morning, more power to you. Chinchillas are known for making noise early in the morning, before the roosters do their cackling. You will need to set aside a room for the chinchilla.

Chinchillas like to roam free, so they need plenty of space. Or you can purchase a cage for them. The cage has to be big enough so they can roam around. You must also provide the animal with wheels and chew toys to play with inside the cage. The wheels are moreso for exercise than playing. They cannot be still and must be able to have a few outlets. They are allowed to get out of the cage each day for at least 30 minutes. /When they’re out of the cage, they must have supervision so they won’t trip over anything or get their legs caught up in wires, etc. Their legs and feet are very delicate.

Then there’s the task of keeping them clean. You must use a dust bath to keep their fur fresh and clean. This must be done at least once a week. Keeping them from excessive heat and humidity is another issue. The chinchilla must be kept at a comfortable temperature at all times. Not too hot and not too cold. The moderate temperature must be constant. They can consume dried fruits, such as raisins, but only in moderation. Their body cannot digest fried fruit every day.

After finding out all of this and you still want your child to have this exotic pet, by all means, give it a try.