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[animalluver]

I had a salt ring for my chin, only she tore it off one day and I think it got lost somewhere when I was cleaning. Sometimes now she nibbles on my fingers a little harder than usual, and I think she's looking for salt. Is she in need of the salt for a health reason or does she just like it?

[dianah]

i think in general, if they are fed the right diet, supplementing salt is not necessary. i do find that they do bite harder every so often but i don't think it's looking for salt - i think they'd be licking - i think they just don't realise that we're not covered by fur! babies, for example, take a while to realise they can't bite their human mummy as hard as they can bite their chin mummy.

also if they are nibbling all over the hand, if they move from a harder piece of skin or nail, they'll still bite with the same force when they move onto softer skin. i find wiggling your fingers a little helps.

[jmdebb]

quality food, good hay, lots of hay, and no extras are necessary.. pls take the salt wheel out..

i have heard that when a chin "grooms" you, they are accepting you are part of the group.

j

[ABC Chinchillas]

too much salt will cause seizures. Please do not give your chinchilla a salt wheel

[animalluver]

OK, I hadn't realized salt was bad. She actually hasn't had one for like two years, I was just wondering whether I should get her a new one. lol I guess I know the answer to that one. 

[christa]

I had been wondering too,  about getting a salt lick,  but it is crossed off the list now

[dianah]

my guinea pigs have a salt wheel every so often and sometimes, their cage is open when fluffy has her runaround time. she sometimes goes in to say hello and she has licked the wheel a few times it was funny.

[animalluver]

Do the guinea pigs not run out? They and the chins get along?

[dianah]

no, oddly they don't. they have a different cage now but, when we still had robin (he died of old age last august), fluffy would sniff their faces through the door. when robin died she would go to see reece inside the cage and it was actually quite nice for him to have a caring friend. she would just pop in to say hello, they'd sniff faces for a bit and then she'd be out again. i had them out of their cages at the same time and same thing happened. he has a new guinea pig friend now and a different cage that opens differently so fluffy no longer goes in.