Chichi & Chuppie

Well Chinchillas can be a handful- they require a lot of attention. They sleep mostly during the day, and party all night. They require a variety of snacks and a safe place to run and play and a stable cage to hang out in. Small children under the age of 10 should never be responsible or left to care for these sensitive pets. Diet: Chinchillas are herbivores. They are fed a pelleted alfalfa product. This should be supplemented with plenty of Timothy Hay. Grains like oat groats, rolled oats, and wheat can also be given in limited amounts. Small quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables like carrots, apples, pears and bananas offer a variety to the diet. A raisin or two once in a while is a great treat. Supplementing their diet with a daily multi-vitamin in their food is recommended Fresh water should always be available in a water bottle. Housing: Chinchillas can best be kept in cages. They can be very active so a large can is essential. They enjoy climbing and jumping so the cage should have multiple levels.If the cage has a wire bottom there should be a solid floor in part of the cage so that the animal isn't constantly standing on wire. A layer of bedding material should cover the bottom of the cage. A hiding space is essential. Handling & Care: Chinchillas are fairly quiet, gentle animals that require very little care. If handled when they are young, they remain tame and docile with regular handling. They have a rather delicate rib cage so they must be handled with care to avoid injury Slide your hand under the Chinchilla's chest and gently lift while supporting the hind end with the other hand. Cradle the animal next to your chest. Be careful not to grab the fur. One of the Chinchillas' defenses is throw off hair. If a predator tries to bite a Chinchilla, the Chinchilla will release fur leaving the attacker with a mouthful of fur while the Chinchilla escapes. Chinchillas need to dust bathe to maintain their luxurious coats. This is best accomplished by removing the animal from the cage and allowing them to dust bathe in a room that is easy to clean. Put the dust bath (volcanic ash) in an open container like a cat's litter pan. Fill the container about 1 inch deep with the dust. Place the chinchilla near the pan and watch the fun. (Placing the litter pan in a dry bath tub, or shower stall makes for easier clean up.) Let the animal dust bathe for 15 -20 minutes once or twice a week. Traditionally pine shavings have been used as bedding material for these animals, but recent studies indicate that the phenols in pine that cause their aroma, also can lead to health problems in animals that have direct exposure over an extended period of time. Aspen bedding is a much better and safer choice. Never use cedar shavings for Chinchillas, as the phenols are very strong and cause serious respiratory, skin, coat and liver problems.

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