Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

1

General Chat / Chinchilla wheels

« on: December 02, 2014, 07:35:31 AM »

Hi all.

I'm wondering about getting a chinchilla wheel. I've read conflicting things about whether they are good for chinchillas backs or not. What is your opinion on them?

Thanks

2

Health / Eyes, whiskers and ears.

« on: August 30, 2014, 12:24:07 PM »

Hi guys,

Yet another health related question. I believe I may become a hypochondriac for my chin. My chinchilla had a sore eye on one side and we went to vets and got eye drops for her. Since then the eye has cleared up but anytime she has a bath now she gets sand caked over her eye. It seems to be weeping. We've stopped giving her baths altogether for the past week but the eye still appears weepy. On top of that, on the same side of her head her ear has remained permanently down and her whiskers don't seem to move on that side only.

Is this something serious? We've been having the worst luck recently.

3

Cages / Chinchilla Cage Feng Shui

« on: August 21, 2014, 11:26:54 AM »

Hi all,

I have a pretty basic Chinchilla and Degu cage and am always rearranging things to keep life interesting for the chin. She loves new things 

Was wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions for ways to enliven the cage. Homemade things to add etc. The plan is to get a much bigger cage down the line and add another chin. But in the meantime want to make the cage as interesting as I can for the crtter before she gets upgraded.

4

Health / Chinchilla produced white substance

« on: August 05, 2014, 04:14:11 PM »

Hi all,

Weird one. I was playing with my chinchilla tonight and gathered her up into my arms at one stage, she didn't want to be held and started kicking out so I left her alone. Once on the ground she bent over and pulled something from her genitals.

Its hard to describe it looks like a weird white gunky substance, it wasn't liquid but was thick and messy like rice pudding (sorry). It seemed as if she were a cat hawking up a hairball or something. I am very worried, does anyone know what this is? Did I hurt her?

She is just playing as usual now.

5

General Chat / Adding another Chin into the mix.

« on: August 05, 2014, 07:56:19 AM »

Hi Guys!

Well I've had Misty a few months now and things are all going well. She is becoming more and more tame by the day and we're starting to be able to hold her for very short periods of time before she jumps away. My gf and I are moving in together next year and will be getting a bigger place than I have atm. Once we more we'll be getting our Chin a much bigger cage and are hoping to get her a buddy.

I know it is wiser to get a pair of chinchillas together, preferably ones who are related and have shared space before. Could anyone give me some advice or their experiences of introducing chinchillas to one another? We will be keeping the old cage so will be able to keep them separate if need be.

Thanks all!

6

Health / Mesh Floor Cages

« on: June 23, 2014, 06:23:06 AM »

Hi all, another query from me. My chin Misty is doing great seems very happy and is now exploring outside of her cage every day or so. All seems to be going well. I have been watching a lot of youtube videos and reading a lot of comments on website etc and I am wondering about the implications of having a wire mesh floor to my chinchilla's cage.

The cage we got her from pets at home is quite big and easy to clean as it has a drawer underneath that collects her poop and hay etc as it falls. Here is the cage: http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/small-pet/chinchilla/chinchilla-homes/chinchilla-and-degu-cage

Now the floor of this cage is wire mesh and I have read that this can cause irritation and bumblefoot. Ive read that I should have bedding for the chin to walk over but its a big cage and would need a lot that would also need to be replaced every day or so. What I have been doing is cutting toilet rolls and kitchen rolls in half and putting them on the floor of the cage for her to walk over. I have also got an edible mattress for her (kinda small but doesn't need replaced). Thought this would be a cheap and safe option.

What do you think of wire mesh cages, should I try and completely cover the floor or do you think this home method of mine should the trick? I will be aiming to either make a custom cage or buy a much larger ideal cage in the future but for the meantime I want to make the current one she has as comfortable as possible.

Many Thanks as always!

7

General Chat / Chinchilla House

« on: June 07, 2014, 06:58:06 AM »

My new chinchilla Misty is not using the little nest house that we have bought for her. It's a wooden box that we hoped she would use to sleep but she has so far only used it as a toilet. Instead of sleeping in the box or under a ledge or anywhere sheltered, she always sleeps on top of a ledge exposed. I'm worried about her as I was hoping she would enjoy a little box for privacy.

What do your chinchillas do as regards sleeping? Do they sleep all exposed or in a nest of some kind?

Many thanks!

8

Health / Chinchilla Droppings

« on: June 04, 2014, 08:47:32 AM »

Hi all,

This is my first post. My gf and I have a little 6 month old Chinchilla called Misty who has been coming out of her shell over the last week and a half since we got her. Everything is new, exciting and interesting for her and for me. She was very timid when we first got her but she is getting braver and braver.

I was worried at the start that she wasn't eating or drinking enough as she used to be very inactive. Luckily that has all changed and she bounces about the cage now and eats all the time. I am surprised though about the number of droppings she is producing. I only cleaned her cage yesterday at 18:30 and now (not even 1600) her cage is littered with what must be close to 50 droppings.

Is this normal? Am I perhaps overfeeding her?

Many Thanks