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[ExoticFamily]

Ok, so I just adopted a male Chin from a home that didnt have enough time for him! He is a beautiful Standard grey! And after a day at my house, he has completely opened up, and has jumped on my hands ate off them, and even came out to play in the room! This morning I cleaned his cage, and took out all the carefresh that was in there, and replaced it with Pine bedding, but while I was putting it in, he jumped down and started chewing/eating it! So I immediately put a layer of carefresh on top (i only had a lil bit left) and then threw a lil bit of Timothy Hay on top, which he immediately began to munch on instead of the pine!
Im enclosing a pic of the pine bedding I used, and hopefully someone can tell me soon if its ok to use! If not I have some compressed newspaper pellets that I use for my ferrets litter trays! Is that ok to use also! If not I can totally go pick up some carefresh, Ive just never been a big fan of it!

[dianah]

he's very very pretty

untreated pine is ok, you will find he will start having a go at shelves as well i don't use bedding with mine (i use fleece) but I used compressed saw dust pellets. however, you would normally not have bedding 'touch' the chinchilla. i.e., you'd have the bedding in the bottom pan and then have a wire mesh so the chinchilla doesn't come in contact with soiled bedding.

one thing i would point out is that the wheel is not very suitable. i know the packaging has a chinchilla on it (be very careful about this - especially with food & treats, they would make you believe that everything is suitable) but, it's plastic (he may chew - some don't - and ingest plastic = not good) but also, it's not big enough. or, it will not be big enough when he grows and a wheel too small can hurt their backs. i use metal flying saucer wheels and all mine love them, there are also 15" upright (like the one you've got) metal wheels available.

[ExoticFamily]

Thank you for the quick reply!
I know the wheel isnt ideal, But it came with him, and I am going to order the ChinSpin pretty soon. I actually use the same one he has with my hedghog, so i know it cant be perfect for the chin! The previous owner did say that he is pretty good with plastic, and doesnt normally chew on it!

On the wire mesh part.... He came in a wire mesh cage, but I thought it was a lil rough on his feet! I was told that their feet dont stop bleeding easily, and it would be better to get a flat bottom cage! (I know there is all kinds of false info going around, but I actually found this cage at Petco for only $50, and it was originally for $219... I absolutely COULD NOT pass up the deal!).   I also know how to make fleece liners since I make them for my hedgie, and ferrets, so should I just do that?? I have a couple extra Snuggies around that I can chop up! LOL

[dianah]

i did have the same wheel when i got my chinchi. he loved it and never chewed it but outgrew it. hedgehog <3 i never knew hedgehogs used wheels. that is so sweet. you'll have to post pictures.

the wire bottom is better. you don't really want to get wee on his fur. however, fleece liners would be great - i make them for mine as well. they tend to throw them about but they like them.

chins can develop a condition called bumblefoot which is sort of rough cracked feet and wire mesh makes this worse, however, if there's plenty of shelving and fleece on the bottom, it should be ok.

[ExoticFamily]

cool, Il get on making a bottom made out of wire so hes not touching the bedding!
And BTW: i just posted pics of all my pets!

[dianah]

they're all very very pretty