First time Chinchilla owner trying to do everything right :)

[RebeccaJean]

Hello everyone! My name is Rebecca. I am 22 years old and I purchased my first chinchilla this year. Her name is Rosie and I love her very much. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right for her AND I would like some advice on introducing a second chinchilla.

So first, on Rosie and my care of her. All suggestions on how I could do better/questions on her care are welcome!

Rosie is in a 4 level critternation cage. It's the largest I could find. I use fleece covers on the cage liners and clean her cage weekly. She eats Oxbow fortified pellets and Kaytee natural Timothy hay. She is let out usually 4-5 times a week for an hour or more of out of cage exercise. I don't give her too many treats but usually I stick to tiny raisin pieces. I give her dust baths as needed, usually every other day. The air quality in her room and the temperature is monitored.

I've never owned a chinchilla before and I've only had Rosie about a year. I want to try to bring in a companion for her though because as much as I try to interact with her, I'm not a chinchilla.

I have one in mind from a rescue that I can pick up as soon as within the next couple of days. I am currently planning to follow this protocol for their introduction:
http://www.chinchillachronicles.com/introducing_chinchillas.html

they have the same cage, so my plan is to take out the side panels and put the two cages together to make them doubly as wide. This is only after proper introductions, of course.

Does anyone have any suggestions or questions for me at all? I am new at being a chinchilla owner, but I genuinely want to do what is best for Rosie and her new companion. Money is pretty much not an object, I just want them both to be happy and healthy. Thanks for any help!!

 

[kmonty0726]

Sounds, like you're doing everything right to my knowledge. Is she still timid around you? Is she playful? I have owned Chinchillas for a year as well, except I have 3 currently. They each only have one level of Ferret Nation. But, I am not sure about bonding chinchillas, I do know that some chinchillas refuse companionship from others.

 

[Godofgods]

raisins are bad for chins. As are any fruit or vegetable. They contain natural sugars that chins can not process.

Dust baths needed will depend on the environment they are in (things like humidity). Usually once or twice a week is enough for them. If they get it to often it can dry out there skin.

a four story CN cage? do you have a pic of that? I would like to see. Usually ppl only have 2 story's. 3 stories usually is very high to reach and near the top of the rooms roof. I cant imagine a four story.

Getting a second chin is an option. But there is always the chance they wont get alone. And even if they get along, it is possible for them one day to decide to start fighting. So you must always have a second cage available in case they needed to be separated.

When bringing in a new chin, they should under go a 30 day quarantine. Which intales keeping them in a separate room and never being allowed near each other. Chins are great at hiding illnesses. Sometimes you may not even know they are sick, or may not find out until its rly rly bad. So you dont want to risk a new chin that is sick getting your chins sick. The 30 day will allow you to monitor the chin for any signs. Its also a good idea because it gives him time to get adjusted to a new environment, new ppl, new sounds, etc before throwing the added stress of a new chin on them.

There are many introduction methods and options. You can do a search on these forums for introductions and you should find a good bit of info.\

Im not sure i care for some of that info on that website you linked to. Some of it is questionable.

 

[kmonty0726]

I was told raisins were fine in moderation. My chins eat them on an occasion


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[Amethyst]

I was told raisins were fine in moderation. My chins eat them on an occasion

In moderation, as in a tiny piece every couple weeks, is not going to really harm a chin. However most people prefer to give treats more often, and there are several much better healthy treats that aren't going to harm the chin. Better treats include, a cheerio, a shreddie, rose hips, rose petals, or old fashion oats. All those treats can be given up to one a day, but really ideally chin's shouldn't get treats that often either. So I figure why give a chin something unhealthy when they will just as happily eat something healthier as a treat.

Sugary treats may not appear to harm your chin right away, but over the course of years it can cause diabetes and organ failure, and obvious shortened life. Keep in mind most chinchilla food already has sugar in it (to make it tasty) so any sugar you add as treats is adding even more.

 

[Godofgods]

I was told raisins were fine in moderation. My chins eat them on an occasion

raisins are bad for chins. As are any fruit or vegetable. They contain natural sugars that chins can not process.

they eat a lot of stuff that isnt good for them. Up to you to make sure they only have healthy items.

 

[kmonty0726]

My chins don't have them often. They usually get cheerios, or old fashioned oats. I do want to replace raisins with something else like rose hips, but I haven't placed an order just yet. I will be sure to do do so. My chins get raisins once in a Super Moon.