i am getting a chinchilla and i need to know what to expect and 4 star care tips
I don't own a chinchilla, so an owner may correct me, however I have done a lot of research:
Cage - Height is better than floor space, preferably with wouldn't shelves in so it there is no strain from wire on their feet. They also need a nesting box with hay in, to feel safe and hide in if they feel threatened and to sleep in. A Wheel, I believe is not reccommended for chinchillas. You'll also need toys to keep them amused. A heavy bowl is a must, so they are not able to push it off a shelf, if this is where you choose to put it. They also need a dust bath every 3 days or so, to keep their coat clean, which you will need to supply them with, which can be kept in the cage, or given to them when they are out of the cage for controlled play.
Food - Chinchillas cannot tollerate high sugars or fats in their diets, so don't be tempted to feed them anything sweet or fatty. Where they're originally from (mountains) they have a pretty boring diet, so they don't know any different. A complete chinchilla diet will suffice fine
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They should be bought out of their cage at least an hour a day, for supervised play, which will probably be more running and hiding than actually interacting with you. Be warned, their teeth never stop growning, so supplying toys they can chew will keep their teeth small. PLEASE never give your chinchilla plastic, as it can be fatal if they eat it. I believe there are some woods that are not suitable for chinchillas aswell, you'll need to check that yourself.
And the last thing, depending where you live, you'll need to be careful with the heat. Chinchillas have thick fur, and come from a naturally cold place, so they do not cope well in heat, and can easily over heat. So keep an eye on that. People often use fans if their chinchilla gets too hot, and I've read one time where a woman put her chinchilla in the fridge because he was so dangerously hot, and it just saved its life in time.
The VERY last thing. Chincihllas can live up to 20 years. So don't buy one lightly, thinking it will live 2 years like a hamster, or even 7 like a rabbit. It lives a similar lifetime to a dog or cat. So just be warned, and ENJOY YOUR CHINCHILLA:)
look at charlie g. doesnt even have a chin and he gives you that answer. best answer to him
for food chips with chillies
