Chinchilla owners, new and old alike, have questions. Sometimes these questions are sent our way and sometimes we see these questions on other web sites. In either case, we'll take a moment to answer them here. Of course, every article on this web site includes the option to pose a question so be sure to check out those conversations too.
barbackz asks
I bought two new more beautiful chinchillas: one male ebony and one female mosaic. The male is 10 weeks old and is being housed with my 9 month old Gizmo. The cage is rather large since I built it that way. My problem is Loki, the youngest, keeps attacking Gizmo. Why is it that he is so submissive? He is 2 times Loki's size and he runs away like it's the other way around. I know chinchillas sometimes don't get along at all, but I thought since Loki was young they would get along fine. I separated them after two days when I saw fur in Loki's mouth. I feel horrible and feel that no matter how I introduce Gizmo as a companion, Loki will continue to dominate over him. Read the rest of this entry »
Erikah asks…
Okay, after observing the ups and downs of many different cages, I've decided to take on the project of building my own (which is not much of a problem thanks to the many posts I've found).
Sadly, I've caught myself at a dead-end on the melamine situation. I want the inside of the cage to be melamine, yet I do not know how you can purchase large slabs of it rather than tiny shelf pieces. Read the rest of this entry »
Baby.Angel021 asks…
I was just wondering what does everyone use to put their hay in?
I have heard so many sad stories of chins and hay racks and balls and feeders I'm just wondering what everyone uses and what works.
Right now I just put the hay on the shelf and whip it down everyday cause they like to go potty on it. I have tried a bowl and they still pee in it. Read the rest of this entry »
Technically, chinchillas are NOT nocturnal. They are often thought to be so and in a few places on this site you'll see that we've said they are. However, one of our readers, Amber, has informed us that chinchillas are crepuscular, which means they are active in the twilight hours. As a result, you'll notice that your chinchilla is most active in the evening and early morning. They will otherwise take long "naps" during the the brightest part of the day and the darkest part of the night. Read the rest of this entry »
We got a note from one our readers with some questions, but the issues with the baby chinchilla are unfortunately out of our league. If anyone has suggestions for this reader, please comment at the bottom. Read the rest of this entry »
We received a note from Dez the other day regarding some possible problems with CareFresh bedding…
My Chinchilla recently went through a bout of digestive bacterial infection. It was the first time in 6 years that anything like that had happened and it was right when I decided to try Carefresh bedding. After lengthy and costly vet visits, he got better for about a month. Then a few days ago, I switched out the towels I was using when he was sick, and went back to Carefresh, and this morning, I can see Diarrhea and he's slumped over and not active at all. Read the rest of this entry »
Glenna Rogers recently wrote to us about some serious health problems her chinchilla is having. If you happen to have any insight, please respond to this posting. This particular medical problem is over our heads so help if you can. Read the rest of this entry »
It's been a bad week for chinchilla pet owners. We received two e-mails about chinchilla deaths.
Stephanie writes… I had two chinchillas, but one has just died. I'm not sure how, but I'm wondering how can I help my other chinchilla that is still alive from getting depressed on me and keep up with his hyperness and happiness so I don't end up losing him too? If you can please help me I would be so grateful. Thank you. Read the rest of this entry »
Mary recently wrote to us:
My granddaughter has a chinchilla she has had for awhile. There are now small flies around the cage and on his droppings. What is the problem and had can I get rid of the flies? Read the rest of this entry »
One of our readers recently moved and describes the following situation with her chinchilla:
We have had our Chinchilla for about 6 months, and when we brought him home everything was normal. We recently moved and now he is making noises at night. The first 2 nights after making sounds every couple of hours I finally went and slept in the same room as him and he was quiet after that. Then a couple of nights went by with nothing, now he has started again. I looked up the noises and found that they were stress related, but it has been over a week. Is there anything I can do to help him relax into his new home? Read the rest of this entry »
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