About chinchillas?

Question

I've always wanted to own one and was wondering the best ways to go about taking care of one. I mean in terms of how much attention they would need a day, best caged habitats and such.

I already looked up most of the info online but was wondering if anyone who owns one could give me some general advice.

Answer 1

they need a big cage, stuff to chew on, hay and special food, but they like biscuits and small bits of apple. they dont bite but will hold you with their teeth to warn you if fed up. they become tame but need supervision out of the cage as they chew anything, they are good at stripping wallpaper off ;-) they need some sand to roll about in, they make noises like sweep off sooty and sweep, they are great pets.

Answer 2

Chinchillas are very cute, but they are very noisy at night and need to be let out of the cage at least once a day for about an hour to run around. Also note, you can't buy plastic balls for them to run around with unlike hamsters.

Answer 3

Chinchillas are night creatures, and they sleep during the day. So you can't see much activity if you buy one (if you're not a night bird)
I hope you would like taking care =)

Answer 4

Found this for you... hope it helps...


There are many factors which need to be considered before deciding to go ahead with your plans to keep a chinchilla. Here are just a few:

Chinchillas are very easy to keep. They don't harbour fleas (their fur is too dense), they have little or no odour and they require no vaccinations. Allergy is rarely a problem, though I do know of someone who was allergic to the chinchilla dust chinchillas require to keep clean, and some people may also be allergic to the hay, though the problem can be minimised if you buy the "dust-extracted" type. If you can, have your family handle and have a good sniff into a chinchilla's fur to ascertain if there's a potential allergy problem before you decide to buy, as well as checking for dust and hay allergies.

They may seem reasonable to buy (£50 - £60 is about average for a standard grey chinchilla), but they need a large cage, as large as possible (wide, rather than tall), and these can be VERY expensive (£100 and upwards, though there are cheaper if you shop around). Unlike other small pets, they can live a long time. (Some have been known to live for twenty years!)

They have very strong teeth which, if you let them ( and even sometimes when you don't!) will gnaw on your prized antique furniture, chew on your Persian rug, nibble on your doors and skirting boards and splice through any available electrical cable! My chinchilla loves to chew the buttons off any remote control in the house, can't resist nibbling away my fingernails, and has completely destroyed my Yellow Pages Directory! She's also been known to chew into the plaster on my walls. My newer chinnies show signs of being no different! In a nutshell, if you're the house-proud type, choose another pet!

Like most other animals, they require exercise. Regardless of the size of cage in which you invest, chins thrive on a certain amount of freedom to dash about. As they are so small and fast, you need to provide a safe environment for them to do so. It might be your sitting room or hallway, anywhere your chin can run about (under supervision, of course!) and from where she can easily be retrieved - they're slippery customers when it comes to returning them to their cage! Wherever you exercise your chinchilla, the environment must be chinchilla-proofed i.e. no sharp objects, all electrical cables protected from chewing, houseplants out of reach (they can be poisonous), no holes to escape into etc. As they are nocturnal, this means her exercise time will generally be in the evening, so if you are not at home in the evenings, perhaps a chinchilla is not the pet for you! Chinchillas will sleep for most of the day, and need a peaceful environment for them to do so. In the evenings (and indeed through the night) they spring to life and can make quite a racket in their cage, so be prepared!

Chinchillas need interaction. You need to commit to spending at least an hour a day with your chin, exercising, grooming and playing with her. The more time you spend with her, the friendlier and easier to handle she will become. My chinchilla is very relaxed when I hold her, but she much prefers a good ol' chase round the couch! Reba will voluntarily jump on my lap to be petted or fed a treat but only for as long as she decides. Flighty by nature, it is unlikely that you will ever be able to train your chin to "sit" or "come" (though bribery with a treat is always worth a try!) In short, if you're into obedience training, get a dog instead!

They can be noisy! Chinchillas do make certain sounds, especially if communicating with each other. It is wonderful to sit and listen to - I find it very therapeutic. These sounds are quiet, except for the "warning call" or "bark", as it is sometimes referred to. If, however, you intend for your chin to live in your bedroom, be warned that they can make a tremendous noise at night, re-arranging the furniture in their cage, and generally crashing about!

Chinchillas and children. I personally wouldn't recommend a chinchilla as a small child's pet. They are generally too difficult to handle and too quick for little hands to catch when out for a run. They are only rarely cuddly, so perhaps, if it's for a child, you'd be better considering another type of pet. My children are all teenagers, but I still take full responsibility for exercising my chins, as I worry about accidents, and even teenagers can be careless! Chins can so quickly jump out of your hand, and a fall can do a great deal of harm, so you really do have to be quite observant. Careless feet can also be the cause of tragedy.

Veterinary Bills. Although generally very inexpensive to keep, always be prepared, as with any pet, for the possibility of your chin falling ill, or succumbing to a chronic condition (e.g. malocclusion). Prompt treatment is vital for the well-being of your pets, so ensure you can afford to lay money aside for contingencies such as these (whether it be a separate budget, or a trusty credit card!) before you take on any pet.

Answer 5

You care for them like you would a rabbit, but they never really get tame. They are spastic little animals.

Answer 6

they are like rabbit ferrits. they need a lot of crap,and they smell.

Answer 7

Try http://www.animals.com

Answer 8

My advice is : I don't know