Caring for Chinchillas
May 15th 2008 15:42
What's a chinchilla? You know the little gray fluff ball at the pet store with the squirrel-like tail and the rabbit ears? Well, that's a chinchilla.
Yes, they're cute and fluffy, and everything that rats and hamsters aren't, but that doesn't mean that they're the best pet for everyone. When I worked at a pet store, I think I talked so many people out of purchasing pet chinchillas; so many people, in fact, that if my boss knew how many people, he would have been pretty mad with me.
I've had them as pets, and I know, first hand, that they're not the pet for everyone. I mean, I'd still have mine if it wasn't for their deaths in 2006, to which I still do not know the cause. I've had autopsies and tissue biopsies, and I still do not know the cause of their death, granted it's partially because the vet that shipped off their tissue samples is a lame, slack vet who to this day near a year later, has not responded to any of my phone calls. And, yes, I do keep calling him. I want to know. I want to make sure that it wasn't anything that I did wrong.
But, I digress.
Chinchillas really can be great pets, but because they are considered one of the more exotic pets at the pet store (of course depending on where you live, they may be illegal to keep as pets), not many people know about them. For the most part, they're really fragile, healthy, and just plain cute. But, you can't squeeze them because of a very fragile skeletal system, and you can spray aerosols or any spray anywhere around them because of their very fragile respiratory system.
When caring for a chinchilla, you want to make sure that you have at least two, as they do much better in pairs and small groups than alone. These guys are very social, but they're not the type of pet that will just sit in your lap and hang out.
You can't get them wet because their dense fur will not fully dry, unless of course it's just a drop or two of water and nothing more, which can then weigh the chinchilla down and cause him to die. Instead, you have to provide them with dust baths, and no that's not dust from under the couch, but volcanic ash that you can purchase at your local pet store.
But, anyway once you've done the basic research, you'll need to go a step further and make sure that you know all the common health concerns related to chinchillas as well as basic first aid.
Before you bring home a cute chinchilla baby, or hopefully two, you need to do all your research. I know I stress it a lot, but research is really the key to a healthy, happy pet.
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Comment by Mountain Fog
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QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
infiormative post, thanks,
poor little creatures, and to think people made (still do I imagine) entire coats out of their tiny pelts!
I must say, however, that even caring individuals who look after them as pets, and many other animlas and birds particularly, often encase them in small cages, without much natural enviroment, which is also terribly sad, for the presumption by the owner is, because they are well fed, watered and healthy, that they are happy.
It is obvious to me, most are not. There should be laws regarding the size of cages and enviroment for all pets.
cheers
fog
Comment by Whitney
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I would love a cage requirement law, but I think they do better in some states banning keeping them as pets. What's said is that many people house them solo and in cages that are built for guinea pigs, and these guys are so much better in pairs and small groups. And, even when housed solo, they require tall cages with at least 2 stories...
I just wish more people did their research before getting a chinchilla, much less any animal, but especially those animals that require more care.
Comment by Judith
Is the Chinchilla in the last picture eating Life cereal or some sort of wheat cereal? I'd like to know, thank you.
-Judith
Comment by Whitney
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Comment by Anonymous