Got two male chinchillas. They told me they are about 10 months old. Got also a cage, one of the cheaper models and set the cage this way.
I'll take them to a specialist veterinarian next week for a first checkup and to ask for more advice.
The woman that recommended her, told me that she told her that people make the mistake of regarding chinchillas like common rodents, while in reality they should be treated like hares and bunnies.
On the ground I put two hay shelters , food and glass water . Food bowl is plastic. Have a metal one too , which I'll probably use it for good. In the case of sandbath I put it on top of the right hay shelter.
On first floor I put the wheel and the hay stack (left). They do not use the wheel yet and I'll have to get a bigger one probably in case they become interested.
On last floor I put the various chewing toys and a cuttlefish bone for calcium.
Some questions that piled up:
1. Out of the two chinchillas one started to be less afraid and comes out without showing signs of fear. Only if I clean their cage does he jump in the shelter. He sometimes sits on top of the hay wooden box . I sealed the upper part so that he does not put dropping on the hay. The other is still timid and does not come out. Probably waits till I am gone or asleep. Hope he recovers. Probably the shock of grabbing them from the petshop and carrying them all over my house is still not easy to recover from. Though it may be that I sometimes confuse them and the other ventures outside too.
As a result I try to avoid touching or grabbing them and in the case of their dustbath, I just put it in the cage and remove it after half an hour, assuming they both used it.
Should I wait before letting them out? The first one seems ready but I still do not want them to be shaken if I try to grab them. If I take them to the vet it will be again a great shock for them, so I decided to wait after the appointment and for better advice.
2. Do you think the cage setup for that size (64Χ43,5Χ92,5CM) is fine? What things should I rearrange, add or remove? Ordered also two granite platters when temperatures start to increase.
3. In case of cleaning, do I also have to clean the hay shelters inside for droppings and how? They have hay base instead of being bare. Using a vacuum cleaner would be more convenient but I realize the shelters will be chewed for replacement anyway. One is way to big to remove from the cage anyway.
4. Regarding the sandbath, initially I put it outside the cage and grabbed one chin and tried to put it on the sand but he was still too afraid. So I prefer putting the sandbath inside their cage. Should I wait before they get accustomed outside the cage to try this again?
5. I got a carrying bag in case I need to take them to a vet, but because I'll likely travel far away during summer and easter vacation (6+ hour long trip). I also bought a small rabbit cage for this occasion. I plan on buying a similar chichilla cage for the other home during summer holidays. I realize that there is risk with high temperatures at all times, so I will take the appropriate measures. Is it a good choice? Putting them on a small carrying bag for so long, I do not think they'd stand it. While on the rabbit cage I can also put two small hay shelters and food and let them drink water on stops. Or since it will have hay pellets, I can hang the water container on the wall.
This for now.
Thanks
I'll take them to a specialist veterinarian next week for a first checkup and to ask for more advice.
The woman that recommended her, told me that she told her that people make the mistake of regarding chinchillas like common rodents, while in reality they should be treated like hares and bunnies.
On the ground I put two hay shelters , food and glass water . Food bowl is plastic. Have a metal one too , which I'll probably use it for good. In the case of sandbath I put it on top of the right hay shelter.
On first floor I put the wheel and the hay stack (left). They do not use the wheel yet and I'll have to get a bigger one probably in case they become interested.
On last floor I put the various chewing toys and a cuttlefish bone for calcium.
Some questions that piled up:
1. Out of the two chinchillas one started to be less afraid and comes out without showing signs of fear. Only if I clean their cage does he jump in the shelter. He sometimes sits on top of the hay wooden box . I sealed the upper part so that he does not put dropping on the hay. The other is still timid and does not come out. Probably waits till I am gone or asleep. Hope he recovers. Probably the shock of grabbing them from the petshop and carrying them all over my house is still not easy to recover from. Though it may be that I sometimes confuse them and the other ventures outside too.
As a result I try to avoid touching or grabbing them and in the case of their dustbath, I just put it in the cage and remove it after half an hour, assuming they both used it.
Should I wait before letting them out? The first one seems ready but I still do not want them to be shaken if I try to grab them. If I take them to the vet it will be again a great shock for them, so I decided to wait after the appointment and for better advice.
2. Do you think the cage setup for that size (64Χ43,5Χ92,5CM) is fine? What things should I rearrange, add or remove? Ordered also two granite platters when temperatures start to increase.
3. In case of cleaning, do I also have to clean the hay shelters inside for droppings and how? They have hay base instead of being bare. Using a vacuum cleaner would be more convenient but I realize the shelters will be chewed for replacement anyway. One is way to big to remove from the cage anyway.
4. Regarding the sandbath, initially I put it outside the cage and grabbed one chin and tried to put it on the sand but he was still too afraid. So I prefer putting the sandbath inside their cage. Should I wait before they get accustomed outside the cage to try this again?
5. I got a carrying bag in case I need to take them to a vet, but because I'll likely travel far away during summer and easter vacation (6+ hour long trip). I also bought a small rabbit cage for this occasion. I plan on buying a similar chichilla cage for the other home during summer holidays. I realize that there is risk with high temperatures at all times, so I will take the appropriate measures. Is it a good choice? Putting them on a small carrying bag for so long, I do not think they'd stand it. While on the rabbit cage I can also put two small hay shelters and food and let them drink water on stops. Or since it will have hay pellets, I can hang the water container on the wall.
This for now.
Thanks