Always keep in mind that each chinchilla has it's own personality, just like humans, but usually better.
Not all chinchillas will like the same things. Always give treats as 'treats' ... something special and with moderation!
When you buy a chinchilla from a pet store, you are, most of the time, buying a ranch chinchilla. Ranch chinchillas that go to pet stores are usually the "left-overs" after the best have been staved for breeding, shows, sales to other breeders and to some individual owners. You do not know it's family history or it's exact birthdate.
This can mean trouble from the get go.
Chinchillas that are born in and grow up in a ranch environment are usually held very little ...
1) At birth to determine it's sex ... male or female
2) When it is weaned at 6 weeks and put into a holding cage.
3) When it is placed in a shipping box for a distributor to pick it up.
4) The distributor places it in a holding cage ... usually with other chinchillas the same sex.
5) When it is put back in a shipping box to be taken to a pet store.
These first five meetings between chinchilla and humans are with humans that do know how to handle them.
Now, if you think that was a ruff start:
6) When it arrives at a pet store, it is placed in an enclosure for display to the public.
.....a) LOCATION: This is usually glass enclosed, without adequate air-flow, often near screeching birds (a natural enemy of chinchillas), or barking dogs.
.....b) NECESITIES: They are usually given a bowl of water (a 'no-no'),
.....c) IF it is given a dust bath, it is often dust bath sand instead of the dust bath dust it needs and is left in the cage 24/7 (another "no-no"),
.....d) a plastic hut (another "no-no")
.....e) It rarely gets proper food, is given chunks of raw veggies like the Guinea pigs (bad for a chinchilla),
.....f) is handled (or should I say miss-handled) by those who usually do not know how to properly handle a chinchilla.
.....g) It gets poked at, not held properly and scared half out of it's wits by customers and employees alike.
.....h) The temperature is rarely what it needs to be.
.....i) The location of the cage, if it gets a cage, is either drafty or in direct sunlight.
.....j) The employees usually know little about chinchillas, there fore they can not properly instruct the one that purchases the chinchilla.
.....k) The new owners will usually get sold a book for/about chinchillas that is written by someone who does not know what they are talking about.
This is only an example of the "normal" trials and tribulations of a pet store chin ... there are other things that happen to them due to the lack of training of employees and purchasers of chinchillas. (Things like chinchillas being raised outside instead of inside like they need to be ... OR ... allowed to play outside, etc.)
You got it ... I think chinchillas should NEVER be put in pet stores!
Keep in mind ... should you decide to purchase a pet store chin ... because you want to "rescue" it ... you are only giving the pet store owner a reason ($$$) to bring in more chins to sell and put even more of them through the same thing.
A new environment could stress out a chinny from what I've heard- it's also why most breeders do not like to ship by plane, lots of environment changes and dangers to the chin.
Many times chinchillas that are shipped (as with many other animals) ... they will often get left out on the tarmat ... exposed to the elements (heat, cold, wind & rain) ... they are not suppose to have this happen to them, but sometimes it does. The shipping of any animal is with strict regulations on the sender ... proper cage, a health check from a vet ... same as with the other animals that fly to their new homes. Even though all animals have health certificates, this does not stop them from barking, screeching or hissing ... noises that can scare a chinchilla to death. This is why I do not ship chinchillas.
Apparently people claim to be allergic to them and return them. I think its just the responsibility of owning one.
It is rare that a person is allergic to a chinchilla, even when they are allergic to other furry animals. Most medically related problems with new owners of chinchillas is the bedding (allergy to pinewood) or the dust bath dust (people haveing COPD - respitory problems). Both of these problems can be remidied by using bedding made from recycled paper if the owner is alergic to pine ... and/or using the dust bath sand instead of the dust bath dust. The dust bath sand I do not reccommend as a rule because it is rough on the chinchilla fur and does not clean it as well, but, when someone wants and loves a chin, sometimes the chin can tolerate the dust bath sand to be able to live with someone who has COPD, ashma or bronkitis, but really loves the chin.
Time and patients with a chin are always needed ... more for some than others.
Raisins are known to be a favorite treet for chinchillas ... but keep in mind ... many may have never had a raisin before .... cut the raisin in half or 1/3s and let the chin taste the soft moist flavor of inside of the raisin.
Of course there are some chins that do not like raisins, so try cranraisins (dried cranberries), papaya or rolled oats. These are also good treats for your chin.
Old fashion oats are the kind that take about 20 minutes to cook ... NOT the 5 minute or instant/quick oatmeal. The old fashon kind is OK for chinchillas as a treat, but the natural rolled or crimped oats are the best.
Rolled or crimped oats may be purchased at most farm stores. This is the natural oat, as grown on the plant, before processing ... this is the best oats for chinchillas.
Its good to know that chins probably dont like their homes except to hide in. Im assuming its because they like an airy-feel.
Chinchillas like the 'closed-in' feeling of the security of the hut ...
BUT ... there can be a build up of body heat inside the hut that will make them want to find a cooler place.
ALSO ... if there is a build up of body waste (urine or feces) inside the hut, the fumes are not plesant and can cause illness ... always make sure the hut is clean for your chin ... large openings or entrance/exits are good for their homes when made on the opposite sides to
allow a free flow of air for the inside of the hut. A 1/2 floor with an entrance or exit will also allow for the natural flow of air for the inside of the hut.
The rocks and small caves of their natural habitat stayed cool, dark and safe for the chinchilla in the wild.
A clean tile inside the hut on a daily basis is good also.
The tile will help to cool the body of the chinchilla and help with the problem of removing waste inside the hut.
Jo Ann
