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[Crazy4Craisins]

Hey everyone. I am a fairly new chinchilla owner and have come across an issue in the past month or so, and I will try to explain the situation in quick form. Benny is about 2-3 years old (ebony), male. Shy is about a year younger than Benny, slightly bigger (grey/regular) chin.

-I have had two adorable and wonderful chinchillas for several months now, and I have done much research on these exotic pets (e.g. food transitions etc) and love being an owner.
-I have two problems at the moment, one being more serious than the other.

First, my chinchillas have stopped eating there food. (I am aware that they are not supposed to be fed any mix with treats etc. because they only pick out the tasty stuff as little children do, and am also aware that they cannot undergo drastic food brand changes.)

To begin, weeks ago, the food I had been feeding them since they first entered my care was Kaytee Forti-Diet 2lb bags. When this occured, the food had run out and I relied on y local petstore to have it available after I got off of work and they discontinued the brand for some reason, I was in a bad situation with the pellets and had to feed them a raisin each, some special K wheat cereal and a few nuts (which I don't want to do ever again). The following day I was unable to find any store with the same brand they were used to, so I purchased a similar bag for them and as expected, they did not eat it.

Since then, ....They do not gather around "for dinner" in excitement like they used to, eating there food from the ceramic dish in generous amounts as soon as I put it down during the evening (5pm every day). The most that gets eaten now before midnight is a few pellets if any, and they seem to give in sometime in the middle of the night/sunrise and I wake up to an empty/half full/ spilled dish in the morning.

Since then, ....About a week after the change I found the same food they were used to but they have not been the same since. I am aware that one of the problems could be the quality, and today I have began the first day of a four week transition to Oxbow chinchilla deluxe (alfalfa based red bag), as it seemed more appealing to me than Mazuri.

I am worried over their eating habits and health, and Shy used to be a bit less plump than she is now. Although I am being a bit dramatic because they both are healthy and active, I am still concerned and would like to see them eating normally once again.

Any tips on healthy eating habits, practices and discipline would be appreciated. I would also like to know if I'm doing anything wrong as well. As far as treats go, I like to give them about 2 or 3 raisins each a week and I split them in half servings. I let them out to exercise about 4 times a week also.

My second concern is over the debated topic of bedding. Long story short, I began with Carefresh and had a great experience. When I ran out, I brought more Carefresh home and returned it the very next day because they were eating it at an alarming rate. Aesthically, the smell, and as far as less of a mess goes, I liked Carefresh but I did not want them to eat it like that. I followed up with a big (and less expensive) bag of Pine Kilnt Dried bedding. I am not sure if this was my best choice, as I am looking for the best. Also, I do catch them with wood in their mouth from time to time which I do not like. I buy them wood blocks to chew on as in cage entertainment/teeth dullers.

I appreciate any and all help and would like critique or suggestions as I make my way into more expertise on the great furry companions..

thank you.

[Deeliteful]

The eating issue you are having is one I will leave up to the ones here on the forum that know more about it . I thankfully have not had that issue . Mine seem to want to eat anything I put in there.

Bedding . I use pine . They chew on it and and all that but I have not had any issues with it . Some people prefer aspen bedding . Most pet stores carry it . I started off with cob bedding. Chuppers didnt chew it and was more interested in rolling in it as if it were a dust bath but its not soft and well I just wanted something softer for my chinnie. I dont know anyone elses feeling about cob bedding. I am not sure if its good or bad for them either . I stopped using it years ago though.

[Jo Ann]

    Welcome to the Wonderful World of Chinchillas ... along with all the 'parental worries' that go with it!   

Shoots, Traditions, Oxbow, and Mazuri (in that order) is what I reccommend.  All four of these are of a quality that they can be changed over rather quickly ... it should not take more than a week for the chins to be gobbling it up.  IF you can not find a good quality chinchilla food and need time to get it in stock ... feed your chinchillas hay ... a mix 1/2 and 1/2 of Alfalfa and Timothy or 1/2 and 1/2 Alfalfa and Coastal meadow hay.  Many times you will find your vet will put your chins on an "all hay and water" regiment when they are sick. If it is good for them when they are sick, it has to be good for them when they are healthy, at least for a short period of time.  Always inspect the hay for any sour smells or signs of mold, if you find any, dispose of it and sterilize the container.  If in doubt, throw it out.   Do not store hay in an airtight container ... hay needs to breath.  Keep it in a cool dry place ... I use a clothes hamper made of 100% cotton material that is in a stand that does not touch the floor.

Chinchillas are nocturnal and tend to eat more during the night after working up an appetite playing.

... had to feed them a raisin each, some special K wheat cereal and a few nuts (which I don't want to do ever again).

Never feed a chinchilla nuts ... their systems are not made to properly digest nuts and the natural oils in nuts can cause a fatty liver which can eventually kill a chinchilla.

Never feed a chinchilla meat or meat byproducts ... chinchillas are strict vegetarians ... not by choice ... but because their system will not digest meat or meat byproducts and it will kill a chinchilla ... usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Caution with cereals made for humans ... they usually have to many preservatives, to much sugar and salt for chinchillas.  When choosing human food to feed to chinchillas, read the labels carefully and compare products.  An occasional Cherrios (plain) is a nice treat.  Mini Wheats for controlling diarrhea and as an occasional treat is good as long as it is not frosted.  Baby cereal has less salt and sugar than most adult cereals.  Dry baby cereal can be mixed with a little goat's milk as a treat or to feed kits whose mom does not have enough milk or if she is sick and on medication.
Raisins and cranrasins are good treats, but are high in sugar.
Dried rose hips and dried papaya are better and have more nutrients and vitamins.
A few nibbles of a fresh banana or fresh kiwi are nice occasional treats.
Yogurt is a good treat, it contains calcium and replenishes a chinchillas digestive flora. (Mine seem to like strawberry and blueberry best.)
Burnt toast (particularly wheat) is a nice treat and also helps control diarrhea.  Note: the black part of the burnt toast (charcoal) is the part that stops diarrhea, so let it start to smoke before popping it out of the toaster. (1/8 of a piece of toast at a time ... after it has cooled)

*Chinchillas do not NEED treats, but we, as humans, like to indulge them when they have been good.  Remember a treat is special and should be treated as such.  When introducing your chin to a new treat ... do not introduce them to more than one new treat per week ... you need this time to see if it will have a good or bad affect on your chin.  (Chinchillas have allergies, just like humans ... one common allergic reaction is diarrhea.) 

I do not use or recommend cob bedding.  Never use bedding containing cedar.  Never use a bedding that contains "odor controllers" or added scents ... these can kill a chinchilla.

Never give a chinchilla anything that contains odor controllers or that is 'scented' ... these can cause a very serious respiratory infection.

Aspen is a good bedding.  Cline dried pine in a good bedding.  I use large chip pine bedding for my chins.  I have heard of many that use the carefresh, I have not, but I don't think I would want my chins eating very much of it.

I let them out to exercise about 4 times a week also.

 
30 minutes every day is a minimum I give those who adopt my little ones.  Their free playtime is often loved more than their treasured treat times or their dust baths.  This can be a fun and relaxing time for you also ... you may even begin to look forward to it as much as your chinnies do!   

*Chinchillas do love a schedule ... make one and stick to it as close as possible.  Like us, they look forward to the things they like the most ... attention, playtime, treats, dustbaths, hay and food ... pretty much in that order.

I buy them wood blocks to chew on as in cage entertainment/teeth dullers.

Chinchillas teeth grow at an alarming rate (as much as 1/4" per week) and  they need certain things in their cages at all times to keep them worn down to the proper size. 
1)  Hay helps to keep the side and back teeth worn down as well as providing nutrients and calcium.
2)  Chew blocks made of pine help keep the front and side teeth worn down to the proper size and helps them with the constant urge to be chewing on something.  (The most economical is a pine board purchased and hand-cut/sawed into small blocks ... save your $$ for more important things for your chins.)
3)  A lava stone.  The lava stone keeps the front teeth worn down to the proper size and the grit helps to keep the teeth smooth.

A 10 to 15 minute dust bath, 4 to 6 times a week in the summer months and 2 to 4 times a week in the dryer winter months, is needed to keep the fur clean ... you may also catch your little one using a little of it to grind between their teeth on occasions.     Use dust bath dust NOT dust bath sand ... the dust bath sand is much to harsh on the fur of the chinchilla.

Hopefully your little ones will never get sick, but set aside a special account to save money for any chinchilla emergencies ... to be used only in the case of a chinchilla emergency ... chinchillas need to be seen by an exotic pet vet that is familiar with chinchillas ... not all are familiar with chinchillas ... find a good exotic pet vet before your chin needs one ... it is often hard to almost impossible to find one quickly.  They are not cheap and bills can run up fast ... be prepaired ... not sorry and sad.     

There is much to learn ... and we are learning new things about them every day.

   Jo Ann