We believe that people should make an informed decision before taking on the responsibility of caring for a chinchilla. Here are reasons to NOT get a chinchilla as a pet.
- Chinchillas are crepuscular which means they may not be awake when you are and they may make noise while you are trying to sleep.
- Chinchillas need attention, but they don't like to be picked up. This makes them less than ideal for young children.
- Chinchillas need to have their cage cleaned frequently for their own health and to keep it from smelling.
- Chinchillas will chew on everything including baseboards, doors, furniture, and wires. If you can't chinchilla-proof a room, you're going to be in for a lot of maintenance.
- Chinchillas can live up to 20 years which means a long-term commitment.
- You can't leave your chinchillas unattended for days while you travel.
- Chinchillas don't travel well. Their skittish nature means that travel will cause them stress.
- Chinchillas can overheat and die under conditions that you would find tolerable.
And in case you think we're anti-chinchilla (not true), check out our list of reasons to own a pet chinchilla.
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Im getting a chin soon, but I dont know the proper heating and air conditioning arrangements it should have. Im worried to death. Like what degrees should a room be? Im at school all day, but leave the air conditioning on in my room all day. Is that too cold for them? and my mom is really cold all the time. So in the winter what should I do. Since she cranks up the heat?
I am turning 12 soon and thinking about getting a chinchilla. Do you think I'm old enough to get a Chin? My parents said if I'm responsible enough, They might get me one. Also, are they loud at night? I don't sleep very well so I need to know. Thanks!=)
I am thinking about getting a Chin. I have worked with all kinds of animals and used to have guinea pig but never a Chin. How loud can they be at night? I know they are nocturnal but didn't know how much noise they would make. Also with my guinea pig I could leave him for over the weekend with food and water if I was going out of town - can you do this with Chinchillas or do you need someone to check on them?
I am no expert on Chinchillas but it used to be very loud in my room at night with my Chin. I do think it depends on your Chin's cage though. I kinda have a cheaper cage. It's big but it really rattles when she would run in her wheel. So I then decided to start taking the wheel out at night and after that I haven't had any problems sleeping. She will seldomly bark but its few and far between.
They can be loud, but I think that it's unfair to take out their wheel at night. Since they are nocturnal, they are most active at night and if they don't have anything in their cage to exercise on, it's unhealthy. Just put them in a different room at night instead of taking away their main source of exercise while in their cage.