Sam, a standard gray male &
Mocha, a brown velvet female,
are seen on the left.
What is a chinchilla?
A chinchilla is a member of the rodent family the same as a squirrel, gerbil
or guinea pig.
Where can you buy a chinchilla?
Chinchillas may be purchased from a breeder or a pet store.
What should I expect to pay for a chinchilla?
Prices vary from $65 to $3,000, according to color, quality and seller. Check
the prices locally and on the Internet before purchasing a chin. Keep in
mind that if you are not going to pick up the chin yourself, there will be
shipping charges, health certificates and shipping carts to consider in your
total price of the chin, also.
What about rescue chinchillas?
Rescue chinchillas can be priced from free to $100+, depending on the circumstances. A rescue chinchilla must be thought of as such, a rescue. Normally they should not be put into breeding, for various reasons. A rescue chinchilla will usually be one that is in a home where they are not wanted any more, or have a physical disability, or could be ill, or not know where it came from, or have not been taken care of properly. There are many reasons for a chinchilla to be considered a "rescue", the price (or lack of it) often reflects the circumstances.
Do chinchillas run free or live in a cage?
It is in your best interest and in the chins, also, to have his home in a
cage. When you let your chin out for play time, be sure to watch him
closely, never leaving him alone. They love to chew any thing from woodwork
to furniture to electrical wires.
Are chinchillas happy alone, or do I have to buy two?
This depends on the amount of time you are able and willing to spend with him
or her. If you buy only one then it becomes dependent on you for it's family
and will demand more attention from you. If you buy two or more then, they
have someone to play with when you are not there. Keep in mind that chins
can breed as early as six to eight months of age.
At what age should I breed my chinchillas?
According to those who have been breeding for a number of years, it is best to introduce the pair after the female is at least one year of age. A one year old female should be fully developed and ready to conceive. Not only is it important that her reproductive system be mature, but also that her bones have been completely formed. Producing and nursing kits requires calcium from the mother, if she is still needing it for her own growth, she does not have an ample amount to spare for the kits' needs. All, the kits and the mother, will suffer if the ample calcium supply is not there.
Is there any special information about the chin that I should ask?
Yes, always be sure to get the chin's parents' names and colors, especially
if you plan on breeding them. If you get a male and a female, plan on kits
and never get chins that are related. Interbreeding is only asking for
trouble.
What if I get it home and decide a chinchilla is not for me?
Contact the breeder you purchased it from, most will take them back. Discuss
the terms with the breeder before you get your chin. DO NOT take it to an
animal shelter. Most animal shelters have neither the facilities or the
knowledge to keep them and they will put them down.
Are chinchillas hard to take care of on a day-to-day basis?
No, but the more time you spend with them, the more likely you are to enjoy
them and bond with them. Chinchillas do need fresh water, food and hay on a
daily basis, and a dust bath at least twice a week during the winter and three times a week during the summer.
Do I have to buy a special shampoo, like those for cats and dogs?
No shampoo and no water. Chinchillas will bathe themselves in a special dust
bath made for chinchillas. This can be purchased in most pet stores. Do not
put your chin in water, except for in an extreme medical emergency.
Do chinchillas have an odor like ferrets or rabbits?
No, as a matter of fact, they are almost odorless. As long as you clean their
cages weekly, you should have no problem with odors.
Do chinchillas bite?
Yes, under certain circumstances. If you hurt them, it is in self defense.
If you are pestering them or doing something they do not like, they will
usually give you a warning "bark" before they bite. If you have the sent of
fresh fruit or some foods on your hands or lips -- they will think your
fingers are "treats" and are not hurting you intentionally. Then, there are
some chinchillas that were never meant to be pets.
Do children and chinchillas make a good match?
This depends solely on the child and on the chinchilla and on you. If your
child is use to handling small animals without hurting them, that is one mark
to the good. If your chinchilla has been hand raised and is receptive to
your child, this is another mark to the good. If you instruct your child as
how to handle the chin and constantly supervise them when they are together,
this is good. I do not recommend chinchillas with children under the age of
seven. Children under seven often do not understand how easily they can hurt
or be hurt by the chin if they do something wrong. Young children, in all
their love and innocence, want to cuddle, hug and squeeze things that are
soft. This is where the problems and injuries happen, to one or both. If a
small child is around let him or her "finger touch" the chin, but no more.
How do I know which chinchilla will make a good pet?
Open the door. First place your hand flat against the bottom
of the door, see if one will come to you there ... if it does, then
it has chosen you. If this does not work, place your hand in
the bottom of the cage (very still do not move it around) and
wait to see which one comes to you, talk softly, you have just
found the new member of your family.
When I get my new chin home, suddenly he is no longer
friendly. Why?
Would you be friendly in unfamiliar surroundings? Probably not.
Chinchillas need a little time to get use to the new home. When
you get him home put him in his cage, "his room" of your home,
and allow him time to explore it. Once he becomes familiar with
his room, he will want to explore the other room in which his
cage is located. Did you bring in the whole family to see him?
Were they new to him? If the answers are yes, then you had him
in strange surroundings with strange people all around. That is
a scary situation for anyone. Let him adjust to you first, then,
introduce him to the different members of his new family.
I have heard a chinchilla's teeth can grow too long, is this true?
Chinchillas have premolars and molars as well as incisors. Because all their teeth are continually growing, if they are not wearing them down enough with a high fiber, high silicate diet, they will overgrow both into the mouth and into the bones of the jaw. To prevent this, a diet high in hay is necessary and the use of a pumice stone will help. The pumice stone is good for the incisors, but hay is needed for the molars and pre molars.
What kind of hay is best for my chins?
Timothy hay is best for non-breeding/non-growing chins.
Alfalfa hay is best for breeding females and kits.
Can I use the "Delux Mix for Chinchillas" for my chins that I find in most pet stores?
Most "Delux Mixes" are just that, delux ~ special, with extra treats. As a general rule, I find there are way to many 'treats' in most of these mixes. I find it is best to give 'treats' as something special, not just put in the feeding cup/bowl. Remember, treats should only be given once a day and only one small piece or two a day. Keep you sugery treats VERY LIMITED.
I understand nuts are good for chins. Is this true?
Chinchilla's digestive systems are [b]not[/b] made to process the oil from nuts and they will cause fat to form on the liver, and may eventually cause liver failure.
When I pick up my chin how should I transport it?
You need to have a small pet carrier. If you are traveling by car NEVER EVER leave your chin in the car while you stop for a bite to eat. Either go through a drive-in, or ask if you can bring your chin in with you (many places will allow this just to get a chance to see a chinchilla - but be sure to keep it inside it's carrier). Many times someone will leave a chin in the car to run in for "just a minute" - this often proves deadly to the chin. Temperatures in a car rise quickly under the sun's rays, even in cold weather! A chinchilla can not survive in tempatures above seventy five degrees. |