Morganpanda
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2013
- Messages
- 71
So, after a long debate of what new addition to our family we were going to get- we have decided that a chinchilla was a best bet for us.
We found a local breeder who has placed very, very high in many chinchilla shows and has an assortment of different chin-colors. We really loved all of them and decided on a beige boy! He's not ready to come home yet, since he's still just a kit but we're very excited.
We ordered the Chinchilla Skyscraper off of Martin's Cages Inc. website. It was the reconmended cage from the breeder and the breeder has been extremely helpful as far as information goes- but there are some things I'd like a second opinion on.
For one, I'm not entirely sure what to put into the cage. The cage that I ordered is all wired- and I really dislike the idea of anything running around on wires. What kind of cage liner is safe to place on the shevles so that my chinchilla doesn't have sore feet? I know plastics are bad, and I know that the stuff that I used to use to make C+C cages with (that sign-material stuff, can't think of the name now...) isn't safe either. So I'm kind of at a loss as to what a good shelf liner would be.
Also, I'm home all day long- most of the time I'm up at night due to my job. (I work from home), and I am attending a couple college courses during the day. Is it mandatory to have at least two chinchillas to have a happy chinchilla? I've heard mixed emotions about this. I know with guinea pigs (It's really the only animal I have true experience with), they needed a partner buddy. But I've heard mixed things about chinchillas. I do plan to allow the chinchilla out of the cage when I am in the bedroom (which is at least a few hours a day and a couple hours at night).
I do also plan to have a LOT of toys for the chin to play with and swith them out 3-4 day rotations.
OH and fresh foods- does this benefit the chin's health? The breeder sells a homemade blend of food for the chinchillas that I really have taken to- and probably seems like my best bet. It includes timothy hay, a mix, a pellet, and a small treat bit (like raisins, cherios, ect that are only given once a week and only one or two at a time?). Are there any fresh foods that I should serve the chinchilla as well? And how often?
So what I've heard is that they're really, REALLY fast. With this information in mind, I do not plan to chase the chinchilla around the house. XD Is there a way I could bribe the chinchilla with something healthy to head back to the cage?
Sorry for so many questions! I just want to make sure we're set.
Also, what kind of toys are safe for chinchillas? Fleece, I know is one. Woods I get as well. Anything else that are chin-safe?
Oh, and we decided on a name: Sigma <3
We found a local breeder who has placed very, very high in many chinchilla shows and has an assortment of different chin-colors. We really loved all of them and decided on a beige boy! He's not ready to come home yet, since he's still just a kit but we're very excited.
We ordered the Chinchilla Skyscraper off of Martin's Cages Inc. website. It was the reconmended cage from the breeder and the breeder has been extremely helpful as far as information goes- but there are some things I'd like a second opinion on.
For one, I'm not entirely sure what to put into the cage. The cage that I ordered is all wired- and I really dislike the idea of anything running around on wires. What kind of cage liner is safe to place on the shevles so that my chinchilla doesn't have sore feet? I know plastics are bad, and I know that the stuff that I used to use to make C+C cages with (that sign-material stuff, can't think of the name now...) isn't safe either. So I'm kind of at a loss as to what a good shelf liner would be.
Also, I'm home all day long- most of the time I'm up at night due to my job. (I work from home), and I am attending a couple college courses during the day. Is it mandatory to have at least two chinchillas to have a happy chinchilla? I've heard mixed emotions about this. I know with guinea pigs (It's really the only animal I have true experience with), they needed a partner buddy. But I've heard mixed things about chinchillas. I do plan to allow the chinchilla out of the cage when I am in the bedroom (which is at least a few hours a day and a couple hours at night).
I do also plan to have a LOT of toys for the chin to play with and swith them out 3-4 day rotations.
OH and fresh foods- does this benefit the chin's health? The breeder sells a homemade blend of food for the chinchillas that I really have taken to- and probably seems like my best bet. It includes timothy hay, a mix, a pellet, and a small treat bit (like raisins, cherios, ect that are only given once a week and only one or two at a time?). Are there any fresh foods that I should serve the chinchilla as well? And how often?
So what I've heard is that they're really, REALLY fast. With this information in mind, I do not plan to chase the chinchilla around the house. XD Is there a way I could bribe the chinchilla with something healthy to head back to the cage?
Sorry for so many questions! I just want to make sure we're set.
Also, what kind of toys are safe for chinchillas? Fleece, I know is one. Woods I get as well. Anything else that are chin-safe?
Oh, and we decided on a name: Sigma <3