No offence taken, I just thought I was giving you what you ask about. Yes, some of it is dealing with breeding ... many new owners make the mistake of breeding without learning the basics, so I like to cover that also.
Chinchillas can live on hay and water. As a matter of fact, when a chinchilla is ill, most vets will put them on hay and water and not give the chinchilla pellets. Most chinchilla pellets are based on alfalfa hay because it has the highest nutrition value.
You are saying brown pellets ... most of ours are green ... can you list the ingredients on the bag/box saying what the pellets contain?
Treats {one a day of one, not of each one} treats are just that, a treat and is hand fed after doing what you want them to do.
(great training tool)
Papaya and rose hips are my favorite treats because they contain many vitamins that are good for chinchillas. Of course one piece can be divided into smaller pieces to count as one treat, while the chin thinks he is getting several treats.
Plain Cherrios, Mini Wheats, natural whole grain oats, old fashion oatmeal (not instant), dried macaroni, dry wheat toast and crackers are also good treats. Even hay,
hand fed, will often be considered a treat by your chin. (*burnt/blackened wheat toast can be used to help correct diarrhea)
The flying saucer wheel can be obtained from Meadowbrook Chinchillas (Dr. Marty Hull is the original inventor of it.) at:
http://www.chin-chillas.com/exercisewheels.htmlThe things they can not have is often more important than those they can have.
Nuts, over a period of time will cause a fatty liver because they can not be properly digested due to the natural oils in them.
Chinchillas are vegetarians by nature, not by choice. Their systems can not digest meat or meat by products ... meat kills chinchillas.
No plastics {except PVC pipe} should be in their cages. White PVC plumbing pipe comes off in a powder form, not the chunks like most plastics.
Never use bedding that has added odor controllers ... the fumes from the odor controllers can cause a major respiratory infection in chinchillas.
Cedar is a "no-no" for this same reason.
Fruits and veggies that are grown with pits in them are thought to be deadly for chinchillas.
Aluminum and other soft metals will be chewed and consumed by chinchillas, so they are a big NO-NO.
Most hard woods are considered a no-no for chinchillas.
Chemical fumes from some air fresheners, colognes, perfumes and cleaners are often deadly for chinchillas.
Never allow your little one down on the rug after it has been cleaned until it is completely dry all over ... the chemicals used to clean the carpet can enter through the feet and kill your little one. The same goes for insecticides that may be used in the home.
Jo Ann
