Being Careful!

                Chinchillas are very fragile little animals.  This means that no matter what you’re doing with them you have to keep a close eye!  Though chinchillas can die from a single bite of cedar, they seem to be attracted to it.  It is EXTREMELY important to keep any form of this wood away from them.  They also enjoy chewing on circuits and wires.  Not only will this ruin a lot of your things, it could also put your chin’s life in danger.  Another item to keep a close watch on is your thermometer; trying to keep the room under 75.  Chinchillas can easily overheat and I’ve heard many tragedies.  Another way to keep your little guy safe is to close lids, toilets, showers or any small places they could get stuck.  Any of these could be fatal.  Remember, your chin is your responsibility, so treat them right!

Bonding With Your Chin

So now that you have your chinchilla you're wonering how to bond with them. Well the answer to that is easy, but unfortunatly can take some time. Chinchillas are not known to trust very easily, so you have to be extra careful and patient with their needs. I would not recommend taking them out of their cage for the first few days; being in a new home is already enough stress for them. I know that you're going to be super anxious to get them out and play, but remember they need some down time too. I suggest reading them books or your homework out loud as you do it. This will help them recognize you and your voice quicker. After a few days place your hand in the cage and give them a treat. This will help them trust you as their owner. Eventually, once the chinchilla is comfortable around you,  feel free to pick them up and set them in a safe room.

Chinchilla Sounds

Chinchillas are able to make a variety of different sounds, each meaning completely different things. Here is a list of some of their noises and what they mean:
1.The conctact call- This is a series of little grunts/squeks your chinchilla makes to see if there is anyone near him (chinchilla or person)
2.Painful or fearful call- When they get frightened they will let out a sharp screech
3.Warning clicks- When a chinchilla is warning you to get away from it (for any reason) it will begin to chatter its teeth. I suggest leaving them alone or you may get sprayed!
4. Alarm Call- When a chinchilla sees something as a threat they will begin a series of loud cries to try and warn others around him
5. Aggresive bark- When your chinchilla becomes annoyed (not upset) he will let out a grunting noise. This does not mean he is angry, just that he doesn't want to be picked up or whatever you are trying to do. If he begins to chatter his teeth though, you should stop doing what's bothering him.

Some of these can vary, depending on the chinchilla! But for the majority of them, these are their communicating with you. Make sure to spend time with your chinchilla, getting to know their personality and what they're trying to tell you

Meet Kiwi

After looking over my previous blogs, I realized I have not shared much about Kiwi, my chinchilla. He is a standard grey chinchilla. I got him from an amazing breeder near me (If you'de like her information feels free to ask) Kiwi is about 9 months old now and is close to reaching his full size. He has a really long, fluffy tail, extremely round ears and tear-drop shaped eyes. His mood varies day to day..If I don't hold him or let him run around every day, he tends to be a bit grumpy and bark at me. In general though, he's a really sweet little chin that enjoys attention and loves being scratched around his face. He's a man of routine. Every night I'll tell him goodnight and he'll happily chirp back at me. And in the morning around 7 he gets really noisy and wakes me up. He has also adjusted to my time; almost as if he is not nocturnal. Kiwi also enjoys attempting to eat everything he finds. This ranges from homework to doors. He is very sneaky about it too so I have to watch him very carefully! All together though, he's such a sweetheart! I intend to post more about him in later posts, I just wanted to introduce him more:)

Names, names and more names

Remember what I said about chinchillas living a long time? You also need to pick a name that you will enjoy for many years as well. So now that you have one, its time to name them! When doing this, try to keep in mind size, gender, colour and any distinguishing marks. Its also important to be regular with saying your chin's name until they come to recognize it. Eventually they will respond to your voice and their name with a few happy chirps.
here's a list of some cute names I've found:
Andes,Ashes,Avalanche, Avalon,Baja,Bandit, Basil, Blossom,Bongo,Bubbles ,Buckles ,Camomile, Charity, Charlie, Chaz,Cheerio, Cherry, Chewy, ChiChi, Chile, Chinchi,Chubbs, Cicero,Cuzco ,Cyclone,Dachi (pronounced Duh-chee),Daquiri,Davon,Dazie Chilla,Deliah,Dorothy, Dusty, Dylan,Eve ,Felix, Flint,Fluff Puff,Fluffy,Fox,Furby, George, Gretzky, Grey, Harriet, Herman,
Indiana, Kassy,Kitoby,KittyKiwi, Kunzite Madagascar,Magoo, ManzanaMarlo,Milo,Miracle,
Missy ,Misty, Mogwia,Mohady,Moonlight ,Morris, Musti,Nibbles, Ninya, Noel, Ollie, Oriel ,Oscar ,
Ozzy, Panca, Pepper, Petal,Phoebe, Pikachu,Princess,Puffin,Rambo,Ringo,Rocket,Rocky ,
Ronoke, (pronounced row-noke; Nokie for short)Roo,Roosevelt, Roxy,Ruby,Sammy, Sancho ,Shuga ,
Silver ,Sisi ,Sparky,Speckles,Speedy,Squeek ,Star ,Stumpy, Tamale, Tequi (pronounced Tee-Kee),Theo, Toby, Twynky, Vinny, Willow,Zazu, Zeus,Zoe

Where to Find Your Chinchilla

I know that when you walk into a pet store and see a chinchilla with his paws against his glass cage, he can be hard to resist. So before you make the decision to adopt him, take a moment to think twice. You don't know anything about that chinchilla, their temperment, health quality, or their breeder. I encourage you to wait, do some heavy research and find a reputable breeder near you. Overall, you will be much happier with the outcome. I would never recommend for you to buy a chinchilla from any pet store. Chinchillas live up to 25 years, meaning they'll be yours for a long time; so choose wisely and carefully.

Seeing the Rainbow

Chinchillas come in a variety of different colours. Here is a list of their colours: Standard, ebony, charcoal, black velvet, beige, sullivan beige, tan and pastel, white, violet, sapphire, blue diamond, and goldbar. Standard is the original chinchilla's colouring, the rest are mutations. Although, the mutations are slowly becoming more popular and requested as chinchillas become a more popular pet. Every chinchilla's pelt is different from the next; they each have their own markings.
My favorite chinchillas are standard grey, charcoal, and black velvet. Of all the colours, which colour is your favorite? Which one do you have?

Bath Time!

A regular dust bath for your chinchilla is a necessity. It not only keeps their fur looking better, it also cleans it and keeps it healthy. Chinchillas really enjoy rolling around in their dust. This keeps them relaxed, happy and playful. The dust should be kept a few inches deep in order for them to effectively roll around in it. It penetrates down to their skin and absorbs all the oil. The chinchilla dust mimics how they would clean themselves in a natural environment. Just make sure the dust you use is made specifically for chinchillas.

Initial Setup

As I said previously, chinchillas can be pricey. Here's a list of supplies you need and where you can find them! For online shopping I suggest Wag.com! The company and customer service are great and they will happily return anything you are not pleased with; also the prices are decent.

What they need:
Chinchilla Pellets- online or at local pet stores
Timothy hay- local pet stores
Dust Bath- online or at local pet stores
Cages- I suggest buying one online (Just not at typical petstores like Petsmart of Petco)
Houses- online or in local pet stores (Note: Can not be made of cedar)
Cage Ledges- Petsmart has several cheap brands (Some cages have these built in)
Waterbottle- Local pet stores (Also does not have to be just for chinchillas)
Bath House- I suggest ordering online for cheaper price
Cage Bedding- Anywhere, once again just make sure it does not contain cedar!
Chew Toys- Online or in any pet store (make sure they're safe!)

Is a chinchilla right for you?

Chinchillas require a specific amount of care and patience. They easily get lonely and/or depressed. Each chin needs at least an hour of play time every single day. If there is more than one in a cage they don't need as much. Chinchillas will chew through everything, continiously bark and may become very angry or agressive if they do not recieve enough attention. It is best to keep them in pairs if you are very busy; although keeping one at a time is acceptable if you can take proper care.
     Chinchillas can be very expensive. The initial setup and price of your chinchilla will be pricey. You will need bedding, food, a large cage, toys,wire protectors,water, dust, housing, proper air conditioning, cooling floor, excersize wheel, brushes and a travel carrier. Also you will have to pay for any veternary care if necessary.
     Although there is much to think about when buying a chinchilla, they are deffnitaly worth it in the long run. As long as you can provide proper care for them and won't end up giving them up, I'd say go for it. They are such sweet and fun animals!

Nutrition, Treats, Teeth and Health

         This is  Kiwi; I got him from a local breeder in October, 2011. Unlike most chinchillas, he is very calm and enjoys cuddling. Chinchillas are not usually known to be too cuddly; although sometimes they enjoy recieving a little scratch behind the ear. These nocturnal animals love running, jumping off walls, chewing and hopping around.  Because of this, it is necessary for them to have a safe place to play. This means there should be no wires, cedar, easily swallowed items, or anything that could be hazardous to their health lying around. (Believe me they will chew through absolutely anything and everything available.)
         In order for your little chin to have the correct nutrients to grow and play, he needs a balanced diet. This includes pellets, fresh hay, fresh water and the occasional treat. Acceptable treats your chinchilla are: raisins, dried fruit, rose hips, some commercial treats, oats, cheerios, some veggies, nuts, and seeds. But remember they should only have between 2-3 treats a weak! Also be sure to place things in the cage for your chinchilla to nibble on. Chinchilla's teeth never stop growing, so they constantly chew so their teeth can wear down to a reasonable length. Remember a healthy chin is a happy chin!!:)

Chinchilla Basics

What is a chinchilla? A chinchilla is a small rodent native to the Andes mountains. They have extremely soft fur and a bushy tail (like that of a squirrel). Chinchillas are known for their long life span; usually ranging from 10 to 20 years. They must  be kept in a temperature under 75 degrees Fahrenheit, or risk brain damage. Chinchillas are very social and need constant entertainment. They are good pets for older children and adults because hey require lots of care, attention and time. Although they can be a lot of work, they make some of the best pets!! :)