Post by mistywaterwoman on Jan 11, 2010 14:55:12 GMT -5
We've all been there - you get a new chin and you think the people at the pet store actually have a clue and have steered you in the right direction. Nope, they know nothing, and you've probably wasted a ton of money on supplies that are unsafe.
Here is a short list of some of the most common mistakes that we've all made and learned from the hard way.
Small cage, with plastic shelves - most pet stores recommend the Super Pet My First Home for chinchillas. If you really have just one (and are going to stay at just one), it's not that bad of a cage for size. However, it's filled with plastic shelves and accessories, and those need to be replaced before your chin starts to chew on them. Making your own shelves is not hard, we have a guide here: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diyhousing&action=display&thread=4502
or there are others you can purchase custom shelves from, like www.simplychintastic.com
Low Quality Pellets & treats - most chinchilla foods available at pet stores look like hamster food, they are filled with seeds and treats. These are not high enough quality to keep your chin from becoming malnourished.
Pets Mart carries Mazuri Chinchilla and Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe, both high quality pellets that will keep your chin at optimum health.
Treats sold in pet stores are high in sugar and in fat. Chins lack the gland that processes sugar, so avoid any treats from the VitaKraft line. A better, more nutritious treat (and cheaper too) is to use a tiny pinch of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats or a plain cheerio. Treats should be given in moderation, one tiny treat per day, or even only a couple of times a week.
Exercise Balls - Those giant plastic exercise balls sold in pet stores are commonly referred to around here as "Death Balls", because they are HIGHLY unsuitable for chinchillas. There is not enough ventilation in them (despite the many slits) and a chin can very quickly overheat in those things and even die. Also, chins don't run, they HOP, so to use a ball, they are constantly banging themselves around in there, and that has got to be a nightmare for them. A better solution is to buy a gate system sold for ferrets and set up a safe play area within it for playtime. Marshall makes a great ferret playpen and you can get it at www.ferret.com
Unfiltered Water - water from your tap can (and most likely does) contain a parasite that causes Giardia, which results in your chin having soft smooshy poop all over it's cage. Giardia takes MONTHS of repetitive treatment under a vet's care to clear up, and you also have to spend all that time constantly cleaning the cage and sanding down any wood so that they don't get RE-infected. Use only bottled water or you can purchase a PUR Stage 3 water filter to prevent this from happening.
Fabric beds, tunnels, liners - the only safe fabric to use around chinchillas is fleece, they will chew any other kind and it can cause the strings to become wrapped around their intestines. (Although some chins will even chew fleece, and then it should be removed.)
The pet beds and tunnels available at pet stores are for ferrets and guinea pigs, and are not suitable for chins. You can make fleece items for yourself with the instruction in our DIY section: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diyhousing or buy some from any of our wonderful members who thankfully market their talents: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=resources&action=display&thread=7327
*Note: using a towel for a cage liner can be a deadly rookie mistake! Please use shavings until you can have a fleece liner sewn up instead.
Wire or Plastic Wheels - Both are accidents waiting to happen. Wire wheels can trap toes and cause broken legs. Plastic wheels can be chewed and cause intestinal blockages. Plastic wheels have also been known to come apart, trapping the chinchilla under the wheel who then suffocates.
Also, most wire or plastic wheels sold at pet stores are simply not large enough for a chin to comfortably run on, and the middle pegs force the chin to bow their back unnaturally, which can be painful over time.
The best thing you can do is throw those out and invest in a large metal wheel of at least 15". They are more expensive but will last the lifetime of your pet. You can find good solid surface wheels at:
www.qualitycage.com
Inferior Dust - Pet stores sell Kaytee dust, scented dust, bath sand and bath powder. None of them are really good for chinchillas. The better grades of dust are sold primarily on line, although you might be able to get a feed store to carry them for you. The best choices are :
Blue Cloud: www.lonestarchinchilla.com
Blue Sparkle: www.chinchillas.com/estore
LM Animal Farms: www.petstore.com
Adding new chins - what the pet store people never mention is that when you get a second chinchilla it's best to quarantine them for 30 days. That means using a separate cage, in a separate room and having no interaction between the 2 chins, just in case the new chin may be harboring some health issues that haven't shown up yet. Introductions should go slowly, and you can read more about both quarantines and intros here: www.freewebs.com/mistywaterwoman/behaviorhealth.htm
For a more comprehensive chin care guide, visit my website at www.petchinchillas.info
Here is a short list of some of the most common mistakes that we've all made and learned from the hard way.
Small cage, with plastic shelves - most pet stores recommend the Super Pet My First Home for chinchillas. If you really have just one (and are going to stay at just one), it's not that bad of a cage for size. However, it's filled with plastic shelves and accessories, and those need to be replaced before your chin starts to chew on them. Making your own shelves is not hard, we have a guide here: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diyhousing&action=display&thread=4502
or there are others you can purchase custom shelves from, like www.simplychintastic.com
Low Quality Pellets & treats - most chinchilla foods available at pet stores look like hamster food, they are filled with seeds and treats. These are not high enough quality to keep your chin from becoming malnourished.
Pets Mart carries Mazuri Chinchilla and Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe, both high quality pellets that will keep your chin at optimum health.
Treats sold in pet stores are high in sugar and in fat. Chins lack the gland that processes sugar, so avoid any treats from the VitaKraft line. A better, more nutritious treat (and cheaper too) is to use a tiny pinch of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats or a plain cheerio. Treats should be given in moderation, one tiny treat per day, or even only a couple of times a week.
Exercise Balls - Those giant plastic exercise balls sold in pet stores are commonly referred to around here as "Death Balls", because they are HIGHLY unsuitable for chinchillas. There is not enough ventilation in them (despite the many slits) and a chin can very quickly overheat in those things and even die. Also, chins don't run, they HOP, so to use a ball, they are constantly banging themselves around in there, and that has got to be a nightmare for them. A better solution is to buy a gate system sold for ferrets and set up a safe play area within it for playtime. Marshall makes a great ferret playpen and you can get it at www.ferret.com
Unfiltered Water - water from your tap can (and most likely does) contain a parasite that causes Giardia, which results in your chin having soft smooshy poop all over it's cage. Giardia takes MONTHS of repetitive treatment under a vet's care to clear up, and you also have to spend all that time constantly cleaning the cage and sanding down any wood so that they don't get RE-infected. Use only bottled water or you can purchase a PUR Stage 3 water filter to prevent this from happening.
Fabric beds, tunnels, liners - the only safe fabric to use around chinchillas is fleece, they will chew any other kind and it can cause the strings to become wrapped around their intestines. (Although some chins will even chew fleece, and then it should be removed.)
The pet beds and tunnels available at pet stores are for ferrets and guinea pigs, and are not suitable for chins. You can make fleece items for yourself with the instruction in our DIY section: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diyhousing or buy some from any of our wonderful members who thankfully market their talents: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=resources&action=display&thread=7327
*Note: using a towel for a cage liner can be a deadly rookie mistake! Please use shavings until you can have a fleece liner sewn up instead.
Wire or Plastic Wheels - Both are accidents waiting to happen. Wire wheels can trap toes and cause broken legs. Plastic wheels can be chewed and cause intestinal blockages. Plastic wheels have also been known to come apart, trapping the chinchilla under the wheel who then suffocates.
Also, most wire or plastic wheels sold at pet stores are simply not large enough for a chin to comfortably run on, and the middle pegs force the chin to bow their back unnaturally, which can be painful over time.
The best thing you can do is throw those out and invest in a large metal wheel of at least 15". They are more expensive but will last the lifetime of your pet. You can find good solid surface wheels at:
www.qualitycage.com
Inferior Dust - Pet stores sell Kaytee dust, scented dust, bath sand and bath powder. None of them are really good for chinchillas. The better grades of dust are sold primarily on line, although you might be able to get a feed store to carry them for you. The best choices are :
Blue Cloud: www.lonestarchinchilla.com
Blue Sparkle: www.chinchillas.com/estore
LM Animal Farms: www.petstore.com
Adding new chins - what the pet store people never mention is that when you get a second chinchilla it's best to quarantine them for 30 days. That means using a separate cage, in a separate room and having no interaction between the 2 chins, just in case the new chin may be harboring some health issues that haven't shown up yet. Introductions should go slowly, and you can read more about both quarantines and intros here: www.freewebs.com/mistywaterwoman/behaviorhealth.htm
For a more comprehensive chin care guide, visit my website at www.petchinchillas.info