Anybody Here Have a Chinchillas?

jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
well i ordered all of my stuff tonight!!!!
1: Pet Sensations Dust Bath-vanilla bean
2: dusthouse
3: hay rack
4: timothy hay
5: that same food you posted a pic of
6: Deluxe Cage 32"L x 20"W x 30"H
7: stone food bowl
8: 12 inch wheel, plastic
9: water bottle
10: wood chinchilla hut
11: Seed Chew Block
12: Super Pet® Branch Bites - 6 Pk
i might buy a leaping ledge later, but im going to have to see if ill have room, i think i will though. and ill pick up some raisins at the grocery store tomorrow
hopefully ill be able to buy the chin, a gray one, for $89 next month. im only getting one for now, because im not sure that i could handle 2 right now. plus i would need a bigger cage which i cant afford right now. maybe later down the road. i found out that my pet store gets their chins from a customer who breeds them. so i think it should be fine.
i bought pine bedding, wasnt sure if i could use this because a couple websites reccomended it and my pet store uses it, but you said to use the carefresh stuff. if not, no big deal, i can exchange it.
im so excited!!!! ill post pics when i get my stuff!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
 
suzi1780

suzi1780

Member
Originally Posted by JacknJill
well i ordered all of my stuff tonight!!!!
1: Pet Sensations Dust Bath-vanilla bean
2: dusthouse
3: hay rack
4: timothy hay
5: that same food you posted a pic of
6: Deluxe Cage 32"L x 20"W x 30"H
7: stone food bowl
8: 12 inch wheel, plastic
9: water bottle
10: wood chinchilla hut
11: Seed Chew Block
12: Super Pet® Branch Bites - 6 Pk
i might buy a leaping ledge later, but im going to have to see if ill have room, i think i will though. and ill pick up some raisins at the grocery store tomorrow
hopefully ill be able to buy the chin, a gray one, for $89 next month. im only getting one for now, because im not sure that i could handle 2 right now. plus i would need a bigger cage which i cant afford right now. maybe later down the road. i found out that my pet store gets their chins from a customer who breeds them. so i think it should be fine.
i bought pine bedding, wasnt sure if i could use this because a couple websites reccomended it and my pet store uses it, but you said to use the carefresh stuff. if not, no big deal, i can exchange it.
im so excited!!!! ill post pics when i get my stuff!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Great!! Pine will be okay here is some info:
"Never use Cedar or undried pines as they have aromatic oils which can damage the respiratory tracts of chinchillas and could cause liver problems. Some chins have even lost their fur because of these."
I just have always used carefresh because it is 100% safe and last a long time. Just be very careful with what you buy. If the pine is cheaper, give it a try and see how long it last for. I don't notice carefresh smelling even after 2 weeks. If the pine starts smelling in a week then you may want to switch to carefresh. But of course even if the cage doesn't smell you still need to clean it out every two weeks at least.
Make sure you limit those raisins only two a day at the most if not less. They also love blueberries and look super cute holding one with their paw and munching on it.
You can also get one of those big plastic balls that they can run around the house in. I used one with my male chin while I cleaned his cage or if I let him run around near the cats. Warning tho chins poop a lot and when they run around in the ball they leave poop where ever they roll!
You will just love your chin they are such great pets! Are you going to get a male or female?
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
thanks for the info. ill use the pine until it runs out and then il try a bag of Carefresh and see which one i like more. I like that pure white Carefresh they have at Petsmart, it looks nice.
yeah, il have to make sure my sister doesnt feed the chin too many treats. is there other kinds of fruits that they usually like?
I will probably get some kind of ball for it so that it will be safer and easier to keep track of. and with all of the poop, im hoping the vaccum cleaner will pick it up lol! but with our hamster which we let run around in a room, it was never that big of a deal.
Im still trying to decide on whether i want a male or female chin. I know that right now the pet store has a pair of brothers. Are there any pros or cons on a male or female? What would you reccomend?
Have you ever tried the Seed Chew Block or Branch bites with your chin? Any other "store bought" treats that you would reccomend for keeping their teeth down?
And thankyou soooo much for all of the help youve given to me. Its made it a lot easier. I am just so excited to finally get a chinchilla. Ive wanted one ever since my friend got one for her B-day 3 1/2 years ago.
 
keleighr

keleighr

Active Member
Dried cranberries.
I miss my babies.
But they are a lot of work, glad to here you are sticking to one for now.
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
Thanks for the suggestion! Yeah, i decided that it would just be better to start with one. Do you have any suggestions or opinions on bedding for the cage?
 
keleighr

keleighr

Active Member
My babies were extremely spoiled. Charlie had a 3 level cage. it was was easily about as tall as me (iam 5'3). Mom was in (Charlotte) a HUGE cage by herself.
Did they tell you to get the lava rocks?? I scanned throug to catch up. They are chewers, you name it they will chew it.
Bedding, I agree with as long as it isn't made out of anything with heavy oils. We originally started with corn cob..........3 vaccuum cleaners later, we switched to the bedding that is (i think it is the care fresh Green bag).
Also I read where you didn't want them in a cage all the time, we would close off all the doorways to our hallway and block any other "interesting places" htey could get into (also made sure any wires were cleared away as wee) and would let them tear it up and down the hall way. So if you have a hallway you can block off then that is a good way for them to get exercise. My cat used to think they were her "kittens", she would try and knock them down and try and clean them. She would make all the little mom sounds (YES iam sure!! I know someone on here is going to say she was trying to eat them!!!). She learned her lesson the hard way with Charlotte.......my cat has a piece of the tip of her ear missing cause she got nipped for trying to know Charlotte down to often.
I also would by the clacium treats. Those would be gone in a matter of minutes. Salt rock....or should i say salt cirlcle cause that is the shape they sell down here.
They also liked these treats (in the rabbit section) that were kind of like Puffs. They are orange and green? (not sure on the green for sure orange). It has been so long!!
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
ok, thanks for the suggestions. im almost positive my cat is either going to be scared of the chin, or take care of it like a baby. lol
ill try those calcium and salt treats, im just trying to find the best way to keep their teeth down.
wow that is a big cage!!! thats like the one they have the chins in at the pet store! thats awesome though
do you have any preference of boy chins over girl chins? do you have any pics of the ones you used to have?
 
keleighr

keleighr

Active Member
I will go home and look. I think I put the pictures on our computer in the back. I have school tonight so I will get them on here as soon as possible!!
Charlie had my heart. So I am a bit partial to boys.
 
suzi1780

suzi1780

Member
Well after owns both a male and female, my male didn't pee-pee outside of the cage my female does and my male was easier to train but that could have nothing to do with being male or female I am not really sure about that one. One thing that I can say about males.... well how do I put this.... I did see my male cleaning? himself in a certain area that was very :scared: just think dog and lipstick. I'd be interested if anyone else had this happen. Not that it was anything bad, just something alarming to see him doing.
One really really cheap great chew toy for your chin would be a toliet paper roll! Just make sure there is no toliet paper remaining and chin love them, Maddie will chew up her's in a day!
Those Sun Seed Chew Blox, well I think they are great but my chins seem to like them for maybe a week or less and then stop using them. Maybe you will have better luck.
I do use these: Critter Cone Mineral Treats from Super Pet
and these: Super Pet Lava Bites for Chinchillas
and: Super Pet® Big Bark Bites
get one of these to hand everything from, check hamster/rabbit section: Super Pet® Ka-bobs for Hamsters



 
suzi1780

suzi1780

Member
you can see Maddie's on the first page the 2nd pic of her, one the left of her cage. The last thing hanging down is what is left of one of the ice cream cones!!
 
suzi1780

suzi1780

Member
Originally Posted by JacknJill
thanks for the info. ill use the pine until it runs out and then il try a bag of Carefresh and see which one i like more. I like that pure white Carefresh they have at Petsmart, it looks nice.
yeah, il have to make sure my sister doesnt feed the chin too many treats. is there other kinds of fruits that they usually like?
I will probably get some kind of ball for it so that it will be safer and easier to keep track of. and with all of the poop, im hoping the vaccum cleaner will pick it up lol! but with our hamster which we let run around in a room, it was never that big of a deal.
Im still trying to decide on whether i want a male or female chin. I know that right now the pet store has a pair of brothers. Are there any pros or cons on a male or female? What would you reccomend?
Have you ever tried the Seed Chew Block or Branch bites with your chin? Any other "store bought" treats that you would reccomend for keeping their teeth down?
And thankyou soooo much for all of the help youve given to me. Its made it a lot easier. I am just so excited to finally get a chinchilla. Ive wanted one ever since my friend got one for her B-day 3 1/2 years ago.

always happy to help

yep carefresh comes in all kinds of colors now, not sure about if there is a price different, I just always use the normal grey stuff.
Also with your chin, a good piece of advice is if you think your chin is sick take them to the vet! I say this because my male chin, well one morning I noticed he seemed to be sleeping at an odd time and wasn't sure that he was feeling well but it didn't really seem to be anything so I went to work and figured I would check him when I got home and see how he was, well when I got home he had past away and I have no idea why to this day and I will always wish I had taken him to the vet when I notice him acting a little different. When I talked to the vet they said with little critters it is hard to know they are sick until they are very very ill. I will always miss my male Chillie but I know I gave him a good loving home and I have Maddie my female now and she will never replace him but I could never image life without a chin!
good luck!! :joy:
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
MY CAGE CAME IN TODAY!!! i never thought id be so excited about wire and plastic lol. It took me about an hour to set this stupid thing up! Those were some extremely confusing directions! Anyways, the rest of my order comes in tomorrow and hopefully ill be able to get the chin around the 1st week of February!
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
Well, a couple more questions occured to me when i was trying to figure out where to put the cage. I finally decided to put it on the other side of the stairs (which you can kinda see in the pic) where it will be around the people in the house, but not constantly, and its not next to a TV or anything. Its across from the computer and next to a bookcase in its own little corner lol. anyways,
1) Can you safely put a chin cage next to a plant, or will there be problems with it trying to eat the plant or whatever?
2) Is any amount of sun on the cage, like through a window or the glass on the door, bad for a chinchilla?
3) Im assuming putting a cage over or next to an air/heat vent is a bad idea lol
4) Do you ever put a blanket or towel over the cage during the day so it can sleep better?
5) Should i put any bedding on the different plastic levels of the cage?
6) what is the best level for the food to be at? On the very bottom or just anywhere, like on a ledge?
Unless the store has anything differnt, I plan on taking the chin home in a shoebox w/ air vents. Any possible problems with this besides it chewing throuhg the box before i get home?
Sorry for the huge amount of questions lol. I never knew it could be so hard to place a cage!
 
suzi1780

suzi1780

Member
Originally Posted by JacknJill
Well, a couple more questions occured to me when i was trying to figure out where to put the cage. I finally decided to put it on the other side of the stairs (which you can kinda see in the pic) where it will be around the people in the house, but not constantly, and its not next to a TV or anything. Its across from the computer and next to a bookcase in its own little corner lol. anyways,
1) Can you safely put a chin cage next to a plant, or will there be problems with it trying to eat the plant or whatever?
2) Is any amount of sun on the cage, like through a window or the glass on the door, bad for a chinchilla?
3) Im assuming putting a cage over or next to an air/heat vent is a bad idea lol
4) Do you ever put a blanket or towel over the cage during the day so it can sleep better?
5) Should i put any bedding on the different plastic levels of the cage?
6) what is the best level for the food to be at? On the very bottom or just anywhere, like on a ledge?
Unless the store has anything differnt, I plan on taking the chin home in a shoebox w/ air vents. Any possible problems with this besides it chewing throuhg the box before i get home?
Sorry for the huge amount of questions lol. I never knew it could be so hard to place a cage!
1)If the chin can reach the plant they will chew it just make sure it is far enough away where the chin can't get any of the leaves because that could be bad
2)you won't want your chin close to a window where it may get too cold or too warm if a chin gets over heated they will pass out, they do sell Super Pet Chin-Chiller, I had one that my chin could have cared less about. Also chins sleep during the day so you don't want it to be too bright.
3)no vents :O)
4)If it will be active around the chin during the day time then yes until they get used to the house. Make sure you have a "house" of some type for the chin to hide it. Maddie sleeps in her igloo all the time. A large piece of PVC pipe would work to.
5)Well with Chillie (my male) he didn't pee-pee on the plastic shelves so I didn't worry about it, but of course he pooped on them. I would vacuum them every few days and wash them once a week or two depending on how they looked. Now Maddie my female pee-peed on the shelves all the time. I tried putting carefresh on the shevles and it was just a mess. She kicked the bedding all over the floor around her cage so I ended up using the leaping ledges and a wire corner lookout thingie. I say give the plastic a try hopfully your chin won't pee on them.
6)put it on one of the shelves because you don't want bedding to get into it which it would on the bottom shelve. Now this is way I had to cover the top of Maddie's cage. She would go to eat at the top of her cage and the cats would stick their paws in and bat her while she ate. You may have a whole in one of the shelves that is made for a food bowl to slip into.
If you are buying the chin from a pet store they will give you a little box to take the chin home with, unless it is some werid pet store, in that case the shoe box would be fine.
Look for these things before getting the chin:
Check their eyes and make sure they are not running, but that they are bright and shiny. Watery eyes are a sign of health problems. Check their mouth and make sure that the top teeth do not overlap the bottom ones. Both sets should be fairly straight! The chin should not paw at his mouth when eating. There shouldn't be any wetness located under its chin. Teeth problems are a major threat to a chinchilla's well-being.
feel few to email me with any questions
glad I can help!
suzi1780@hotmail.com
 
suzi1780

suzi1780

Member
oh good, I read back you did get a house
oh anything thing, make sure you buy loose hay not those hay bricks, the loose hay is more nutirishal (sp big time!)
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
Thanks so much!
Yep, i got a wooden house, ill try and post the web pic.
Oh you're right! that hole is for a food bowl! i thought it was for the chin to climb through or somethine lol!
Ill make sure to check the teeth and eyes once i get there
I guess ill try the shelves without the bedding, or maybe ill put the bedding on just one shelf and see what happens? IDK
I think where i put the cage will be ok with the sunlight factor. There is a huge bay window on the wall perpindicular to the wall the cage is in front of, but the curtains and blinds are usually closed so people cant see into our house. Ill see where the rays land throughout the day
 
dzekunoi

dzekunoi

Member
Wow, never expected to find a chinchilla post on a fish site!
Anyway, I'm a proud Mom of two chinnies - Diego and Dahlia. Both adopted and altered. Standard gray. They are awsome! Good luck with you chinchilla, I'm sure you will love it. Make sure you handle / tame it alot othervise it might stay timid.
Please keep posting updates!
Other thing you might consider for your chinnie - flying soucer. Check this web-site - http://www.chinchillas.com/estore/detail.aspx?ID=19
They are sort of expencive but the best for chinchillas. I have one of those and Diego and Dahlia spend hours playing on it. I tried to buy wheels first but they got broken really fast.
So soucer save you money on the long run.
 
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