A few questions from a new owner

[tommi]

Hi there,

I got my Chin from a friend last week and he seems to be settling in ok apart from a few things.

First he is on his own and earlier I played some sounds of chins and he got very excited and everytime he hears the other chin noises he replys and bounces round his cage like a mad thing, would it be a good idea to get him a friend, or would it be very hard introducing them? I have always had dwarf hamsters which should be kept in pairs and I know its next to impossable to introduce them to new friends!

Second he seems to like his treats, so much to the point where he barely his proper food, he wont even eat his veggies hehe!!

Also are there any insurers in the uk who do chin insurance? I have looked but havent found any!

And if you guys have any other tips on what makes a happy chin I would love to hear them!! Thanks guys :thumbsup:

 

[alli713]

Chins can be hard to get along, I've had about a 50/50 success rate. There's no guarantee he'd like a friend, and they can always fight. If you give him plenty of attention and toys he'd be just fine all alone.

First off, no more vegetables. They are not good for chinchillas. They can cause bloat. Also, treats should be given in moderation. This is no more than one a day. Then you have what you have, where they refuse to eat their pellets and hay, and that is what they need for nutrition. They're like children. Some examples of treats that you can give once a day would be a small pinch of old fashioned oats, a cheerio cereal, a bite-sized non-frosted shredded wheat, a rosehip, a hibiscus petal, or chew twigs.

 

[chinnychinchinchilla]

also the pellets should be plain, no dried fruit or seeds or anything else but pure pellets. the pellets have the stuff the chin needs and all the other stuff dont and the chins will eat all the bad stuff and leave the good stuff.

 

[Jenn]

Hay is also good for chinchillas, for their teeth. Timothy or alfalfa, depending on what food you are feeding your chin. Plenty of chew toys are essential as well. My chin is an example of one that does not get along with others, and she does just fine on her own. If you are considering a 2nd chin, you will need to quarantine him in another room for 30 days, before trying to introduce them.