Chinchillas.

[ChameleonRave]

So, today I put the down-payment on a baby Chinchilla. I can't wait to get all the rest of the supplies. I found a nice used cage for him/her for only $20 and the rest I will be getting at the pet store! It's only $75 for the Chinchilla and probably another $100 for the rest of the supplies. Anyone else own Chinchillas here and can post pictures or the setup and Chinchillas?

-Zac

 

[PantherEnvy]

I always wanted a chinchilla.

 

[Whatcamo]

I had / bred chillas for a bit dust baths and cooling are the 2 most important things and a varied diet of wild grains, oats and alfalfa also a few nuts every now and then you can provide cooling with a piece of marble or granite they can lay on they make a shelf out of it you can attach to the side of the cage, also start with handling and training early you can train them very easily with small yogurt treats they love them

 

[ChameleonRave]

I had / bred chillas for a bit dust baths and cooling are the 2 most important things and a varied diet of wild grains, oats and alfalfa also a few nuts every now and then you can provide cooling with a piece of marble or granite they can lay on they make a shelf out of it you can attach to the side of the cage, also start with handling and training early you can train them very easily with small yogurt treats they love them

For training what kind of routines do you do?

 

[Whatcamo]

Get a treat and have them follow it in your fingers until they are following it to you fairly well, then start having them come to you with someone's help have them sniff the treat in your fingers while they're in the cage and then go sit about 5-6' away and have someone open the door to the cage or rig up a string to pull it open and once they master that they'll pretty much have you associated with treats and know you are they're buddy and you'll be able to call them to you I used short pulsing whistles, really doesn't take to long once you get the great thing down! Also give them a good scratch behind the ears and belly by the front legs when you give them a treat! Oh and you'll know if you got a female because they PMS just like a woman when they reach sexual maturity once a month she'll be moody as all get out jumpin up on her back legs and doing her best to provide you with a golden shower

 

[ChameleonRave]

Get a treat and have them follow it in your fingers until they are following it to you fairly well, then start having them come to you with someone's help have them sniff the treat in your fingers while they're in the cage and then go sit about 5-6' away and have someone open the door to the cage or rig up a string to pull it open and once they master that they'll pretty much have you associated with treats and know you are they're buddy and you'll be able to call them to you I used short pulsing whistles, really doesn't take to long once you get the great thing down! Also give them a good scratch behind the ears and belly by the front legs when you give them a treat! Oh and you'll know if you got a female because they PMS just like a woman when they reach sexual maturity once a month she'll be moody as all get out jumpin up on her back legs and doing her best to provide you with a golden shower

Ha ha thanks for the tips! Do you have any setup pics?

 

[Whatcamo]

I don't just pride a lot of ramps and hide outs they are kinda like a Cham they live tall cages to explore and run up and down in make sure everything is safe to chew/eat cause they will chew on everything!

 

[K9Luvn]

This is the type of cage I had for my chinchilla http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Homes-Pets-inches-Playpen/dp/B000I1M76Q/ref=as_li_tf_cw?&linkCode=waf&tag=thechin-20
Chinchilla's are such fun little nuts. They love peanuts in the shell and its fun to watch them eat them as well. I had mine litter box trained and used the pine pellet type of litter. You want to handle them from the time they are very young. They can be very fast and hard to catch when the run about the room.

 

[Whatcamo]

Haha yeah they love their free time too! That's why it's important to train them to come to you non of mine was litter box trained well I guess sort of they'd hop back to their cage to do business but that was the best they'd do. I actually one tiny one that was an outcast from a clutch and I had to bottle feed it, it grew up to be a tiny tiny male about half the size of my other males in the clutch, at the same time I rescued a baby ferret anyways long story short they were inseparable just goes to show what love to tiny fury animals will bring them up to be! You'll enjoy your little fur ball!

 

[K9Luvn]

We had a female and she never showed any type of PMS or peeing on us. She did real well in the litter box. Now she would pee in the litter box...but the poop (which is like dry rice but brown) would be all over the cage floor and would sweep off. Just put the box in and then throw some of her poop in it and she will pick up the scent and start going there. Use a high back corner litter box. Yep it its wood or plastic plastic plan on it being chewed (actually plan on anything and everything being chewed on.

They have so much personality it is unreal!!! My husband still can't go into any petshop without searching out the chinchillas! She was almost 9 when she died after having seizures one night.

 

[millerman6401]

i have 2 females living together, weve had the white one for about 1yr now and reently got a smaller 5month old grey one at a reptile show 3 months ago. they hated eatchother at first but after playing together off and on for a few weeks they are best friends. had to be in seperate cages at forst but now they live happily together. if you have any questions just give me a PM. here is their cage. if you want more pics just ask and ill try to take some.

 

[ChameleonRave]

I love that cage! Sadly, I can't get one that big, but one half that size. :b

At the pet store that is what the parents of the Chinchillas live in!

 

[Zajlol]

I have one her name is violet, she is the sweetest in the world she has always been nice! She's 4 years old? But I love her she loves being petted and scratched she's like a mint dog! Lol

 

[millerman6401]

just remember they love to get out and excersise. i think the bigger female we have can easily jump 4-6 feet if she wanted. we have a long hallway in our house and we close all of the doors and put a baby gate at the other end and let them play, they can jump 1/2 way up the walls!!