Top > Before You buy
| 1. How Big Does A Chinchilla Get?
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A Chinchilla can grow to be about 9-11 inches long not including the bushy tail.
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admin, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 2. How Long Does A Chinchilla Live?
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A Chinchilla will live an average of 10-15 years. They have been known to live as long as 20+ years.
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admin, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 3. Do Chinchillas Make Good Pets?
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Most Do. Chinchillas who are handled and played with from birth almost always love people. Many chinchillas who have never been handled can learn to love people with a little time and patience. However, just like people, all chinchillas have there own personality and some chinchillas will just never be a very good pet.
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admin, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 4. How Do I Know Which One Will Be A Good Pet?
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The best way to be sure is to buy a chinchilla who is already tame. Some breeders, such as myself, work with babies from birth to ensure that they will be friendly. However, breeders are not always available. When choosing a chinchilla find one who is curious. Open the cage and place your hand just inside the cage and sit quietly. If the chinchilla comes up to investigate, he will most likely be easily tamed. If the chinchilla stays at the back and becomes agitated, possibly making "charring" noises, I would choose another. I am not at all saying that a shy chinchilla is not tamable, however in my experience it can take much much longer for them to warm up to you. For more info please view the Taming your Chinchilla artice. You will find the link in the menu on the Left of the screen.
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admin, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 5. Will I be allergic?
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Chinchillas do not have dander which is what causes most people to be allergic to pets. Those who can't own other animals can usually have chinchillas. Chinchillas do eat hay and take dust baths which can cause a problem to some people.
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admin, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 6. I'm gone a lot, is it possible to take a chinchilla with me?
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I wouldn't suggest it. Many chinchillas don't handle change well. You would also have to be very careful traveling with your chinchilla during the summer months. Chinchillas overheat very easily and could die within minutes in a hot car.
If there is someone at home to feed and water your chinchillas I would suggest getting a pair. They would keep each other company while you are away and will be there to greet you when you get home.
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Kendra Osborn, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 8. We would like to know how much Chinchilla cost? What do they need to sleep in and do they need bedding? What do you think we should keep it in? Also can we get them from a pet store or breeder?
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Chinchillas have different prices depending on their color and on where you buy them. A gray chinchilla from a breeder usually sells for $75-$85. The same chinchilla from a pet store would be $99-$125. Chinchillas need a wire cage (ferret type) with pine bedding. They need to be kept indoors in the air conditioning. A good cage will be $75 or more. Don't get a cage that has plastic where the chinchilla can get to it. Chinchillas will eat the plastic and get sick. They can also chew their way out if the bottom is plastic. Each chinchilla has its own personality so it is possible to find a tame chinchilla from a pet store, however, I suggest going to a breeder if you have one in your area. This way you will also know the background and age of your new pet.
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Lauren and Molly Allen, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 9. I do not live in the air conditioning. The last chinchilla I had, seemed to be okay with that. I did keep a fan in the room as well. Do you have any further advice?
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It really depends on what climate you live in. Chinchillas cool themselves by sending blood into their large ears. The room temperature cools the blood and then it is re-circulated throughout the body. Fans don't work since they only circulate air and do not cool it. Chinchillas have no other way to cool themselves so they can overheat in a matter of minutes. When deciding if the temperature is OK you must add the room temperature plus the humidity. If those two numbers added together are greater than 150 your chinchilla is in trouble. You can also tell when a chinchilla getting too hot by looking at the blood vessels in the ears. When it is too hot the ears will look bloodshot and the vessels will be enlarged.
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Elisabeth Riddle, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 11. Do Chinchillas take much care?
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Chinchillas require very little in the way of care. Fresh food, hay, and water daily, cage cleaning once a week, and a bowl of dust placed in the cage 3 times a week for about 20 mins for their bath...That's it. However, a single chinchilla needs your attention every day. They are very social creatures and get lonely if you don't spend some quality time with them each and every day. This doesn't mean you can't miss a day here and there, but you must give a single chinchilla regular love and affection. Pairs of chinchillas don't require as much interaction since they will have each other. They will still enjoy playing with you though.
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Nathan, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 13. Can they bite?
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Any animal with teeth has the ability to bite. Chinchillas rarely bite to cause pain. The usually use this as a last resort when they are very scared. Chinchillas do nibble to show affection and to check out a new person. Sometimes a young chinchilla can nibble too hard and pinch. This is easily correct with a firm "No!" and a gently nudging of the chinchilla away from your hand. It may take a few "No!s" but the chinchilla will learn quickly how hard is too hard. You shouldn't try to keep your chinchilla from giving you gentle nibbles. This is what all chinchilla families do to each other and you are after all, his family.
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Lizzy, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 15. I am in the US ARMY and I now live in Southern Germany.I will be moving to Kileen Texas next year and I wanted to know if the travel and climate of Texas could be too much and harm the chin.
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The easiest thing would be to wait until you are settled in the USA, however, I understand that would mean waiting a whole year for chinchillas.
If you are making the trip during the fall or Winter months you won't have to worry very much. You will need to check with your airlines for their policies. Many of them will consider chinchillas to be exotic and require then to be checked with your luggage and ride with the cargo.
If you are traveling during the summer months be sure to ask the policies for loading the animals. Sometimes the animals can sit on the runway for awhile while waiting to be loaded. On a hot day a chinchilla could die in a matter of minutes. The same is true during unload so it is important to check the temperatures in every city where there will be a flight switch as well as your destination area.
Car rides are easier to control. If you are traveling on a hot day, cool the car before you place the chinchillas in it. Keep them out of direct sunlight and somewhere were you can peek in on them. Watch their ears closely. If the ears become bloodshot you will know they are having to work hard to cool themselves.
Never leave a chinchilla in a parked car. Many people don't understand that it literally takes minutes to kill a chinchilla from overheating. Take turns going in for food and bathroom breaks so that the car can be left on with the a/c running.
Traveling with your chinchillas can be done it just takes careful planning and special precautions.
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SPC Jeremy M. Hawkins, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 16. I am considering getting a chinchilla I was just wondering if they have an odor.
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Chinchillas make a wonderful indoor pet because they have no odor. They do not have scent glands like ferrets or sugar gliders Their urine doesn't contain the strong ammonia scent associated with other small pets such as rabbits. They are clean animals and only require a weekly cage cleaning.
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jody, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
| 17. I've heard you can teach them tricks etc, what/how much can they learn, and how do i go about teaching them??
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For the average chinchilla I would say they don't learn tricks. However, I did know of a lady who trained her chinchillas to return to their cage when she said "Go Home". She accomplished this by putting the chinchillas into their cage after play time, shaking the raisin box, and saying "Go Home" again and again while she fed them their treat. After awhile they associated "Go Home" with treats and would run to the cage to get them.
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Denise, answered by admin, last updated Jul 30, 2010 |
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