QUOTE(mnibar @ Aug 27 2008, 11:30 AM)
Dear All,
I was having intentions in having a chinchilla as a pet but there afew things that worries me and hope any of you can help me.If u guys/girls already own one..please advice me on the situation.
According to information on the net....chins require a cool+dry area for best living. Their confort zone tempreture is at 22C-26C.the tmpreture in Farenheit should never go above 80F which here in malaysia is average of 75F-85F.To be safe when humidity+heat should be less or equal to 150. So i did a calculation as follows:
80(heat)+84(humidity)=164 aka more then safe zone for chinchilla. In the net, there are several ways in reducing the tempreture...but i am concerned bout the humidity factor...coz if possible i want the chin to be as confort and as happy as possible or they might get heat stroke and might die.this is RM550 down the drain.
So if any of you have taken in a chinchilla....please help regarding this issue
Your time is highly appreciated
Sincerely
Ren Lee Ross
Good research, good practise before you get any animal as pet.
According to the heat stroke you mention, yes chin will get heat stroke when the temperature is over 30C. For the guide line on 22c-26c is the confortable zone area. If you dont provide them this range of temperature, you need to make sure you have this few thing done:
1. If you staying in a double story house, UP STAIR is definately cannot hv chin even is air con, once air con die in the afternoon you chins will sure get heat stroke due to the roof which release the warm air into the room.
2. You need to check the place temperature where you plan to place the chin, at whole afternoon, what is the range of temperature.
3. Chinchilla will begin to loose some fur to suit this temeprature BUT still they wont be able to handle anything above 30C.
4. Give dust bath more often, they hate humid, cos make their fur look greasy and matted.
5. Provide cooling pad, it will help A BIT.
Lastly, I hv friend who take care of the chin without AC, in good condition, just their wont hv thick fur.
Good luck on you hunt of chinchilla, continue do more reading and research.