Does anyone have a chinchilla?

Question

I have a few questions about chinchillas it would be great if someone could aswer all of them for me.

ok so here's what I'd like to know:

1. what do they need and how much will all of it cost?

2. how much do chinchillas cost?

3. how many should I keep? 1 or 2?

4. how often do they need the dust bath?

5. what is the best kind of cage?

6. how often to clean the cage?

7. how long/often to play with him/her

8. is there anything else I will need to know?

I know this is a really long question but it would be really nice if someone could give me a good answer. thnx.

Answer 1

1. what do they need and how much will all of it cost? They need a large cage, sand for them to bathe in, sawdust, food, and toys, and it will cost quite a lot.

2. how much do chinchillas cost? Depending on which breed it is, it should cost anout £100-£200

3. how many should I keep? 1 or 2? If you want to breed, two.

4. how often do they need the dust bath? Several times a day.

5. what is the best kind of cage? A tall one, with floors.

6. how often to clean the cage? Once a week is a good idea.

7. how long/often to play with him/her? As often as you can

8. is there anything else I will need to know? They are very cute, and quite clever!

Answer 2

i have a year old grey chinchilla named debie

1.) it is kinda expensive. They need things to chew at all time, just little wooden things, nothing dyed.

2.) depends but chinchillas usually range from $90-$300. Mine was $90 and she was a standard grey.

3.) start out with 1. they are a good amount of work and get into everything.

4.) 1 a week in winter. 2ish in summer. it cools them off and cleans them. Only let them have the dust bath for like 10 min longer than that and they will use it as a potty. Dust can be re-used about 3-4 times or more. dust is messy. U can just use a shoe box. I bought a special container thinking it would keep the dust from going everywhere but its still gets everywhere. Dont get dust that is cented or anything.

5.) Big cage with lots of room.

6.) i clean the cage 1 every 2 weeks or so.

7.)they are very skitish so play with them as much as possible so they get used to being handeled. I am now able to kiss mine on the nose without her biting.

8.) They are very crazy. Very skitish. Mine tends to jump around and throw her bedding all over so keep a broom near by. For a wheel, dont buy a wheel that has bars. if they get their feet caught in the bar while running it could badly injure them. They have very sensitive digestive tracks. Limited amounts of treats. No treats at all until 6 months. So dont buy chin food with all the goodies in it just pellets. Alfalfa is really good for them. They can run around the room, just dont get them near electrical plugs. I got tired of letting mine run around the room and chew the c**p out of everything so i got one of those large balls like for hamsters and she loves it.

this, idk if its just my chinchilla, but she absolutly adores being scratched under her chin. I do that and she tilts her head back and closes her eyes.  

hope this helps

Answer 3

I have a beige chinchilla named Gem.

1. All her first supplies costed about $300~cage, bedding, food, hay, hayrack, food bowl, water bottle, playpen, dust bath, exercise ball, treats, chew toys, hut, other toys.

2. She costed $100 but they range from $50 to $200 depending on the color.

3. 1 if you're short on money and can devote the time. 2 if you're busy often and have money to spare.

4. A dust bath is needed every 3 days or so.

5. I got a regular two level cage by superpet; the bigger the better.

6. I clean the cage thoroughly once a week but always change the dirty spots of bedding.

7. I play with her every day whenever she's up.

8. They're more energetic early in the morning or at night. They love to chew, sniff, and nibble, so chin-proof your playroom.

Answer 4

I have one and they are awesome.  My husband gave me one for Mother's Day.  He is a white male that I named Carlos.  I got my Chinchilla at PetSmart for $150.  He is very healthy.  The PetSmart where I got him takes great care of their pets.  You may find a breeder that is a little cheaper.  To do all of the set up for Carlos was around $350 and that included everything.  The cage was around $100.  I got him a two story cage because they need room to jump and explore.  Get a cage where the bars are very close together.  I got the Chinchilla starter kit at PetSmart and Carlos could escape through the bars.  You wouldn't think he could by looking at him but he did.  Chinchillas are very social.  I would keep two but I can't afford to.  I just have Carlos but I spend a lot of time with him.  I give him a dust bath about every other day.  You don't need to do it more than three times a week.  If you dust them too much their skin will dry out and if you do it too little their skin will get oily.  Carlos loves his dust bath.  It is so fun to watch him. Get the Kaytee dust.  You can use the dust more than once.  I am able to use it a few times before changing it.  I use carefresh bedding.  It is the best for Chinchillas.  Don't use wood shavings because it is not good for them.  I change the cage weekly.  I play with him daily.  I go up to the cage and talk to him throughout the day.  At night I let him run around in his exercise ball.  He loves it.  He is getting exercise but he is contained.  I also give him his treat.  I give him two raisins each evening.  Chinchillas love raisins and it is so adorable to watch them eat their reasons but no more than two because they can't have a lot of sugar in their diet or they could get really sick and die.  I give Carlos the Nutriphase Chinchilla Pellets.  Chinchillas aren't huge eaters or drinkers.  Make sure fresh water is always available.  Also, give them an unlimited amount of Timothy Hay.  Put a wood chew toy in their cage because their teeth are continuously growing and you don't want them to grow out of control.  I have a wood chew that I got a PetSmart.  It is a metal chain that hooks to the cage and it has a bunch of wood blocks attached to it.  If you let your Chinchilla loose please do it in a room where the doors are closed because they jump high and fast and are very hard to catch.  My Chinchilla is very friendly and has never bitten me but he was a little timid at first.  You have to earn his trust.  They tolerate being held but they don't love it.  I love their fur.  It is awesome.  It is the most beautiful fur that I have ever felt.  They can live up to 15 years so that is a plus.  I hope that I was helpful.  I saw someone recommend Alfalfa and that is fine occasionally but not daily because it will make them fat.  Give them timothy hay daily.  They don't really need any treats.  A couple of raisins daily is plenty.

Answer 5

Here's some great research material:

http://www.petinfopackets.com/chinchilla...

http://www.chinformation.org/forum/

http://www.chincare.com/

http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/ind...

http://www.cheekychinchillas.com/