ChinChilla Lovers!!!!!
- Thread starter Edwin
- Start date
big E;1489816; said:
They live in a very dry climate. It rarely rains in the Andes mts. They roll around in pumice dust to clean off their thick fur. Mine's a little terrorist too, kicks bedding all over the place and pees on the floor every day.
We got our chinchilla about 3 months ago as a rescue. A ladies daughter had it, got married, left it with her. So she was wanting to give it away and we took it in. Love the little furballs. He looks like a grumpy old man.
Can't believe I forgot the dust bath! Ack!
Like everyone said it's a fine powder, you get it from a pet store. Don't get the course stuff it doesn't work well on them.
Don't use an aquarium for this as the dust is so fine that the little critters breath it in an it causes health problems. I used a 'bird cage' for their dust baths, which gave them good ventilation. Kinda funny looking but works.
Oh, another thing, keep some kind of lock/clip on all doors as they are smart and understand doors
.
Dr Joe
.
Like everyone said it's a fine powder, you get it from a pet store. Don't get the course stuff it doesn't work well on them.
Don't use an aquarium for this as the dust is so fine that the little critters breath it in an it causes health problems. I used a 'bird cage' for their dust baths, which gave them good ventilation. Kinda funny looking but works.
Oh, another thing, keep some kind of lock/clip on all doors as they are smart and understand doors
.Dr Joe
.
Dr Joe;1490295; said:Can't believe I forgot the dust bath! Ack!
Like everyone said it's a fine powder, you get it from a pet store. Don't get the course stuff it doesn't work well on them.
Don't use an aquarium for this as the dust is so fine that the little critters breath it in an it causes health problems. I used a 'bird cage' for their dust baths, which gave them good ventilation. Kinda funny looking but works.
Oh, another thing, keep some kind of lock/clip on all doors as they are smart and understand doors
Dr Joe
.
You are NOT lying about the door part! One of mine is constantly trying to open the doors of the cage. I've seen her trying to shover paper shavings, pieces of wood, paper towel tubes, and her food bowl into the part of the door that clips in to try to get it open. I've had to use a caribiner clip on the door to keep it shut, but she's been trying to pry that off too lately.
Dr Joe;1490295; said:Can't believe I forgot the dust bath! Ack!
Like everyone said it's a fine powder, you get it from a pet store. Don't get the course stuff it doesn't work well on them.
Don't use an aquarium for this as the dust is so fine that the little critters breath it in an it causes health problems. I used a 'bird cage' for their dust baths, which gave them good ventilation. Kinda funny looking but works.
Oh, another thing, keep some kind of lock/clip on all doors as they are smart and understand doors
Dr Joe
.
I also connected a bird cage mite controller to the chin's dusting cage. It seriously cuts down on the rashes they occassionally get from dust mites. Not to mention on the amount of "crawlies" in the house.
Aww.... they are so cute! lol one of my teachers has one she never stops talking, and shes got pictures of it on the wall.
*Dust baths should be given to your chinchilla 2-4 times a week. It removes all oil from the fur.
*Dont give your chinchilla too many fruits or vegetables, they are very senstive and these can give them a upset stomache and cavites. Good treats are dark leafy greens (no head lettus).
*If you buy a huge platic ball for him to run around in never leave him(or her) in it longer than 30-40 minutes.
*They live a long time, I know someone that has had one for 32 years.
*If you hurt them or they think you hurt them they have great memory and they will hold it against you for a long time.
*DO NOT feed charly chinchilla food or other types of food that have a mix of a bunch of crap in it. It will make them sick and shorten their life span by almost half. Feed a pellet only diet and unlimited amounts of hay, NO alfalfa hay after 6 months age.
*Make sure you have a multi-level cage and you always buy new toys for your chinchilla. They are very smart and if they get bored they will eat their fur.
*Seeds are not good for chinchillas, so its a bad idea to buy treats with seed, especially sunflower seeds, in them.
*Dont give your chinchilla too many fruits or vegetables, they are very senstive and these can give them a upset stomache and cavites. Good treats are dark leafy greens (no head lettus).
*If you buy a huge platic ball for him to run around in never leave him(or her) in it longer than 30-40 minutes.
*They live a long time, I know someone that has had one for 32 years.
*If you hurt them or they think you hurt them they have great memory and they will hold it against you for a long time.
*DO NOT feed charly chinchilla food or other types of food that have a mix of a bunch of crap in it. It will make them sick and shorten their life span by almost half. Feed a pellet only diet and unlimited amounts of hay, NO alfalfa hay after 6 months age.
*Make sure you have a multi-level cage and you always buy new toys for your chinchilla. They are very smart and if they get bored they will eat their fur.
*Seeds are not good for chinchillas, so its a bad idea to buy treats with seed, especially sunflower seeds, in them.
