What cage should i get

[sarah2000]

Hello, i have just signed up to the forum, and i am a fairly new chinchilla owner, i have had my 2 for about 4 months.

I let my chinchillas out for about 1 hour to sometimes 4 hours a day for a run around, but on the days i can only let them out for a hour i feel really bad because i don't think they can let off much steam in the cage they have.

The cage their in is the one pets at home sell, i was assured it was big enough but i really am not convinced.

I have been looking at other cages, and i really like the aurora 600 mainly because it really nice and spacious and looks quite nice too. Anyway is this a good cage, or would they be better suited to something else, i was also hoping to get another chin at some point, so would this cage be big enough for 3 chins, or not. I figured i could keep the cage they are in at the moment and use that cage for the new one until they know each other well enough to all be housed together.

Sorry so many questions, just trying to do the best by my chins, but im very new to all of this.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

The Aurora 600 looks like it would be a good cage. I'm not sure what the measurements are for it, but it looks big enough. The one that everyone here usually recommends is the Ferret Nation (http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Critt...=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_2/192-1435342-7178151). It's a great size for two chins, and if for some reason they decide to no longer get along, you can separate them so that they each have their own half of the cage.

 

[sarah2000]

Im not sure if you can get a ferret nation cage in the uk, i have found a similar cage that is way cheaper than the aurora 600.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-cage...694464&sr=8-1&keywords=flight+cage+chinchilla

this cage seems nice and big and im sure if they did decide they don't get on it would be easy enough to work out a way to separate.

They are way more active than i ever imagined they would be, ad seems a shame to keep them in the cage they are in which is about half the size.

Also what toys would you all recommend, i will add a picture of their current arrangement, and i have a hammock but it takes up to much room so will add it to the new cage.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

Oh I gotcha. That cage looks like a good one too. It's nice that they come with the wooden ramps and shelves. Those all look like great toys. You might want to consider adding a wheel/saucer when you get the new cage if you have room for it. Remember to avoid plastic though. Just make sure there's plenty of wood to chew and you're set! My guy only has two hanging toys, but there's a bunch of toss toys in the bottom of his cage too. I'll try and post a picture of it in a minute.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

I just switched out his fleece last night, so here's what it looked like before he went back in to make a mess.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

Here's the other half.

 

[sarah2000]

That looks cool, cant wait till my two have a nice cage like that. Does it have to be any pet safe fleece or is it a special chinchilla type??

I have a wheel they came with which is plastic called the silent spinner, should i take that out, it is in their at the moment it has not been chewed.

I keep making the cage look all nice and tidy but it all just gets moved about at night. I thought i could add some perches to the cage i buy as well.

 

[alooper19]

I always recommend the Ferret or Critter Nation. I love our critter nation and everyone seems to recommend the Ferret nation! If you can put the money out to get that cage it will probably last longer than the chins! I hope this helps

 

[Kathy_Bunny]

I vote for the ferret nation also =) It's a nice sturdy cage with a lot of room to customize.

 

[Amethyst]

The cage they are in looks like an ok size for two chins (minimum for 1-2 chins is about 60cm x 60cm x 91 cm) but bigger is always better. An hour of play is plenty of time, but you also didn't mention age, young chins need to save energy for growing so really shouldn't be out for more then 10 minutes or so a day.
The flight cage looks pretty good and I've seen others use it, and the way it's constructed with the think frame in the middle it can be fairly easily split if needed and already comes with wood shelves so you wouldn't have to change those out. If you can find the critter or ferret nation cage over there it would be a lot better, my vote is for the ferret nation but others like the critter nation, which is available on amazon uk, http://www.amazon.co.uk/MidWest-Critter-Nation-Animal-Habitat/dp/B001NJ0DAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391717719&sr=8-1&keywords=ferret+nation it is a lot more money (I did the conversion and yikes!) then the other two you posted though, and you would need to change out or cover the plastic shelves.
I would like to add that you may want to rethink the idea of trying to have 3 in one cage together, especially if they aren't all from one family (litter mates or father/sons or mother/daughters). More often then not it doesn't go well and you end up with two ganging up against one, or worse end up with them all fighting and needing 3 separate cages. I'm not saying you shouldn't get more chins if you feel you have the time and money, but I don't think risking ruining the existing pair is worth having them all together.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

That looks cool, cant wait till my two have a nice cage like that. Does it have to be any pet safe fleece or is it a special chinchilla type??

I have a wheel they came with which is plastic called the silent spinner, should i take that out, it is in their at the moment it has not been chewed.

I keep making the cage look all nice and tidy but it all just gets moved about at night. I thought i could add some perches to the cage i buy as well.

The fleece has to be either anit-pill or blizzard/arctic fleece. Basically when you rub your hand across it, nothing could come off or ball up.

The silent spinner isn't big enough for chins to use safely. It causes their spin to bend unnaturally and can lead to health problems. Even though they aren't chewing it, I would still get rid of it. I personally don't want to risk having plastic in my little guy's cage or risk him having back problems.

Adding perches is great! People here in the States tend to take out all the ramps from the Ferret Nations and add a bunch of wooden shelves and ledges instead for their chins to hop around.

I hope you find a good cage soon! It's so fun to decorate it all!

 

[sarah2000]

Thanks all very much, i am glad i joined the forum as its been really helpful. I ended up getting the flight cage in the end, which is nice and is only a few cm different in size from the ferret nation one or critter nation cage.

Looking forward to its arrival, i also picked up a couple of other bits as well as i could not help my self, its not too late to cancel any things that might not be any good so if i have got something that's no good i will cancel it.

Any-ways here is my order. I think i went a bit crazy, but think most of this will last for a reasonable time, and its my present to myself for giving up smoking

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00I8KX1NM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000V9MB5W/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002AS58C/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004QVEP4Q/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002F3V0PY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00176F466/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004FGAY5G/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Also the to answer a few questions, my chinchillas are 6 months probably, i bought them at a pet store and i was told they were 13 weeks old. I am not sure what colours they would be classed as, to me they just look grey, but they don't look like the standard grey, one is really light grey and the other has a weird bluish tinge to him, or that's about the best way i can describe it anyway lol.

I will keep them in a bit more, i didnt realise they could over do it, i have always left the cage door open and they just seem to pop in and out as they please. They are kinda taking over the house lol.

I am totally addicted to chinchillas now, i remember desperately wanting one as a kid and my mum always said no because they were "desert rats" and she would not have anything like that in the house. Now she has seen them she is eating her words tho and thinks they are just cute.

Another question, sorry to bombard you with so many, but late at night or early morning is what i should say, they go back to bed, when their in there they start this weird really quiet whimpering noise, my partner thinks its a content sound, but im not so sure, it sounds so sad.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

Good job! That's a great wheel and they have lots of fun new things!

 

[Amethyst]

Most of the stuff you ordered looks great, I've never see that wheel before, but it looks big enough. The ball with the bell I'd keep an eye on to make sure the bell doesn't cause a problem (hard to tell size) but I know my boys love bells. The only thing that isn't going to work for a chin is the snuggle tube, fleece is the only chin safe fabric since it doesn't fray like other fabrics if chewed.

I could only make out one chin in your previous photo, and it looks like a beige. If you get a better photo of each we can easily tell you what you have.
The sound you heard was most likely a call, chances are they heard, saw, or imagined (like a kid seeing shadows and getting spooked) something, or had a nightmare and are letting everyone know something is up, lol. Here is a link to a chin making that sound http://www.chinchillaplace.com/blog/bid/4868/Chinchilla-Sound.

 

[Nat]

Hi congratulations on your chins. That looks like a great cage I have the aurora 600 it is ok but can rattle alot so I've had to add extra clips but still can be quite noisy it is not as well made as the one you have chosen. Would be interested to see what your chins think of the wheel as may get one myself never seen that one before it looks good. As your from the UK these are really good sites: fuzzbutts cage comforts, mine love the luxury cube: http://www.fuzzbutt.co.uk/ and also chins 2 shop have lots of chin safe treats, herbal mixes, hays, toys, wood bits and chews: http://www.chinchillas2shop.co.uk/

 

[sarah2000]

The cage has not even arrived yet and i have decided to send it back, we went into the local garden centre today and they had the same cage in there. The quality was very poor and the size was tiny, the usable cage was about the same as what i have, i thought it would be much bigger than it is, its about the same size as the cage pets at home do, which is what we have. Very disappointed. So as its already been dispatched, going to have to wait for it to arrive, then send it back and wait to get my money back and then re order another cage.

So my chins are gonna be staying in their normal cage for a few weeks. I was getting so excited about it arriving, i couldn't wait to get them in it and see them enjoying the little extra space.

Oh well, also thanks for the heads up on the tube thing, luckily my better judgement made me change my mind and cancel the order almost immediately anyway, i had a funny feeling it might not be any good, but it does look so cosey and comfy im sure they would enjoy it, such a shame chins chew literally anything cos they could have lovely cages if they didnt.


Will let you all know how i get on with the wheel, it looks all right and is much cheaper than the other metal ones i have seen.

 

[sarah2000]

This should have the attachment with photos of my 2, their not very good photos tho.

 

[sarah2000]

ops, thought i put them all up but had to do it again

 

[Amethyst]

From the pics I'd say you have two beige chins, the lighting is a little dark but it looks like one light one medium.

 

[Amethyst]

Here is a color mutations chart with descriptions, http://www.chechinchillas.com/colors.html