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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I have a prooobleeeeem! ! !
I have to go to Romania this summer! (I'm in Canada)
Anybody know any of the rules/laws on transporting them and is it indicated? My chins and I are really bonded =[ I don't want to leave them here (although they would be in great care) for 2 months =[
What do I dooooo
I have a lake house that I go to quite regularly. What should with my chinchilla when I leave.
This all depends on the length of time that you'll be gone. You can get a weekender bottle which is large enough to sustain one chinchilla for about a week or so. As for food, a feeder that you can fill up and and slowly goes down the more they eat is a good way to keep it fed. Change it's bedding right before you leave but don't be gone for two long.
I'm thinking about getting a chinchilla and not certain about the temp. The room where it'd stay in the day would be quite small and has and uncovered window. I won't always be there for the daytime and was wondering if putting a sheet or towel over the cage so the sun won't directly hit it would be okay. I'm just worried about the heat and such. Please and thank you!
A normal room temp like 70 degrees F is ok. Keep them out of direct airflow and sunlight as much as possible. I wouldn't put anything on top of the cage like a towel or a sheet because they'll just chew it up. I would tack a sheet onto the window if at all possible.
can my chinchilla cage be under an air vent?
yeah, so long as it's fairly even temp, moderate to low humidity, .. if in doubt put a towel between the air flow and the cage
They will be ok as long as you keep it relatively cool in the car. Not a straight line of air toward them, but an overall cold to keep their tension down. Also, no loud noises like music. Talking to them can help as well. When I moved about 30 minutes away from where I had them, I would just talk to them a little and they liked it for all I knew because they weren't barking at me.
like at like 68 degrees is that cool enough?
I read online that between 19-24 degrees celsius is good. You really should be more aware of how warm it is because a chinchilla can get heat stroke very easily. You don't have to worry too much about how cold it is because a chinchilla's natural habitat is in a desert -that's why they take dirt baths- which becomes VERY cold at night.
im getting 2 chinchillas but i'm picking it up 45 minutes away from where i live will they be ok? (they are in a (traveling cage)
We've traveled hundreds of miles with chins with no problem. Just be sure their cage is not in direct sunlight to eliminate possible overheating and keep the ambient temp in your car in the 68-70 degree range and they will be fine.