If Exotic is Your Style, Think Chinchilla!
By Teresa Ambord
If you want a pet that is exotic and out of the ordinary, check out chinchillas. They are luxurious to the touch, and entertaining to watch. Unlike most pets, they produce very little smell, which, of course, adds to their appeal. Chins can live an average of 15, sometimes 20 years. If you have the right conditions to raise a chinchilla, they can give you years of joy and amusement.
Chinchillas do, however, have some special needs that you should know before you consider owning one. Here's a short lesson.
CHINCHILLA 101
Room to Roam
Chins like real estate. In other words, they love to run and climb within their cage. The mesh of the cage itself should be small enough that the chin does not get its feet caught in it. And the cage should be big enough to allow roaming. Like us, chins appreciate some privacy now and then, so adding some pieces of PVC pipe, or clay pipe or clay pots gives them the ability to have time out. Pine shelves within the cage are great for their climbing needs. For running, the chins love a good exercise wheel, about 15 inches or more across. Or, check out the "flying saucer" available for purchase at this Web site:
Day Sleepers
Chins are nocturnal pets. During the day they need a place to be quiet during the noise of the day. At night, they can be quite active, so if you can't provide a place where they can play without disturbing your sleep, a chin may not be the right pet for you.
Temperature Control, Please!
Temperature is an important consideration. One reason chinchilla fur is so soft is because it is quite thick. To illustrate, a human hair follicle sprouts one hair, while a chinchilla follicle sprouts about eighty. Heat in excess of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, or high humidity can cause chins to suffer heat stroke quickly. The ideal temperature for chins is in the 60s, with a relative humidity factor of forty percent.
A Dust Bowl?
Believe it or not, chinchillas enjoy a good bath. in the dust! That's right, a dust bath. Their fur has such high lanolin content that if they do not have a dust bath about three times a week, the fur separates and looks wet. Your local pet store should carry a special chinchilla dust for this purpose. Don't use anything not made for chinchillas. Just put an inch or two of chin dust in a container and watch the show. The chins get quite active in their baths, so use a container that doesn't tip easily, and has high sides to catch the flying dust. Special dust bath containers are available to purchase.
Feeding Time
You may wonder what chins eat. They require a lot of roughage. Mostly their diet should consist of high quality grass hay, along with some pellets made for chinchillas. They like treats, but treats should be given quite sparingly. A raisin is a good choice, but one raisin a day is plenty for their sensitive tummies. Or carrots, celery, apples, sunflower seeds, or rolled oats are also good, but no more than a teaspoon a day.