the questions most often asked about chinchillas

TIP: Age at Purchase

young chinchilla are separted from their mother at the age of seven to eight weeks; after that, they stay with the breeder another two to four weeks so that they bevome strong and resistant. chinchilla in pet shops are usually three to six months old. chinchillas very in size, which makes it hard to judge their age precisely. As adults, the bucks, or males, are generally a bit smallerthan the Females. My fundamental recommendations is to get a young animal between three and four months old, since and animal that age will become tame mmore quickly.

1. Is it better to keep chinchillas in pairs?

A: It's better to keep two animals together.

2. Do two chinchillas of the same sex get along well?

A: If two young females or a mother and daughter are kept together, there are no problems. If two bucks(males) are in the same space. If a new male is introduced, he must have a separate cage.

3. Can I get a companion for my adult chinchilla?

A:In such cases chinchillas act very differently and with a mind of their own; often that turns into an unworkable situation despite patient efforts.

4. Should your Chinchilla be neutered?

A:Neutering refers to the removal of some, or all, of the tissues in the body associated with reproduction(testicles in the male, ovaries and uterus in the female). Neutering in the chinchilla is accomplished surgically. Most pet chinchillas do not need to be neutered. however, if you have a male and a female and want to house them together but do not want them to breed, then neutering is a possible alternative(assuming they are compatible!)

Be sure the veterinarian you select to do the procedure has clinical and surgical experience with chinchillas!

5. how big shoud the cage be?

A: A cage can never be too big! For a single animal I think a cage about 3 feet by 32 inches by 20 inches is adequate.

6. how long should the evening exercise period last?

A:  For resilient, healthy animals, several hours a day.

7. Can I keep a chinchilla even though my work keeps me away the entire day?

A: If you stay home at night and have enough time for your chinchilla, there is no reason not to have one; chinchillas sleep during the day anyway.

8. How tame/train do chinchillas become?

A:Chinchillas are social creatures who are easy to tame. With gentle, consistent coaching, a chinchilla will respond favorably to you in a short amount of time. Let him get used to his new home before you try to hand-tame him, however, and do so in a room that is quiet and distraction-free.

You won’t be able to teach your chin to sit, stay, or perform tricks as you would a dog, but you can teach him some rudimentary behaviors that will make living with him easier and more fun. To be trained, your chin must trust you implicitly, so make sure that you have thoroughly tamed him and that he has a strong emotional bond with you before you start training him.

9. What do i need to look for when I buy a chinchilla?

A: the animal should look healthy and well nourished. Under no circumstances should it react frantically.

10. Is a chinchilla a good pet for children?

A: It's fine for sensible children about age 13 or older. in any case, the parents must take an active role in caring for the animal, if only to make sure that it gets all the exercise in needs.

If you still have questions, please email me!