What is the bad thing about keeping a chinchilla?

Question

I wanted a chinchilla because I think they make a great pet for me but before I buy one I need to know what is the bad thing about keeping a chinchilla.

Answer 1

The initial costs are pretty high; good quality and appropriately sized cages can go upwards of $100, a good wheel (flying saucer) is around $80, and you need lots of safe chew toys to keep a chinchilla's teeth trimmed.

They CAN be tamed and they CAN learn to like to be held and cuddled, but this usually takes a very long time as they cannot be fed a lot training treats like dogs and cats. The training process can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months..

They are very active and need at least an hour of out-of-cage exercise a day. Be sure that your room is chinchilla-proof: no wires, plastic, or anything dangerous they can chew on and ingest.

Chins are very susceptible to heat stroke so the room temperature should always be around 75 degrees F maximum.

They are very fragile and if dropped or held the wrong way, health problems can ensue. Same goes for diet; they need a very strict pellet diet with little fluctuations such as treats.

They are also considered exotic animals, though growing in popularity as pets, and your local vet may not treat exotics.

The average life span is 15-20 years so you must be committed and dedicated.

These are all the "bad" things about owning a chinchilla, but as any pet, the pros outweigh the cons greatly if you are serious about these cute, interesting, intelligent animals.

Answer 2

Alot depends on personality. There are some chinchillas that can be cute and cuddly, but others that are quite vicious. The main bad thing about chinchillas is that they aren't a "lap pet" like a cat or dog. A chinchilla will be very active and always on the go, it will probably not appreciate being over handled or cuddled too much.

Answer 3

the only negative thing i have to say is just that they chew a lot. and destroy plastics and stuff. so just make sure to get a metal cage. oh and boys can get hair rings on their penises that have to be checked for. other than that, they're awesome animals.

Answer 4

They die VERY easily like if you squeeze it a little too hard they'll die. and they DO NOT like to be disturbed during the day and don't like to be held either. And you need to watch out where they are because they LOVE to roam around. So watch out.

Answer 5

they are really cute, but they need to be able to have room to get out and run. If you do not live on your own that might be a problem because not everyone might like him running around. If you always keep them in a cage they will get depressed...and they start to lose their hair. and they chew...on everything! so when they are out you need to watch them, they can also hide and get stuck in places. also if your looking for a pet that you can hold and cuddle and pet, most will not let you do that. before ou get one do some reading, I am sure you can google more info..  I use to work in a pet store that sold them...and because they were so hyper many people would try to bring them back :(