My daughter wants to get a chinchilla, but I have no experience with them and I do know anyone that has one. She has two hamsters that she takes care of very well.
2006-09-22 10:19:25 · 15 answers · asked by mcgrawm7 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Honestly, no.
I've had a chinchilla, myself, and they are extremely high maintenance animals. They are very active, and love to hop around, but they need constant care, excercise out of their cage, and other such things. Chinchillas aren't "cuddly" animals, even though they are soft... they are afraid of heights, and WILL jump out of your arms, which can lead to broken bones, and other injuries.
Another thing would be that chinchillas are exotic animals, and if anything happens, the vet bills are VERY expensive (trust me, I know). They also live extremely long lives when domesticated, 10-22 years.
A chinchilla isn't a child's pet. They are nocturnal, and prefer to move about at night than during the day. If you DO decide to get a chinchilla, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do a lot of research. Also wait until she is 10 (minimum), but I would actually suggest 12 years old. A chinchilla is a FAMILY pet, and needs care from EVERYONE.
And, by the way, as opposed to what everyone said, I have never known chins to bite. If they do, it's only because they are delicate creatures, and have been roughly handled, or picked up. Otherwise, they are extremely intelligent and sweet. (mine used to come when you called his name).
2006-09-22 10:35:59 · answer #1 · answered by Eloise 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scientific Name: Chinchilla lanigera
Life Span: Chinchillas typically about 15 years, but 18-22 years is not uncommon.
Size: Body length about 10-14 inches; tail is another 5-6 inches or so.
Temperament: With gentle handling from a young age most chinchillas will become quite tame and bond closely with their owners, although sometimes they do not like to be held or cuddled. They are very active and playful. Chinchillas can be kept singly, and usually will do fine as same sex pairs especially if they are littermates or introduced at a young age.
Habits: Chinchillas are nocturnal so will be most active in the evening and night. They should be kept in a fairly quiet area during the day. They prefer a consistent routine for handling a feeding times and may be stressed out by changes to their routine. Since they are so active and playful, chinchillas need a roomy cage for exercise as well as daily playtime.
Feeding: Chinchillas require a lot of roughage, and the diet should mainly be made up of a good quality grass hay along with pellets made for chinchillas. Treats should be given in moderation (one teaspoon per day in total) and can include fruits (eg fresh or dried apples, grapes, raisins), vegetables (carrots, celery), sunflower seeds, and rolled oats. The digestive system of chinchillas is fairly sensitive so any diet changes should be gradual.
Cages: Chinchilla cages must be large, and multi-level cages with platforms, ramps, and perches are ideal. For more information, see Cages for Chinchillas.
Dust Bath and Toys: Along with regular access to a dust bath, chinchillas need a variety of toys to keep them busy and active, especially items for chewing to keep the incisor teeth in good condition. See Toys for Chinchillas for more on dust baths and toys.
Handling and Taming: You must be gentle and consistent to gain the trust of a chinchilla. Find out the steps to taming chinchillas in How to Tame a Chinchilla.
if u get 1 u need 2 know this however i would would just get a dog 4 an 8 year old
2006-09-22 11:34:48 · answer #2 · answered by Lele07 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends if she wants a cudddley pet. Chinchillas take a long time to tame and will rairly sit in your arms. My chinchillas will not let you catch or pet them, they will however eat treats out of your hands. They don't bite(if they are well cared for and not tormented). They do have a long life span 20 years, they requrie weekly dust baths and they have to be fed a diet made for chinchillas(a diet other then chinchilla food can kill them) They are nocturnal and are quite nosey at night! They do need a big cage (mine was 6'x3'x3' for 2). They are also quite expensive $100-$200. Chinchillas are fun to watch, but you can''t really play with them. Maybe you can convince her to get a rabbit or a guniea pig, they are both more social with people and kids
2006-09-22 11:07:18 · answer #3 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do all your research. Then do more. My children are 7 and 11 and do very well raising their chinchilla's. I do have one room that is chin proofed so the kids can play with them without me worrying. They are very fast but can be very friendly. Our two kits will sit forever snuggled up in my kids shirts, but once their feet hit the ground watch out. We have never had our chinchilla bite, the do nibble to test if your food or not, Charlie (our chin mom) had to check out my daughters nose the other night but didn't hurt her. They do need more exercise time outside the cage than a hamster unless you get them a safe wheel but hey still love to run jump and CHEW. I think that is the biggest issue they love to chew, but we keep plenty of chewable toys around and they leave the stuff they aren't supposed to chew alone most of the time. Vet bills are minimal if you have a healthy chinchilla, but if they have teeth issues or seizures it can be spendy. Also they can live for many years, make sure this is a pet she will want to take care of for a long time.
2006-09-22 10:57:40 · answer #4 · answered by B N 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, I have had 2 and they can be a pain. They are very fast and hard to hold on to. They also can NOT be squeezed at all. They need to be held a few times a day for a while to get them tame and sometimes that doesn't even help. They are a great pet for someone who has a lot of time for them and who has done a lot of research!!!!! I would suggest a guinea pig. I have had them too and they are tamer and more 'durable'.( and a lot cheaper if it dies or for when the novelty runs out to your child) Hope this helps!!!!
2006-09-22 10:45:13 · answer #5 · answered by kissy73179 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! They are difficult, hight maintenance, and expensive! If your daughter is wanting something bigger than a hamster that would be willing to sit in her lap to cuddle, may I suggest looking into a guinea pig. Also keep in mind that you can't mix "rodents" in the same cages or play areas becuase of fighting. Hope this helps.
2006-09-22 14:56:03 · answer #6 · answered by princess2grasshopper 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I used to manage a pet shop and I would not recommend a chinchilla for any child. They are quick to escape and they will bite.
2006-09-22 10:23:11 · answer #7 · answered by miamac49616 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If she wants to get one make sure you do research on how to care for them and then educate her on this. Make sure that she will care for it. Chinchillas are beautiful animals and I bet she'll love it--and you too!
2006-09-22 10:23:02 · answer #8 · answered by Elizabeth S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are very cute but can be a pain. Some can be mean and bite. They are very fast and hard to catch. They will get behind appliances and things. But it so sweet when they roll in the ashes to bathe. That's a tough one. I though about getting one too. I decided against it because we have dogs and they would go crazy.
2006-09-22 10:22:37 · answer #9 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not really...
There kinda high maitnence and arent really good for petting and cuddling.. Likely to bite..... They take a lot more time and care then hampsters.
2006-09-22 10:20:56 · answer #10 · answered by Becka 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋