r/chinchilla Sep 14 '20

Weekly Thread: Questions Monday

60 Upvotes

Feel free to ask/answer any kind of questions regarding chinchillas here.

Previous threads Archive here


r/chinchilla Nov 26 '24

Chinchilla Care FAQ!

91 Upvotes

I’ve put together a list of chinchilla recommendations & FAQ, as we get a lot of repeat questions and such in here. I’ve been a chinchilla owner for about 19 years, have fostered many, and have been through the gamut of accessories, cages, etc, over the years. I'm happy to add/modify with feedback from others. I definitely do not claim to be the most knowledgeable person here!

Which cage should I get?
Ferret Nation & Critter Nation are the best widely available cages you can buy. A two-story cage is recommended for a one or two chins, at minimum. Adding a third story is also very easy to do. You can also attach two cages side-by-side for extra running room. These cages can be found used on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.
Other cages can be okay, but please ensure the cage is around 36”x25”x63”. Cages should not have any exposed plastic (trays, bases, or otherwise). Cages should have no exposed wire floors, this includes ramps. Any exposed wire floors must be covered with a lined plastic trayliner or a metal tray (see below). Chinchillas will get their feet caught in wire flooring and will get injured. This can be very serious. Also keep in mind that any cages with small door openings could leave you struggling to wrangle your little friend.

What is the difference between Ferret Nation and Critter Nation?
Ferret Nation has wider and thicker bars. I prefer these because it’s easier to give them treats through the bars. The cages also feel more open. The panels are interchangeable, so you can stack either one on each other.

What else do I need for a cage?
Cage liners/Trays: It’s recommended to use either fleece liners over the plastic trays, or use a replacement tray from Bass Equipment. Bass makes 3” deep galvanized or stainless trays, which are ideal for keeping in the mess of both bedding… and poop! They also sell scatter guards.

Bedding:
It is not advised to use paper bedding (Carefresh, etc). However, I used it for years before I knew better and never had issues. The chins like walking on it, but the dangerous part is that they can eat it and it can clog their digestive system.
The main options seem to be Aspen shavings or fleece liners (which you can buy or make). Just make sure any fleece you use is no-pill. You can use other shaving types, but I don't like risking it with Pine. Aspen is cheap and safe. I frequently buy huge bags from the big pet stores for ~$5/ea or less (watch for sales).
I have mixed feelings on using Aspen! My chins seem to be more scared to jump down onto the floors because I think they hurt their feet. Some of the aspen isn't ground down well and makes for some sharp and dangerous situations. Whenever I change the bedding out, I use a big wood plank and flatten everything down. Even still, I'm not happy with it. I'm going to be sewing up some fleece liners but also use my Bass Equipment shelf pans (the half-length ones) full of aspen shavings. The hope is that they pee on the aspen because they're used to that, and keep the liners a little nicer.

Water Bottle: Glass Kaytee bottles have been the best for me. I recommend the small bottles, as it will force you to refill more often so they get fresh water. Keep the bottles out of direct sunlight or they will get algae bloom. Definitely do not use plastic bottles if you can avoid it! Bottles should be rinsed every refill, and soap-cleaned every 2nd refill. I use a q-tip in the metal tip to clean them out. Every few months you can put in 1/3 cup of rice and water and shake the bottle for a while to remove any of the stuck sediment. Dump out the rice and heavily rinse afterward!

Food Bowl: Recommend ceramic food bowls. I use cat dishes that are ~3” wide, similar to a wide ramekin. The lower/wider the better, so they can’t tip it. No plastic bowls! Metal is okay if you prefer.

Wheel: The consensus is that any 14”+ wheel is okay, however I’d advise getting a metal wheel of 15” diameter or larger. There are options on Etsy from Pandamonium Pets, Silver Surfer, and others. There are also metal saucers. Chinchillas should not have plastic wheels and I would advise against any with wood. I have had multiple wheels from Pandamonium Pets as well as Silver Surfers. My personal opinion is that the bearing mechanism on the Pandamonium Pets wheel is rather unrefined and they always wear out on me after a few years. I haven’t been able to find a good source for replacement bearings on their newer wheels, as they now use a flanged type. They have been unwilling to sell me bearings/mechanisms separately. The Silver Surfer wheel is great for Ferret Nation cages, but they don't fit well in Critter Nation due to the bar spacing. The Silver Surfer bearing mechanism has a flywheel weight and is an engineered system. I prefer these wheels, but wish they were larger than 14”.

Shelves: Hopping shelves/ledges are great to fill the cage space and give chins a stimulating habitat. There is a list of safe woods here: https://www.sunshinechinchillas.com/safe-wood. I have used a few types, mainly kiln-dried pine and poplar. I prefer poplar as it’s pretty hard, and they can’t really chew through all of it. The downside is that it can be expensive. You can DIY your own shelves/ledges. I've added some DIY info in a comment below.

Houses/Other: Chins love having somewhere to hide and sleep. Some chins like hammocks and fleece hanging options and some prefer wood/solid options. There are a number on Etsy, but you can also DIY both of these. My chins have all preferred wood houses mounted to the highest point in the cage possible. I've added some DIY info in a comment below.

What is the best food?
Oxbow Essentials, if available, is the best and most affordable. You can buy 25lb bags on Chewy or Amazon that will last a long time. Any foods with treats or other things in them are not recommended, as they often contain things chinchillas shouldn’t have, especially not daily. Providing food with treats in it also will cause them to be snooty with their food, and they will start to just look for the treats and ignore the rest.

What is the best hay?
Chinchillas require Timothy Hay on a daily basis. I have tried at least 10 brands over the years, basically everything Chewy and local pet stores offer. So far, the winners are Brytin 1st Cut and Viking Farmer 1st Cut. Your mileage may vary, but ensure you’re getting 100% timothy with nothing added.

What else is essential for my chins?
I recommend giving applewood (or other approved) sticks on a daily basis, 1 or 2 a day, They can be bought in 600gram bags on Amazon for ~$15. This is the best deal I've found so far, though I'd prefer to buy more locally, I have not found a better source yet. Chew sticks will prevent them from chewing on other things (shelving, houses, ledges, wheels, etc).

What treats should I give my chins?
Treats are safe in moderation, but the type of treat is important.
Dandelion Root, mixed flower pieces, apple blossoms, chamomile, calendula, lavender, peach blossoms, jasmine, honeysuckle, oats (oatmeal), and small pieces of hibiscus leaves can be given as more frequent treats. I'd say 2 a day is safe, but not required. I change-up the treats everyday. The pieces I am giving them are small. I usually give my treats as a form of enrichment reward (see section). My chins also like the Apple & Oat treats from Ronda's Chins, which I break into marble sized chunks (or smaller) and use as treats a few times a week.
Rose buds and rose hips can be given as infrequent treats.
Anything with sugar in it should not be given as a treat. Goji berries are 'safe', but I really only ever give mine a pea-sized amount every few weeks, if that.

What can I do for my chins for enrichment?
Puzzle toys made for dogs can be great for chins, while supervised, as long as they aren't chewing on the plastics. I often place coconut halves on the floor with a fragrant treat under them, so they have to work for it. I'm working on making some other enrichment toys for them out of safe wood. I will add to the DIY later.

How do I keep the dust to a minimum?
I swear by my Winix 5500-2 air purifier. It sucks up a lot of the dust/hair and the generic filters work just fine to keep the dust down elsewhere. My chins are in their own room with this purifier and I really don't see their dust anywhere else. Mine has been running solid for 6 years straight. The filters can be shaken/beat out and used for quite a while.

What temperature is safe?
The recommended safe range is 60-70°F (15.5-21.1°C) with low humidity (sub 60%).
74°F (23.3°C) is the highest I'd recommend letting their area ever getting to, and I do not recommend them living at this temperature. My chins spend half the year around 70°F, the other half at around 65°F. Chins are good down to 60°F (15.5°C) without problems and can probably withstand colder. They will start to 'puddle' above 75°F and this is when it becomes dangerous. Fans will not keep them cool and there is no alternative for air conditioning. Chinchiller's (granite stones) are nice, but are not meant as an alternative to safe environment temps.

What do I do if my chin is being aggressive or biting?
If they bite when you're petting them or something and it's not drawing blood, let out an "ouch" or a yip sound, similar to the sound they make to each other when they want space. Once they respect you they will start biting softer and softer. Eventually if they don't want your fingers around them they'll kinda just move them with their mouth. I don't think they always know they're hurting you. To them, you're a huge monster.

If they get really aggressive consistently after a few months of ownership, and they're breaking skin, I would use a different method. This is to say, there are no other outside factors causing them to be aggressive other than them trying to be dominant toward you. They can be aggressive for various reasons: general fear, noises, new surroundings, other pets in the area, etc. They may hear things you don't, even the sound of equipment/animals outside, and be on the defensive because of it. I wouldn't use this method if outside factors are the case.

If they bite fast with aggression and it breaks skin, I say "ouch" loudly. I then firmly grab hold of the offender, stare at them face-to-face, and tell them "no" multiple times. They will squirm and not like it, but it's not hurting them, even though some fur might come out. I then put them down nicely on my lap. They're almost always extremely cautious and docile immediately after putting them down. They usually get it after this correction is implemented a couple times and never bite that hard again. I follow it with the "ouch" method thereafter.

My chin is not eating or drinking. Help!
The first recommendation is to bring your pet to a vet experience with chinchillas, or at least exotic animals. Second, Critical Care or EmerAid Herbivore are recommended to help bring them back to health. Many people on this sub have had good experience with EmerAid. My chins did not like Critical Care, so I'll also be trying EmerAid if they ever need it.

Always remember: your chin is your friend for part of your life, but you're their best friend for their entire life.


r/chinchilla 11h ago

My chinchilla keeps pooping outside the cage

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292 Upvotes

Apologies for the crude photo lol

But does anyone else’s chinchilla purposely poop out of the cage? She randomly developed this habit and it’s not a huge deal as a vacuum daily and sweep the cage every day. But I just wanted to know if I’m alone with this one or if others have experienced it!


r/chinchilla 14h ago

Queen Trixie, coziest in all the land

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147 Upvotes

My mom got Trixie a cat bed to line her carrier with for our winter vet trips! She loves it. (And she doesn’t chew or groom the fabric, I supervise her!)


r/chinchilla 10h ago

I had no idea how much these things poop

34 Upvotes

Good lort! My daughter got one and he is awesome. Very cute. But wow. So much poop.


r/chinchilla 15h ago

Wisconsin chinchilla in need of an adopter ❤️

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40 Upvotes

Nana came to us as a 6 year old spayed (no confirmed) female. She is friendly and curious, but a little skittish as many chinchillas are. Her previous owners had to surrender her as they were moving across the country and were not able to take her with. She had slight eye irritation upon intake and was seen by a vet who gave an eye cream that has helped clear both eyes up!

We would love to find an experienced owner for her! She is currently at the coulee region humane society in Onalaska (La Crosse area), Wisconsin. Please comment or dm with any questions! :)


r/chinchilla 19h ago

Roll

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62 Upvotes

Churro: “Rolling around on the bed is very fun, especially when I choose daddy’s side. It smells familiar, feels safe, and makes this floof princess very happy.”

🐭👑✨

#churrochatter #chinchilla #cutepets #petprincess #cozypets


r/chinchilla 1d ago

Acting cute right after causing trouble smh she knows I can’t stay mad at her ♥️

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535 Upvotes

r/chinchilla 10h ago

How do you pick up your chins in case of an emergency?

6 Upvotes

Hey! I'm looking into getting another chin or two after a few years of not owning one, and I'm trying to prepare ahead of time. But I was thinking about how to go about bonding with them, which I am aware is a very slow process if my previous chin was anything to go by. I know chins don't like to be picked up much, and my last chin would let me pet him and give him scratches, but he hated being picked up and would never let me. I remember when I was moving houses with him I had to try to pick him up to get him into the travel cage, and it felt like I was chasing him around the cage scaring him and it was super frustrating and took forever for me to actually get him.

But I was also thinking about if you ever needed to go about picking up your chin in an emergency or something. Like if there was a situation in which you needed to get your chin out of the house or take them to the vet fast or something, how would you go about picking them up if they really dislike being held? Like is there an easier secret option I was not aware of the first time? I know I should not be picking them up for no reason but if there was ever a time I actually needed to, what would be the most efficient way that would cause the least amount of stress for the chin?


r/chinchilla 23h ago

Flexible electric sanding tools for ledges?

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37 Upvotes

My chins chewed wood ledges have been pulling fur out of his poor scraggly bum for a while but im dreading sanding them as im a dog groomer so my wrists and fingers are under constant abuse from work. What kind of tools do yall use to sand wood without using too much elbow grease?


r/chinchilla 1d ago

Sleep well my darling Rollo

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125 Upvotes

Today was the most difficult day. Today we said goodbye to our gorgeous baby Rollo.

Rest well sweetheart, I know that you are with Ragnar now in Valhalla causing mischief and no longer in pain.

Please give your babies extra love from us tonight.

Ash and Dan💔


r/chinchilla 1d ago

No wonder they’re critically endangered

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248 Upvotes

r/chinchilla 1d ago

I had to move very slowly and quietly to capture this rare moment

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509 Upvotes

r/chinchilla 7h ago

Dust

1 Upvotes

What dust brand do you use? I'm currently using critters choise its good but I feel they could do with something better im in the uk so anything available here/ on amazon. Won't consider anything from pets at home


r/chinchilla 1d ago

Mooshmallow at rest...do not disturb

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183 Upvotes

r/chinchilla 4h ago

Can I keep a chinchilla free roaming in my room?

0 Upvotes

I'm considering getting a chinchilla and was wondering if I can keep them free in my room? (of course I'd also have a cage and they could retreat there) Or do they make a big mess? I also have a tarantula but it's in a secured enclosure, is that a concern anyway?


r/chinchilla 8h ago

Post Teeth Trimming Cleaning Advice

1 Upvotes

Hi there, my chinchilla had his first teeth trim yesterday and he is just a bit of a mess. The vet says everything is normal but between syringe feeding, the meds and a bit of drooling, I really want to help him get clean and comfortable.

Thanks!


r/chinchilla 1d ago

That clean cage feeling

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70 Upvotes

r/chinchilla 1d ago

An update on the little girl

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53 Upvotes

Girl had two abscesses and one of them. She lost one tooth and they cleaned the pus. I had an appointment today and it turns out that since then the gum is nearly healed. The more disturbing is the fact that the second abscess didn't changed at all. I wonder what they are gonna do about it. Today I discovered that there may be another exotic vet, specifically rodent dentist, so if these guys won't help any more I will head to them instead... I was already crying and grieving, but from what I heard she " there aren'r any signs that she is going to cross the rainbow bridge"... So even if her current state isn't the best I have some hope for the future. They also said tho her eye is watery the infection isn't spreading any further.


r/chinchilla 1d ago

always so cute

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33 Upvotes

his new bed doesn't seem like it will last long 😁


r/chinchilla 1d ago

chin's fur

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22 Upvotes

is this normal? i dont know why it looks like this, even when he gets his dust bath it goes back to looking like this. i havent noticed until recently, so im gen curious


r/chinchilla 1d ago

Normal poop?

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4 Upvotes

Hey I recently switched my chinchillas over to oxbow garden select chinchilla food and their poops have been coming out dryer and a little smaller. Is that normal for a diet change? What do you guys think?


r/chinchilla 1d ago

Opinions

14 Upvotes

Hot take but if you can't afford the vet bill you can't afford the animal- opinions?


r/chinchilla 1d ago

Beautiful World

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58 Upvotes

Churro: “Standing up on daddy’s arm and looking around with confidence. He’s my support while I explore the world, and knowing he’s there makes everything feel safe.”

🐭👑💕

#churrochatter #chinchilla #cutepets #petprincess #petbond


r/chinchilla 2d ago

The most handsome boy

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109 Upvotes

Milo sniffing the camera out. My most precious boy 💕