The captive diet consists of 12 tbsp of high quality chinchilla or rabbit pellets, freechoice high quality grass hay, and small amounts of fresh vegetables. Getting your first chinchilla can be an exciting ordeal. These rodents are known for their large ears and soft, luxurious fur. Diets that include seeds and treats seem to be nicer for your pet, but many chinchillas will only pick out the treats and not eat the pellets. The longtailed chinchilla chinchilla laniger is native to the mountains and foothills of the andes in. In the united states there are now over 3000 ranchers and growing populations of pet chinchillas. We teamed up with the members of lets love chinchilla s and created this ultimate checklist for new owners. To care for a chinchilla is actually a lot of things. Find chinchillas available for rehoming on our find a pet page. Chinchillas are fun, energetic pets that are fairly easy to care for. Hay can be offered if your chinchilla will not eat timothy hay. Caring for your pet chinchilla nc state veterinary medicine.
Greens fresh greens are a vital part of your pet s daily diet. Multiple wooden ledges metal or ceramic food dish glass water bottle a dust bath house chew toys hideaway house hay rackfeeder no plastic optional. Petcos selection of books on chinchillas and the variety of private brand products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. If you own or are responsible for a chinchilla, even on a temporary basis, you are required under the animal welfare act to care for them properly. Below is a list of everything your pet will need for his home, diet, and health. Dont try to catch your chinchilla yet but give the treat and let go again a few times. A setup guide for new chinchilla parents tips for habitat, grooming and fun. History of the chinchilla the longtailed chinchilla chinchilla laniger is native to the mountains and foothills of the andes in south america. Allow your pet chinchilla to dustbathe only in storebought chinchilla dust. Chinchillas are small rodents native to south america found in rocky, arid areas in the mountains.
Preventive care whenever you bring a new chinchilla into your home, a new pet exam should be performed. Chinchilla care chinchillas are nocturnal rodents originating from south america, where they are commonly found in the mountains of the andes. Owning and caring for a chinchilla can be very rewarding, but it is also a big responsibility. But dont expect them to like being held and cuddled like dogs and cats. This care guide from oxbow animal health will teach you everything you need to know about keeping your pet chinchilla healthy and happy. Taking care of a chinchilla ethically is no more difficult than caring for any other household pet or household rodent if you have a credible source of information to follow. Chinchilla history and care recommendations medvet. To do this you need to have everything necessary for your pets well being. How to take care of a pet chinchilla these soft, furry creatures can make excellent petsas long as you know how to care for them properly. Oxbow offers healthy treats and supplements for chinchillas, including. Typical runs a system of connected cages used by some breeders are 15 x 21. Chinchilla foods are available to buy in pet shops. Caring for your chinchilla the natural diet of the chinchilla consists of grasses, cactus fruit, leaves, and the bark of small shrubs and bushes. You should get the biggest cage possible so your pet has lots of room to sleep, play, and move around.
Kitten milk can be purchased at pet stores, veterinary clinics, or online. If you have a wire shelf in the cage, make sure the. All private brand products carry a 100% moneyback guarantee. Before choosing a chinchilla as a pet, you need to consider that they can. Below we have listed out everything you need to know in order to raise a healthy chin. Baby chinchillas, or kits, that have been separated from their mother will require feedings every few hours to maintain their. They can be friendly docile pets and can live between 1015 years if looked. How to take care of a pet chinchilla pet care guides. Many chain pet stores carry chinchillas, as well as many of the supplies youll need to ensure your new pet has the proper care and environment.
Each chinchilla should be allowed at minimum 2 square feet of space. Chinchillas have specific dietary requirements that are different from those of other rodents. An owners guide to taking the best care of your pet chinchillas there are many common misconceptions when it comes to chinchilla care. They require a special dust bath a few times a week. This book will tell you the proper way to care for your chinchilla to have them for many, many years. Caring for a pet chinchilla means having the right supplies, housing and food. Small pets 2 caring for your chinchillas blue cross. Plain pellet diets are best, as they offer a complete balanced diet. Oxbow pet products chinchilla deluxe provides a good balance of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral and is. Chinchilla is one of those that prefer to be alone they may spray urine, bite the other chinchillas fur, or fight with them, causing severe injury and even death. If youre thinking about having chinchillas as pets, learn as much as you can about how to care for them beforehand. The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care.
Clean your pets home thoroughly once a week using a petsafe disinfectant. All pet owners have a responsibility to look after and care for their pets. Today, the freeranging chinchilla is listed as endangered because of hunting and trapping for its pelt. A mother chinchilla will lick their young after feeding them to stimulate defecation. Yearly exams after that will help us ensure your pet s continued good health. Below are my 5 top chinchilla care tips you need to be implementing as a chinchilla owner. Greens contribute to hydration and provide necessary vitamins and minerals, as well as enrichment. Chinchilla is one of those that prefer to be alone they may spray urine, bite the other chinchilla s fur, or fight with them, causing severe injury and even death.
Chinchilla care booklet lowcountry chinchillas walterboro, sc. Preventive care whenever you bring a new chinchilla into your home, a new pet exam should be. Chinchilla housing can be as simple or as complex as you want. If you are getting a young chinchilla or planning on having babies the spacing should be around 1. Mazuri chinchilla oxbow chinchilla essentials only the garden variety is junk any plain rabbit feed like purina, manna pro, nutrena, blue seal, producers pride, etc. Offer small, bitesized bits of fresh fruits and veggies daily. Buy ultimate chinchilla care chinchillas as pets the must have guide for anyone passionate about owning a chinchilla. Sadly, even the bestkept chinchilla may develop problems with their teeth and these can become.
My name is josh and i have a 4yearold female chinchilla named chili. Planet chinchilla was started to share our journey with all of you. Caring for your chinchilla college of veterinary medicine. Care sheet information on the supplies necessary to care for your pet. A piece of apple wood or rodent toys from pet shops for them to nibble will help prevent dental problems. A waterbottle with a drinking tube that attaches to the cage is the best way to go. Shopping list for needed supplies chinchilla food ceramic food bowl chew sticks water bottle treats vitamins appropriate sized cage appropriate litter no cedar or pine chinchilla dust toys dust tray book about. Dec 03, 2016 history of the chinchilla the longtailed chinchilla chinchilla laniger is native to the mountains and foothills of the andes in south america. Im also the author of the digital book ultimate chinchilla care guide, from adoption and on that you can see below or. Chinchillas have delicate skeletons and love to chew on things like electrical cords, so a safe environment is essential. Ask your veterinarian about the potential of spaying or neutering your chinchilla. This is the best preventive care you can provide for your chinchilla. To pick up your chinchilla, support the whole body on your hand and gently restrain them by holding the base of the tail. There, they were originally bred for their fur, but nowadays in the uk are kept as pets.
When it comes to feeding a concentrated ration, we recommend alfalfabased pellets that contain more than 18% crude fiber and a minimum of 10% protein. Chinchillas are rather active small pets and should. This program also includes specific standards for instore pet care. Greens fresh greens are a vital part of your pets daily diet. This book will tell you the proper way to care for. You can find this at pet supply stores and feed stores look for a brand with soymeal as the main ingredient. Use a dish that is large enough for your chinchilla to roll in. Chinchillas need correct feeding, fur caring and cleaning of the cage.
Be prepared for your pets visits by making a list of any questions or concerns you may have ahead of time. The main part of their diet should be made up of good quality, dust extracted, tasty feeding hay which should always be available. Chinchillas need to be housed in a wire cage with openings no larger than 2. Chinchillas once scattered the mountains of north central chile in colonies of over 500 individuals, but today there are. Husbandry and preventative healthcare the pet care recommendations provided on our website are based on the most uptodate information.
They must be fed a highquality, chinchilla specific food or their health will suffer. A guide for chinchilla pet owners skip the intro and go straight to the articles in this section this section is dedicated to all things chinchilla formerly this content lived on a separate site called chinchilla planet. Chinchillas are very regressive animals and will tend to become more antisocial and possibly even aggressive if. Caring for your pet chinchilla nc state university. Chinchilla fur has the highest density of any land animal with more than 20,000 hairs per square centimeter. They are active and playful and, with gentle handling from a young age, most chinchillas become quite tame and can bond closely with their owners. Read below to learn what to feed your chinchilla, as well as other important facts that will make you a confident pet owner. Simulate this process using a cotton ball dampened with warm water.
There is a ton that goes into properly raising these little creatures though. You must be gentle and consistent to gain the trust of a chinchilla. Chinchilla husbandry and preventative healthcare stahl. Thinking of buying a chinchilla but need a complete guide of what youll have to buy. Let your pet romp around in the powder for 5 to 10 minutes. Height is important since chinchillas are excellent jumpers, and they often do well in multilevel cages. Place one hand underneath the body and use your other hand to hold her close to you. Learn how to take care of your pet chinchilla with these helpful tips for housing, feeding, grooming, and more. Caging and bedding chinchilla cages should have a flat bottom no wire to prevent foot injuries and should belarge enough for the chinchilla to run and hop in any direction.
Never pick a chinchilla up by the tail this can hurt them and could cause a serious injury. Ultimate chinchilla care chinchillas as pets the must have. Oxbow offers this basic care guide to help you keep your pet chinchilla healthy and happy. Chinchilla lafebervet handout pet food from lafeber. Chinchillas love to chew so be careful when using a cage made of wood or plastic.
Dental care as with all rodents, chinchilla teeth are. The dust will settle near your pets skin, soaking up oil and grime. The international trade in chinchilla fur goes back to the 1500s and by the end of the 19th century. Always wash your hands after handling your chinchilla or its housing to help maintain sanitary conditions. Jan 25, 2017 thinking of buying a chinchilla but need a complete guide of what youll have to buy. Chinchilla care sheet always wash your hands after handling your chinchilla or its housing to help maintain sanitary conditions. So long as the food is fresh, smells good and has pellets only your chin will do very well on it. Fresh, clean water should also be available to your rats 247. The pellet type is best because with mixes your chinchilla may pick out favourite bits, leading to an unbalanced diet.
Chinchillas require a lot of roughage, and the diet should mainly consist of goodquality grass hay along with pellets made for chinchillas. Chinchilla checklist the ultimate new owner checklist. Im also the author of the digital book ultimate chinchilla care guide, from adoption and on that you can see below or by visiting the ebook store. Help your chinchilla keep up its routine by filling a container or bath house about twoinches deep with chinchilla dust available at pet stores, then place your pet chin into it. If youve decided on looking into getting a chinchilla as a pet, youre probably wondering about the best place to find one. However, sometimes chinchillas decide to chew on their fur, which can cause thinning and even bald.
Includes health, toys, food, bedding on free shipping on qualified orders. The following sites are, in our estimation, the most thoroughly informative substantial coverage on most vital topics and usually factually reliable pet chinchilla care sites on. Burgess excel chinchilla nuggets is a great complementary feed that can be fed as part of. For this reason, if you have more than one chinchilla, you should always have a spare cage handy for those just in case moments. Chinchilla diets should be 1620 percent protein, 25 percent fat and about 1535 percent fiber. Chinchilla care here at the exotic animal hospital of orlando, we offer a variety of services in order to prevent diseases in your pet chinchilla. Chinchillas chinchilla welfare tips, advice, health. We teamed up with the members of lets love chinchillas and created this ultimate checklist for new owners.
They can be friendly docile pets and can live between 1015 years if looked after correctly. Once you have decided to add a chinchilla to your family, you want to make sure he is happy, healthy, and safe. Greens contribute to hydration and provide necessary. About 2 or 3 times a week, fill a clean container with an inch of chinchilla dust, a special powder made for this purpose. If you need additional information, refer to the sources section or contact your veterinarian as appropriate. Multiple wooden ledges metal or ceramic food dish glass water bottle a dust bath house chew toys hideaway house hay rackfeeder no plastic optional cage. Feed i recommend a high quality plain pellet feed with nothing else in it. Because all small animals are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as lymphocytic. In fact, taking care of a chinchilla is extremely easy and chinchillas are perhaps one of the easiest animals you can choose to adopt. Andrew bean, dvm of pet care veterinary hospital in virginia beach, va, said dust bathing is both a behavioral outlet and an innate behavior which plays an. Keep your chinchillas health on the right track with a healthy diet, lots of safe exercise, and regular veterinary care. Burgess pet care guides chinchillas chinchillas are herbivores and designed to eat a high.
Many chinchilla health problems are preventable with proper diet and care. Chinchillas are currently captive bred for both the pet industry and the fur trade. When handling a chinchilla, be sure to secure the animal so that it cannot leap out of your hands and fall to the floor. Ask a store partner about petco s selection of books on chinchillas and the variety of private brand products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. Chinchillas have an inquisitive and gentle nature, but also have a lot of energy. As with all rodents, chinchilla teeth are always growing so they need plenty of hard material to eat and chew on.