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1

Cages / Please comment on my cage!

« on: March 11, 2014, 08:51:56 AM »

Hi all!

I live in Hong Kong where it can easily gets to 90% humidity and 38 celcius. So I have this cage that is shown in the picture, it is around 24" wide and very tall with steps to jump up. It is made of very hard wood that are on the sides and the back, with the doors made of wired mesh (main parts) + glass fully openable.

The outside i have a thermometer monitoring the temperature inside the cage as well as humidity monitor. The top of the cage I have a hole where I can insert the output tube of a portable air conditioner (manufactured by tripplite used in server rooms to reduce heat) during the summer to reduce temperature.

The chins have their own individual houses that are cubicles within the cage that has a metal wall that i can insert ice packs, and two saucer wheels to run on.

My question is regarding ventilation. I also have an air purifier and dehumidifier on 24hrs a day, the air purifier output facing the cage for fresh air, but since 3 sides of my cage are hard wood, do you think my ventilation needs to be improved?

Please share your comments!

TFA

2

Q & A / Re: Care for Pregnant Chin (Supplements/etc.?)

« on: February 27, 2014, 08:34:14 AM »

thanks, where do i get calcium supplements? Is it the same as what humans take?

3

Q & A / Care for Pregnant Chin (Supplements/etc.?)

« on: February 24, 2014, 08:02:37 AM »

Hi all,

I was wondering if people have advice on what type of care or things I should do for my pregnant chin. I heard calcium and vitamin C are good supplements but I don't know what I should give them? Also what type of things I should avoid doing when my chinchillas are pregnant?

Your inputs are much appreciated!

Thx,
TFA

4

Q & A / Re: Is My Chin Too old to be Pregnant?

« on: February 23, 2014, 05:47:21 PM »

thanks guys, that is reassurring, i am totally excited about having my 4yr chin give her first birth in 3months!

is there any things i need to do or follow during this period? any suggestions from your experience?

5

Q & A / Re: Is My Chin Too old to be Pregnant?

« on: February 18, 2014, 07:56:01 AM »

Thanks for the info. So even if my chin never gave birth or mated before, 4 years is a relatively safe age to give birth? Reason I am concerned is because long time ago I asked my breeder she mentioned 2 years old for first birth is not as ideal...

So if she is really pregnant, what are some good advise that I should follow moving onwards? I will ask my exotics pet vet for calcium supplements, he also seemed to be ok with the idea of 4 years having a baby.

Appreciate your inputs!!

6

Q & A / Is My Chin Too old to be Pregnant?

« on: February 17, 2014, 07:55:34 AM »

Hi all,

This morning I found my male chin Peng Peng show up in the female chin Guin Guin's cage looking really happy. They are in the same cage but they are separated by a pretty tough mesh wire, but apparently Guin Guin found a loophole to let Peng Peng in. I immediately put Peng Peng back in his section. Later tonight I found a white waxy object in Guin guin's wood house, it looks like a miniature white broken candle with wierd smell in it (see picture attached), and Guin Guin is continuously licking her bottom part. So i suspect this is a mating plug... and I am very worried because Guin Guin is actually turning 4 years old and she has never had a baby... No matter how hard i tried in her young age to have her mate with Peng Peng she wouldnt... until now.

So I have couple of questions:
1) Is my chin too old to be pregnant?
2) Where does this waxing plug come from? The male or the female? Does it mean 100% she is pregnant if I see this plug?
3) If I feel it is too risky for Guin guin to give birth, what are my options, can she have an abortion? I really do not want to risk it.

Please help me share your expertise... thx very much!!!

TFA

7

Cages / Re: Air Conditioning directly into cage

« on: May 12, 2013, 06:41:25 AM »

got it. right now i added an extra buffer section to disperse air outwards between the A/C output duct and the vent to the cage, i feel less air flowing into the cage interior (like using my hand to wave air) so i think the chins will be less prone to sudden changes in temperature. the cage interior based on my thermostat remains b/t 20C to 22C. my exhaust pipe goes straight to outside. i think this setup should be good. thanks for your help!

8

Cages / Re: Air Conditioning directly into cage

« on: May 11, 2013, 09:33:19 PM »

thanks - the idea of dispersing the air flow is great, i think i will try to cut the duct in a way that it doesnt blow directly into the cage. as for the thermostat, not sure what you meant by plan for that, i have an external thermostat that sense the temperature inside the cage and is independent of the portable A/C

9

Cages / Air Conditioning directly into cage

« on: May 11, 2013, 11:38:25 AM »

Hi all,

I have a chinchilla cage that i used for about 6 months and my chins love it, it is a custom made cage using wood and metal that is about 200cm tall and has 2 sections (upper girls lower for boy) for my 3 chins. I've attached a photo of a cage similar to what i have, mine is much taller. 6 months ago I relocated from New York to Hong Kong, and the summer is coming. Currently the average temperature in HK is 27C or 80F, but for those who dont know, Hong Kong summers are scorching hot (up to ~38 CELSIUS any given day or 100F with up to 80% humidity). I bought a portable air conditioner that has its output from a duct, which I can connect to the cage from the top. If i install this the cage temperature would drop to around 16C or 60F, with air blowing directly into the interior. I want to know if this would be a feasible solution to the summer situation, and am seeking professionals for advise.

Thanks!

P.S. In terms of humidity, I have a dehumidifier that runs 24hrs a day and maintains around 50% level. And I also have central air conditioner which I turn on 24hr now to keep the room temperature fairly under 75F, however I am not sure how effective the unit will be when real summer comes in July/August.

10

General Chat / Re: Moving to Asia, Need to bring Chinchilla, Advice?

« on: September 02, 2012, 07:20:40 PM »

Thx, ill check up with the airline and customs. most likely international flights they will be in the cargo like other pet dogs or cats, Im more concerned about the environment they'll be in when theyre in there for more than 15 hours, does anyone know if there are any danger in terms of air pressure, temperature, etc. that might be fatal? Anyone tried moving chinchillas like this before can shed some light?

11

General Chat / Moving to Asia, Need to bring Chinchilla, Advice?

« on: September 02, 2012, 12:26:40 PM »

Hi all,

I have 4 chinchillas, i live in the States but need to move to Asia permanently. I have to bring the chinchillas as well. Any one here have experience or advise on travelling with pets on the plane?

Please advise!

Thanks

12

Breeding 101 / How to make chins breed?

« on: January 22, 2012, 10:31:47 AM »

Hi All,

I have 2 pairs of chins (2 males, 2 females), I've had them for 1.5 years, and I plan to make them breed. I have 2 main cages where I put same sex together, but normally they do not see each other (cages are top and bottom) other than when I let them out to play in my room each weekend, and occasionally I would put a pair in a small shelf compartment so they can smell each other. I bought a new cage to try to put each pair into it to breed. The first pair (sapphire male and white female) went in and seemed to be alright in the beginning, then afterwards the male tried to hump the female, but the female would run away, and sometimes even shoot urine to the male. There was a moment when the male successfully landed on her back, but after about 10 seconds the female would jump away. I took the female out and I can set something wet and sticky on her private area and her back. I am not sure if they successfully mated or not, and I cannot tell if the female is pregnant other than a slightly increased appetite.

The second pair (chocolate male and ebony female) ended up into a urine shooting fight.

I really want both pairs to have babies, what is the easiest way? Any methods breeders use to breed?

Thanks,
TFA

13

Health / Male chin less appetite

« on: January 22, 2012, 10:21:43 AM »

Hi All,

I have 2 male chins (sapphire and chocolate) who live together, and they usually finish up 3 spoons of mazuri pellets after night feed and would be hungry in the morning. Recently I found out that theyre not hungry in the morning and the dish still has about 1 spoon of pellets left (all half bitten). I also found some light greenish colored solid round-shaped poop that are different from the normal long black ones. In the morning I tried hand feeding the chocolate chin with pellets and he seems to be eating, but the sapphire one does not eat. Both however seems normal and not sick. Both would still crave the usual oatmeal treat I've been feeding them occasionally.

I am not sure which of the 2 has less appetite, and why the loss of appetite, and why the light-greenish-colored solid poop.

Has anyone seen this situation?

Thanks,
TFA

14

Health / Re: my two chins fighting/playing with each other?

« on: January 14, 2010, 06:34:17 PM »

thanks guys for the detailed comments, so far my standard chin (peng peng) is back to normal in his own cage/space above the beige one (fei fei). peng peng doesnt lose fur or get scared to come out to eat/drink anymore, i think hes back to normal. the upper and low portion of my cage is separated by reinforced plastic that i custom made, basically peng peng cannot urinate or drop stuff down to fei fei. i think it may be a dominance battle, and im gonna try to have them come out and play together like they used to, and see what happens. in the meantime i will take some pictures of their bottoms, im pretty sure both of them have penis but ill make sure again. if things dont work out it seems like theyre destined to live separately i will miss the furry ball they look like whenever they curl together...

15

Health / Re: my two chins fighting/playing with each other?

« on: January 08, 2010, 08:34:01 PM »

i tried to put them together again... but it got worse, when i put the beige next to my standard, the beige immediately starts humping him, and now the standard became very scared... i have to separate them again, but even if hes staying by himself, hes becoming less active, eating less and drinking less