2551
General Chat / Re: They're Here!!!!
« on: May 09, 2012, 10:45:37 AM »
How white is the grey's belly? In the photo it looks grey.
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2552
New Births / Re: 2 kits born 5/2/12
« on: May 09, 2012, 06:12:55 AM »
I guess that was a bad assumption. Nonetheless they are all very photogenic.
2553
Health / Re: male chinchilla swollen around testicles?
« on: May 08, 2012, 07:45:35 PM »
I still think it's a good idea to get that checked out if you think it's abnormal in any way.
In chinchillas the testes are covered but surrounded by an organ (epididymus) that is exposed at the back when the testicles drop from being overheated. The testes are in front of that part which you can see so there is more stuff back in there that is normally there.
The fact there is a bulge you've never noticed before is disconcerting but you did mention he was running around, which, as Jamie (chinclub, who is a chinchilla expert) said, can cause overheating. This can result in a noticeable change, however, if it is like this when he is cool and rested it could indicate inflammation deeper in which is not something you want to mess with. I'm glad that wasn't an emergency and that there are no other symptoms.
In chinchillas the testes are covered but surrounded by an organ (epididymus) that is exposed at the back when the testicles drop from being overheated. The testes are in front of that part which you can see so there is more stuff back in there that is normally there.
The fact there is a bulge you've never noticed before is disconcerting but you did mention he was running around, which, as Jamie (chinclub, who is a chinchilla expert) said, can cause overheating. This can result in a noticeable change, however, if it is like this when he is cool and rested it could indicate inflammation deeper in which is not something you want to mess with. I'm glad that wasn't an emergency and that there are no other symptoms.
2554
New Births / Re: 2 kits born 5/2/12
« on: May 08, 2012, 07:17:27 PM »
That's awesome. The mother's coloring is beautiful. I wonder how they'll turn out.
2555
General Chat / Re: They're Here!!!!
« on: May 08, 2012, 07:08:12 PM »
Congrats on your new pets.
If they have not been fed a good diet and have not been given hay you might want to take them in for a vet checkup and have their teeth examined. They can do well without pellets but not without hay.
In case you are not aware it is best practice to mix in any new pellets with old ones and gradually change their diet over 2 weeks to prevent potentially life-threatening digestive problems. Monitor their droppings daily for changes. That is just good practice regardless. Chances are the stress from the move is going to affect them so you can expect to see some abnormality in diet and droppings over the next few days. Just make sure you don't run into problems with constipation, diarrhea, or anorexia that lasts for more than a day or two which seems be common when relocating.
Although pine is generally considered to be harmful kiln dried pine chips are widely used without ill effects and may be preferable to most alternatives.
The standard could be a black velvet too. Can't see him too well in the picture though. Is this a male-female pair? How long have they been together?
If they have not been fed a good diet and have not been given hay you might want to take them in for a vet checkup and have their teeth examined. They can do well without pellets but not without hay.
In case you are not aware it is best practice to mix in any new pellets with old ones and gradually change their diet over 2 weeks to prevent potentially life-threatening digestive problems. Monitor their droppings daily for changes. That is just good practice regardless. Chances are the stress from the move is going to affect them so you can expect to see some abnormality in diet and droppings over the next few days. Just make sure you don't run into problems with constipation, diarrhea, or anorexia that lasts for more than a day or two which seems be common when relocating.
Although pine is generally considered to be harmful kiln dried pine chips are widely used without ill effects and may be preferable to most alternatives.
The standard could be a black velvet too. Can't see him too well in the picture though. Is this a male-female pair? How long have they been together?
2556
Q & A / Re: Second chinchilla?
« on: May 08, 2012, 06:42:08 AM »
Although I've never owned a chinchilla before I have seen many remarks that chinchillas prefer to be on their own and that if you get a second chin it should be for your benefit not for the other chin. Would anyone like to comment on this?
2557
Other Pets / Diatomacious earth for fleas
« on: May 07, 2012, 04:52:36 PM »
I have a friend with a very old cat who has fleas and is having a very hard time controlling them. One of the problems is that she cannot use harsh poisons because the cat is so very old. I read that using diatomacious earth (DE) is very effective when used to treat the carpet. I heard it's not good to use it directly on the animals as it dries out their skin and is a mechanical irritant. Has anyone had any experience with DE or other less toxic flea control products?
2558
Guestbook / Re: Howdy c:
« on: May 07, 2012, 07:00:35 AM »
Hello welcome to the site. I looked at our breeder reviews. Looks like the closest one that's been reviewed is in Manteca, CA and has a high rating. It's about 6 hours south of Grant's pass. There is also a chinchilla breeders directory but both listings in Oregon no longer exist. There is a listing in Washington that leads to a site that shows they have a mosaic for sale. Whether or not their site is up to date is anybody's guess. I recommend have a look here: http://www.chinchillaclub.com/breeder/
Locating a vet that does exotic animals (specifically chins) nearby is an important step in preparation. Preferably with emergency care service available. When things go wrong with a chinchilla they can go downhill and die in a matter of days depending on what it is. They are somewhat like birds in that way but with more sensitive digestive systems.
I also wish to have a chinchilla as a pet but I do not have a suitable place to keep one. I hope that my circumstances will change soon. I'd rather have a cat (used to have three of them) but my mom is now severely allergic. I do think they make great pets though if properly raised and cared for.
If you have never owned a pet before you really need to consider the fact that caring for chins in not like caring for cats and dogs. They must be kept on a strict diet and temperature controlled environment to survive. To thrive chins must exist in a peaceful environment free of hazards with a fairly consistent routine. Sometimes it's not obvious what those hazards are. If your heart is set on a chinchilla then I recommend you become a member of Chinchilla Club. There are many valuable articles there to browse.
Locating a vet that does exotic animals (specifically chins) nearby is an important step in preparation. Preferably with emergency care service available. When things go wrong with a chinchilla they can go downhill and die in a matter of days depending on what it is. They are somewhat like birds in that way but with more sensitive digestive systems.
I also wish to have a chinchilla as a pet but I do not have a suitable place to keep one. I hope that my circumstances will change soon. I'd rather have a cat (used to have three of them) but my mom is now severely allergic. I do think they make great pets though if properly raised and cared for.
If you have never owned a pet before you really need to consider the fact that caring for chins in not like caring for cats and dogs. They must be kept on a strict diet and temperature controlled environment to survive. To thrive chins must exist in a peaceful environment free of hazards with a fairly consistent routine. Sometimes it's not obvious what those hazards are. If your heart is set on a chinchilla then I recommend you become a member of Chinchilla Club. There are many valuable articles there to browse.
2559
Health / Re: male chinchilla swollen around testicles?
« on: May 04, 2012, 09:16:56 AM »
I'm very sorry to hear your chin is having a problem. I think you need to check with a vet right away. See if you can get him in today. There are a number of things it can be and I can't think of any that are minor.
Here is a vet directory that might help you if you don't have one yet:
http://www.chinchillaclub.com/vets/
Hope he gets well soon.
Here is a vet directory that might help you if you don't have one yet:
http://www.chinchillaclub.com/vets/
Hope he gets well soon.
2560
Cages / Re: Cage Help
« on: May 02, 2012, 04:59:42 PM »
Plexiglass is dangerous if chins ingest it. It is notorious for causing bowel impactions. Plastic is also not a good idea for the same reason. I recommend getting a metal chin wheel (solid metal only- no wire mesh or spokes which is well known to cause fatal injuries). Also recommend getting a wooden hut. Watch carefully for signs of chewing on plastic. It can kill.
To help get him interested you can put some hay or a small chew toy on it. Some chins won't use them though no matter what so I've heard. Galvanized metal guards may be an option for the mess though not as aesthetic. Maybe someone can recommend a specific product and vendor. I notice that I don't see any hay in the cage. Perhaps it is hidden in the picture. Chins should have constant access to fresh hay and wooden chew toys or they will develop tooth problems. Having wooden shelves helps too.
As far as temperature what matters most is the room temperature. From what I understand anything over 73F is dangerous to chins. A window or standalone portable air conditioner may be an option.
To help get him interested you can put some hay or a small chew toy on it. Some chins won't use them though no matter what so I've heard. Galvanized metal guards may be an option for the mess though not as aesthetic. Maybe someone can recommend a specific product and vendor. I notice that I don't see any hay in the cage. Perhaps it is hidden in the picture. Chins should have constant access to fresh hay and wooden chew toys or they will develop tooth problems. Having wooden shelves helps too.
As far as temperature what matters most is the room temperature. From what I understand anything over 73F is dangerous to chins. A window or standalone portable air conditioner may be an option.
2561
Q & A / Re: Chinchilla moods
« on: May 01, 2012, 07:24:07 PM »
Maybe someone with experience can provide some insight with this information. To me it doesn't sound like anything to worry about. If it's a tooth problem usually you'll see a decrease in food intake and signs of depression as well as less interest in chewing on toys (which is essential for chinchilla health). However it does not hurt to give him a check-up if you are suspecting something is wrong.
Perhaps it has something to do with his sleep cycles. Typically chins are active most at dawn and dusk but sleep during the day. If there isn't natural sunlight in the room then artificial light is its only reference and if that is inconsistent then so will his sleep patterns be. If the light is coming on in the morning about sunrise then this could be signalling his system to go to sleep for the day since it is designed to go to sleep at sunup. In effect it could be too late rather than too early.
This still doesn't explain why it's only two days out of the week but sleep patterns in animals aren't exact even under highly controlled conditions. Perhaps it's something unrelated or something in addition to this. Just a thought.
Perhaps it has something to do with his sleep cycles. Typically chins are active most at dawn and dusk but sleep during the day. If there isn't natural sunlight in the room then artificial light is its only reference and if that is inconsistent then so will his sleep patterns be. If the light is coming on in the morning about sunrise then this could be signalling his system to go to sleep for the day since it is designed to go to sleep at sunup. In effect it could be too late rather than too early.
This still doesn't explain why it's only two days out of the week but sleep patterns in animals aren't exact even under highly controlled conditions. Perhaps it's something unrelated or something in addition to this. Just a thought.
2562
Q & A / Re: Chinchilla moods
« on: May 01, 2012, 05:42:14 PM »
Can you tell us what kind of timeframes you are seeing. Is it is a couple days out of a month or more than once a week? Do you notice any changes in food or water intake or changes in droppings? Do these behavior changes correlate to changes in your schedule? Is your chin's schedule being interrupted or changed?
2563
Health / Re: Chinchilla bedding
« on: May 01, 2012, 04:51:59 PM »
Some people say the ink and toner on paper shreds can be toxic. I'm not sure if that's true or not. I do know that shredded paper does not control odor and moisture as well as pine. You would certainly need to make sure they don't get soaked with water or urine and grow mold. I don't know why there would be a problem using plain paper shreds as long as the chinchilla doesn't make a habit of eating them. Using pine chips is okay but only if they are kiln dried. That is my understanding of it.
2564
Q & A / Re: New Chin, new owner, missing fur, photo...
« on: April 28, 2012, 07:27:52 AM »
It appears to me the fur is coming back in along the edges but the photo doesn't make that clear. If you are seeing fur growth there is definitely improvement.
2565
Health / Re: HELP! BABY CHINCHILLA DYING!
« on: April 27, 2012, 06:28:29 PM »
I hate to speculate on this but it could be the mother is not doing well either and there could be something going on that has affected her kits during pregnancy. Sometimes pregnancy does go awry with mother being healthy but because you don't know her history I am suspecting malnutrition could be a factor. I strongly recommend following JoAnn's advice and give her supplements and alfalfa to keep them both healthy and keep a close eye on the mother's health.