Sep 3 2007, 02:35 PM, updated 16y ago
Would like to start a thread here to make friends with all of you Chinchilla owner or non-Chinchilla owner OR future Chinchilla owner.
I love chinchilla due to the soft, thick fur and very tame in nature. No body odor, no smelly poo, easy to take care when we provided the basic need of chinchilla.
Here is few photos of mind, PLEASE POST YOURS!
Simple guideline for Chin owner.
Chinchillas, originating from mountaineous regions of South America, are great pets - cute, social, yet inexpensive and relatively easy to take care of. However, most beginner chinchilla owners don't know much about the animals. In fact, chinchillas, like other small rodents, can be rather delicate and an illness contracted for instance by a cold draft or high temperature can be fatal for them within a very short period of time.
The most common mistakes made by inexperienced chinchilla owners include the following:
10) Wrong cage placement. Both too hot or too cold temperatures are bad for chinchillas. They can easily get heatstroke at temperatures of above 90F (30C), but can also freeze at temperatures below 50F (10C). Drafts are to be avoided as well, since they can cause pneumonia.
9) Mistakes when handling. The correct way to pick up and hold a chinchilla is by placing one hand below the body, with the thumb around a front leg, and supporting the weight with the second hand below the hindquarters. Never pull a chinchilla by the tail since it has a lot of delicate vertebrae which can break easily.
8) Not giving the chin a chance to take a regular dust bath. Dust baths are essential for chinchilla hygiene, and a fun spectacle to observe, too. Chinchillas should have the chance to take a dust bath at least once a week.
7) Using a wire mesh bottom cage. This is not a very good idea since chinchillas' small feet can slip through the mesh and get irritated by the metal, causing foot sores. A solid floor cage with a soft bedding like pelleted paper is much better.
6) Overfeeding treats. Many a newbie owner is all too happy feeding sweets and treats to a chinchilla, unaware that it is in fact harmful for the animal. Treats like a raisin should not be fed at all. Things containing chocolate and industrial sugar should not be fed as well.
5) Not making the house chinchilla-proof. There are numerous dangers in a typical household for a chin on the loose. The most obvious ones include anything that moves - be it people, doors, things that can fall down, or anything that can squeeze. Another one is cables - chinchillas chew everything in sight, and electric cables are not very healthy food! Green plants are another potential threat to chinchilla health - a lot of them (such as ficus or azalea) cause food poisoning if chewed on.
4) Not cleaning the cage regularly and often enough. Chinchillas are clean animals and feel miserable in a dirty cage. Bad hygiene is often one of the main reasons for infections and various serious diseases. A chinchilla cage should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week (better twice), with the whole bedding renewed. Food bowls and the water tube should be cleaned daily.
3) Not providing enough space and exercise. A sight seen very often is a chinchilla hunched in the corner of a small cage, barely moving from that spot all day. Combined with unrestricted dry food access, this is a sure way to make a chinchilla overweight and significantly reduce its lifespan. For chinchillas, the same basic principle applies as for humans - leaner is better. A healthy chinchilla should feel firm to the touch below the fur, not soft and wobbly. Methods to ensure that your chin is in good shape and not overweight include enough space (at least 9 sq.ft for an adult chinchilla), toys to play with, an exercise wheel, and regular exploration forays outside of the cage.
2) Incorrect bedding. Wood shavings in particular, although very frequently used, are not a good bedding for chinchillas. They can cause foot sores and injuries to the chins' delicate eyes. Also, the wood dust which often accompanies shavings causes respiratory (lung) problems. Some kinds of wood, such as cedar or redwood, also contain oily components that can cause liver damage.
1) Improper food. This is probably the most frequent cause of illnesses among pet chinchillas. In particular, feeding a lot of moist vegetables such as lettuce can cause diarrhea, which can be lethal for a chinchilla within one or two days. Insufficient access to water (for instance, failure to notice that a gravity water bottle's ball was stuck and the chinchilla cannot drink enough) leads to dehydration and is also quite dangerous. Providing water in open bowls instead of a bottle can lead to contamination with droppings and bedding material and various infections as a result.
By avoiding these mistakes you are on a good way towards having a healthy and happy chinchilla with a long lifespan (perhaps over 20 years!).
Here is few website is good reading and learning knowledge of caring of chinchilla weather for beginner or expert.
1. Chincare.net
2. US Auction chinchillas.com
3. greenwoodchinchillas
4. azure-chinchilla
5. Learn About Chinchilla In The Wild
6 .Chinchilla Illness Basic and Advance knowledge.
7 .MountOfChinchilla.com龙猫山(Malaysia!)
龙猫山中文版
<--This items is specially design for rabbit, guinea pig and chinchilla.Chinchilla is vegetarian, serious vegetarian!
Chinchilla Owner
1. Chinchillas - Own ChinchillaS
2. StarDust - Standard Grey( Bubble), Medium Ebony( Chacoal)
3. Crazymouse - Standard Grey
4. Lockheart - Standard Grey
5. Carinmanfong - Standard Grey
5. Dannyoski - Mosaic (Nono)
6. vincent_cbl - Mosaic, Medium Tan
7. shingin - Medium Ebony(Pebble), Dark Tan(Rocky)
8. sheril89 - Light Ebony(Chibi)
This post has been edited by Chinchillas: Feb 13 2010, 10:58 AM
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