Chinchilla Community Forums
News & Updates => Guestbook => Topic started by: GitaBooks on October 01, 2015, 05:37:06 PM
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Hi everyone!
I don't currently have any chinchillas, but I love them and I hope to get some soon. I'm doing research so that I know how to properly care for them and what to expect.
Thanks so much for letting me join. :)
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Welcome. Feel free to ask any questions your might have!
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That's great. Welcome to our board. Research is very important. The big things you have to look out for is room temperature (below 75F), food quality, avoiding pelleted diets with mixtures in them, nuts, fruits, vegetables, or treats, providing constant access to loose hay, and not feeding treats unless you know what you are doing. Chinchillas require dry things to eat.
Their cages should be made of metal only, have no plastic toys or parts, and be fitted with wooden shelving, preferably shelves that you can easily make yourself with simple tools. Chinchilla wheels should be a minimum of 14" in diameter.
Your pet should be weighed at least once a week to monitor its health for weight loss. You should have a veterinarian that sees chinchillas specifically closeby and be able to afford a vet visit at any time.
The initial change in environment for chinchillas is stressful when you relocate them and the room should be fairly quiet and free of pets such as dogs and cats.
Chinchillas should never be let out of their cage to roam in any area that is not safe for them. One of the biggest hazards is electrical cords. They are attracted to them like magnets and can chew through them instantly. Drowning and poisoning are not unheard of.
They should be dusted no more often than every other day for no longer than 15 minutes at a time. Chinchillas are active mostly at night although socialized chinchillas will interact well during the day.
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Thanks for the tips! Those are very helpful! : )
Did you mean feeding loose hay constantly is good or bad?
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Hay is always a good thing, either cubed or loose is fine
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Yes, chinchillas must have constant access to hay. It is mandatory for their survival as it keeps their teeth properly trimmed and condition. A chinchilla with tooth problems is as good as dead. Pelleted diets are tricky. If you have any questions feel free to ask here about what brands to feed. There are some really bad ones out there and some are very popular. Chinchillas should be able to live ten years without any major issues if they are getting the right diet. Chinchillas on bad food fall far short of that. Their needs are very simple but they are also very specific.