Caring For Your Pet Chinchilla

Can Ferrets And Chinchillas Play Together?

Chinchilla Planet — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:55:41 +0000

I have four ferrets (3 males and a female) that play together great in their playpen, but I am going to be adding four chinchillas to our family soon (two males and two females). Will they get along or will I have to keep their playtimes separate? Any information you have will be great. Thanks. [...]

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Can Ferrets And Chinchillas Play Together?

Where to Buy a Chinchilla

Chinchilla Planet — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:39:20 +0000

The healthiest chinchillas will come from professional breeders that are involved in shows. This stands to reason since these people are aiming to win prizes. Even their castaways are going to be strong and healthy. However, there may not be any professional chinchilla breeders in your area which means an added expense due to shipping. [...]

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Where to Buy a Chinchilla

Chinchilla-Proofing Your Home

Chinchilla Planet — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:29:33 +0000

Your chinchilla will be happiest if let out of its cage every evening and allowed to run around in a room. However, because they like to chew on things like furniture and wires, you need to cover these things to protect them and your chinchillas. Baseboards and Furnishings Baseboards and other wooden furnishings are prime [...]

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Chinchilla-Proofing Your Home

What Breed Of Dog Gets Along Well Chinchillas?

Chinchilla Planet — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:54:26 +0000

I own three chinchillas and am thinking about buying a dog. The chinchillas live in wire cages in a one-bedroom house. I don't want to traumatize a dog or the chinchillas by having them live together when they are not compatible. Psycho Sid Vicious FanÂ® answered: I highly suggest that you save your money and [...]

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What Breed Of Dog Gets Along Well Chinchillas?

Chinchillas in the Wild

Chinchilla Planet — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:41:46 +0000

Chinchillas live in rocky places in the Andes mountains at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 16,500 feet. Their habitat used to stretch across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. And as you might imagine, this mountain terrain is barren, full of thorny shrubs, and made up of large rocks with various gaps and crevices. Water is [...]

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Chinchillas in the Wild

Chinchilla Harness by Setco Enterprises

Chinchilla Planet — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:26:54 +0000

This is a note from Rick of Secto Enterprises about a chinchilla harness he's developed. We haven't used this harness, but if you're determined to use one, Rick might have the best solution for you. I have developed a Chinchilla Harness that is lightweight, "quick snap" design and has an optional "potty pouch" attachment for [...]

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Chinchilla Harness by Setco Enterprises

How Do I Stop My Chinchillas From Barking At Night?

Chinchilla Planet — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:13:55 +0000

My chinchillas start barking at like 2am and wont stop till like 6am. Of course it's off and on but I can't sleep. Chinchilla Planet answered: Our chinchillas sometimes bark. It's pretty rare and as long as we spend time with them and let them run around before we go to bed, the barking seems [...]

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How Do I Stop My Chinchillas From Barking At Night?

How Can I Sell Or Get Rid Of One of My Chinchillas?

Chinchilla Planet — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:13:24 +0000

I am having a hard time with owning two chinchillas, because since then I have had two babies, and I have my hands full. I am now looking sadly to get rid of at least one of them to help with the stress. Any ideas? Chinchilla Planet answered: The safest course is to find an [...]

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How Can I Sell Or Get Rid Of One of My Chinchillas?

Safe Wood for Chinchillas

Chinchilla Planet — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:00:34 +0000

One of the surprising things we learned was that not all wood is safe for chinchillas. And since chinchillas constantly chew on wood, it is important that only safe varieties be used in and around their cages. We've found that apple wood is the easiest to get because of the many apple orchards in our [...]

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Safe Wood for Chinchillas

Chinchilla Treats

Chinchilla Planet — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:51:43 +0000

A varied diet is important to maintain the health of your chinchilla. Treats also provide a way to build trust. While raisins are clearly favored by our chinchillas, we also try other products to provide variety and balance. Carrot Cake Treats These treats currently rank at the top of our list of favorites. Their shape [...]

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Chinchilla Treats

Water Bottles and Food Dishes

Chinchilla Planet — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:28:53 +0000

Water bottles and food dishes come in all shapes and sizes. We've tried a few, but have now settled on particular models. Lixit Quick Lock Flip Top Water Tank This water bottle is larger than what's needed for a chinchilla. However, we like it because it has a very secure clamp for attaching it to [...]

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Water Bottles and Food Dishes

Training Chinchillas

Chinchilla Planet — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:16:42 +0000

Every owner of pet chinchillas wants them to be tame enough to pick up and hold. We're no exception. However, chinchillas in the wild are prey for many predators and are conditioned to be cautious. But all is not lost. With a little time and patience, you can tame your chinchilla enough so that it [...]

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Training Chinchillas

Chinchilla Facts

Chinchilla Planet — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:15:42 +0000

We've come across some interesting facts about chinchillas during our research. Here's a list of things that don't quite fit in with other pages on this site. Chinchilla fur is considered the softest in the world and is thirty times softer than human hair. Chinchillas must regularly bathe in dust or volcanic ash to remove [...]

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Chinchilla Facts

Chinchilla Exercise Wheels

Chinchilla Planet — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:11:36 +0000

There are several things to consider when buying a wheel for your chinchilla. First off, you'll need to get one that is much bigger than the kind you've probably seen for hamsters. And because of the size of the wheel and the weight of a chinchilla, we recommend getting a metal wheel rather than a [...]

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Chinchilla Exercise Wheels

Digestive Problems

Chinchilla Planet — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:09:37 +0000

Chinchillas have delicate digestive systems. It is therefore important to be vigilant about changes in behavior that can indicate digestive issues. Constipation One of the most common chinchilla ailments is constipation. Usually, constipation is caused by insufficient fiber. Constipation can also be caused by stress from new surroundings, a change in food, and lack of [...]

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Digestive Problems

Heatstroke

Chinchilla Planet — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:04:31 +0000

Chinchillas have fur for a reason. In the wild they live in the Andes mountains where it gets cold. Their fur is what keeps them warm. However, domestic chinchillas are prone to over-heating since most people's homes are much warmer than the Andes. The ambient temperature where chinchillas are kept shouldn't rise above 80 degrees. [...]

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Heatstroke

Chinchilla Sounds

Chinchilla Planet — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:59:34 +0000

Chinchillas make a variety of sounds. The most common is a "barking" sound that they make to indicate that they're scared and to warn other chinchillas of danger. On occasion, our chinchillas will bark if there's a particularly loud car going by the house or if there's an unusual noise outside. Other sounds include a [...]

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Chinchilla Sounds

Chinchilla Books

Chinchilla Planet — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:54:36 +0000

There are several chinchilla books available, but not all are equally good. Some even contradict what we consider to be good practice. The following paragraphs provide brief descriptions of the books we've read and our recommendations as to which books are worth purchasing. A New Owner's Guide to Chinchillas by Audrey Pavia 128 pages This [...]

Chinchilla Care While You Are Away

Chinchilla Planet — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:39:03 +0000

It is inevitable that you will need to leave your chinchillas unattended while you travel. The ideal is to have someone come to your home and check in on them as well as to replenish food and water. But for short trips, you can do without a babysitter. When you go away for a few [...]

CareFresh Harmful to Chinchillas?

Chinchilla Planet — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:36:19 +0000

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.

Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Mouth

Chinchilla Planet — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:25:52 +0000

Chinchillas are generally energetic creatures. When they are ill, their energy level drops so it is important to watch for this sign. A change in the amount of water and food consumed can also be a sign of illness. Whenever you suspect there may be problems, examine your chinchilla's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth for [...]

Feeding Chinchillas

Chinchilla Planet — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:17:19 +0000

Chinchillas have quite delicate digestive systems and so have special dietary requirements. Rabbit food does not meet the nutritional needs of chinchillas and frequently makes them fat. Food The primary food item for chinchillas are specially formulated pellets. Unlike other animals, chinchillas will only eat small amounts at a time and so you need not [...]

Chin-Chiller

Chinchilla Planet — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:05:55 +0000

We prefer to avoid reviewing an item that we haven't actually owned, but when we read about a product called the Chin-Chiller, we couldn't resist. The description of the chin-chiller indicates that it remains cooler than the ambient temperature and thus provides a way to keep your chinchilla cool. This is bogus! How can something [...]

Chinchilla Dust Bath

Chinchilla Planet — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:56:38 +0000

Chinchillas have dense fur. Over time, oils and moisture collect in the fur. In the wild, chinchillas have no way to clean their fur other than to roll around in volcanic ash which acts as an absorbent. Chinchillas do not go into water. Nor should you ever bathe your chinchilla in water. Doing so would [...]

Ideal Environment for Chinchillas

Chinchilla Planet — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:43:45 +0000

Chinchillas will be happiest when you provide an environment that meets their needs and doesn't cause unnecessary stress. By their nature, they don't like loud noises or a lot of movement. Such things will scare them causing them to remain in their cage. Even something seemingly innocent as a rain shower can seem scary to [...]