I looked at a chin at a local pet shop just the other day. "She" was in a small glass case with a plastic house and a plastic dust bath house, a water bottle, and a bowl of pellets and nothing else. I told the employee that she needed hay and her response was we feed hay at night. Really?? Then why wasn't there a single piece of hay in there from the last feeding? I also mentioned plastic is bad it could kill her. The employee said I know. Didn't attempt to do anything about it however.
Are Petsmart chins okay?
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mercynursie
Well-known member
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One strong thing to look at is find a true exotic vet in your area BEFORE even thinking about getting a chinchilla!Petsmart/Banfield vets from what I have found are not in any way exotic vets,plus alot of vets that advertise themselves as exotic vets are really just reptile or avian specialists not chinchilla/degu/coati,etc. I know the one and only chin vet that is in about a 2hr distance drive for me I was lucky enough to find out about them from a breeder.Just something to follow up on.
Sandi
non-stop poop sweeper
I couldn't agree with this more. If you can't even find a breeder relatively near you, finding a competent vet that has treated chinchillas may be even scarcer. Definitely something to research for now, before you get your chin than when you should ever need one in an emegerncy.
Of our seven, we've got 6 rescues and one PetSmart chin, who we bought because she was alone and in absolutely pitiable shape. She was burrowed in the back corner of her little hideaway at prime chin play time when we first visited, smallish, and the second time we went by a couple of days later she was in exactly the same place. We immediately bought her and took her home, where she hid in the back corner of her cage for fully three days, only coming out to eat and drink when no-one was in the room. But now she's an absolute sweetheart, though she's still skittish around everyone but me, and can only be held under duress. Even that's changing, though.
Anyhow, we've had her for almost a year, now, and the worst she's been to the vet for was a toe bite. Fortunately, we're lucky enough to have a few exotic vets in our area.
Anyhow, we've had her for almost a year, now, and the worst she's been to the vet for was a toe bite. Fortunately, we're lucky enough to have a few exotic vets in our area.
Mt. Zion Chins
Barb
One problem with getting a pet store chin is after they sell you the chin they couldn't care less if there is a problem. A responsible breeder will 'be there for you' every step of the way. I tell 'my people' I am 'here for you' for hopefully 20 years or more - don't be afraid to ask ANY question
I guess I made an incorrect assumption as well as read some bad information. I was always told that petstores pulled for the chinchilla equivalent of puppy mills where the chinchillas were treated poorly. However, finding out that large well known breeders sell their chinchillas to petstores, doesn't make me feel any better. Why would a reputable breeder put their chinchillas in such a situation? Petstores around here have been known to kill the pets in their care. I watch them get squeezed, poked at, shaken, etc. As well as fed horrible food for the whole time they are in their care. Why would someone reputable risk that for their chinchillas? Also doesn't this mean that the chinchillas a large breeder sells to a petstore are going to be lesser quality? Wouldn't they sell the highest quality ones at shows and such to the highest bidder? I agree with what you say that every chinchilla deserves a home and I know that we can't make a large impact by refusing to buy from petstores. However, I would be wary of buying any pet that has been neglected in it's first few months of life. Doesn't that make it at more risk for health ailments? Wouldn't it be better to adopt from one of the many rescues?
I am not sure how what I said was "insulting and rude". I never said they *were* irresponsible. I just wanted to point out that if the only reason they aren't going with a breeder is because it's more difficult than walking into a petstore and walking out with a chinchilla that perhaps they should question if they are up for the responsibility of a chinchilla. Chinchillas require time, money and dedication. They shouldn't be bought on a whim. People are getting on my case because they bought Petsmart chinchillas and their chinchillas turned out fine. What about all the Petsmart chinchillas that weren't fine? The ones that died in the store? The ones that died shortly after they got home? There are people all over YouTube saying their petstore chinchillas were ill when they got them. Then there's the poor Petsmart chinchillas that are sitting there today being abused in the store.
Furthermore, I never said I was a better owner than anyone else. I never said driving three hours made me so. The three hours was simply to make the point that if you want a pet that you know it's background you might have to do a bit of work to get it. My first chinchilla was rescued from the Humane Society. He was most likely originally a Petsmart chin or from one of the other petstores in town. There are tons of people in my area getting rid of chins every week on CL. He had malo and for years I waited for the day I would have to put him down or the time he'd go in for filing and not come out. I wouldn't want to put that on someone else. And I would say that yes, my girls could still develop malo, but I do not agree that they aren't less likely. I know their lines for several generations back. None of the chins in their line has ever had malo and they have been taken well care of, given ample things to chew, since they were babies. They are far less likely to have malo than a Petsmart chinchilla who spends 2-3 months at Petsmart (possibly far more) as a baby with only a plastic igloo, low quality pellets, and cloudy water. They're also far friendlier than those chinchillas are likely to be. I had a man at a petstore local to me tell me he got a female chinchilla to go in with his male chinchilla so the male wouldn't "die of depression". He explained to me if he put in another male they would castrate each other. See the logic being told to the unfortunate people who buy pets from petstores?
ticklechin
Well-known member
When a chinchilla breeding operation is treated as a business, you sell to make money, just like pelts. There is nothing wrong with it.
I bought my chin from a pet store....shes been with me 7 months.....she has had no health issues so far.....One concern I do have with chins and its just how I think is when they are in pet stores/previous owners/anywhere if have they had access to proper chews because a chin that has been in care for a long period of time could have teeth issues from them overgrowing (not that they cant be filed).. and then the other issue is if a chin is in a area where they have chewed on plastic if there had impaction issues..I would say if the chin is healthy /active/ and teeth look healthy that each chin deserves a chance to have a happy home...yes the food at pet stores is often not good but they can learn to eat new healthy food....even chins who are facing health issues can make good loving pets ( you just would need extra time and money and its good people help them)
I saw a teeni baby chin at petsmart and I wanted her so BAD they even let me hold her but I am waiting to decide for a bit more to have more then one chin as they take a lot of time and supplies ...I would still buy from a pet store again .....
I saw a teeni baby chin at petsmart and I wanted her so BAD they even let me hold her but I am waiting to decide for a bit more to have more then one chin as they take a lot of time and supplies ...I would still buy from a pet store again .....
Seriously? You write statements like this and don't see why people might find it insulting and rude?
In your world anyone who walks into a pet shop (rather than a breeder's barn) and walks out with a chinchilla is irresponsible because they probably bought the chin on a whim (proof please or are you just making stuff up again?) and don't have time, money and dedication ....... you just wrote that.
Really? What about the chins bought from breeders who died in the barn, died shortly after they got home, were ill when they buyer got them, were abused........ what's your point? Pet stores aren't the only place to sell sick animals.
Not necessarily true - ask members here who have done all the right things, had pedigrees and still had chins develop issues including malocclusion. NO chin is sold with a health guarantee for life ......
Oh and by the way, my pet store chin had been in the store for 10 months before I bought him and his teeth were perfect at the age of 12 (yes, I had xrays taken).
Ahahaha! Again, my first chin was one of the friendliest chin I've ever had despite being in the pet store for those 10 months.
If someone is prepared to put in the time and effort then any chin can be rehabilitated regardless of background.
One of my nastiest chins came from a breeder ......
I'm afraid you're talking cobblers. :nah:
<cobblers> sigh......peach cobbler....
Why would a reputable breeder sell to pet stores? Well, let's take a walk through the chins wanted section here on our forum. They say "chin wanted, ANY color but standard." Where do you think all those standards go? Would you prefer they have cervical dislocation and get thrown out with the garbage? Not all chins born are pelting quality. So, if they aren't going to be pelted, they aren't wholesaled, and they aren't sold to pet owners who only want nifty colors, where do you think they are going to end up? As Dawn said, breeding chins on a large scale is a business. If they aren't going to make a profit, then they are going to be destroyed. The majority of chins in pet stores are standard. I would much rather see my chins end up in a pet store than going to research or in a garbage dump.
<sigh> I get so tired of explaining this particular point, but here I am, doing it again.
A wholesaler calls Mr. Smith and says, I need 50 chins to fulfill your contract. I am coming today. He shows up, Mr. Smith starts pulling out chins. It doesn't matter if they are under grand show champs or less high quality chins. He has a quota he has to meet, a contract he agreed to, so he sends those chins along. Breeders don't deliberately breed chins with malo or other issues just to dupe the unsuspecting public and sell them to wholesalers. Some may breed chins of a lesser quality fur wise, but not health wise.
Uninformed people like to point fingers and scream to the rooftops that all breeders who wholesale are scumbags because they don't CARE where their chins go. Whether you sell to a wholesaler or to Joe Schmoe off the street, lemme tell ya, you don't have a clue where your chins are going. People talk a great line about how they are going to do this or that, but once that chin leaves your hands you know jack bout where they are going. I've had friends and strangers alike screw me over with equal fervor. So how is that any different than selling to a pet store?
As far as friendlier? I have gotten some of THE nastiest chins I have from a breeder. They bite, spray, lunge. Don't use that as an excuse. ANY chin has the potential to be a wonderful pet if you spend enough time with them. Chins by nature are gentle animals, but they are skittish simply because they are at the bottom of the food chain. I have only had one chin in my entire barn that I wasn't able to change from attacking me, but I was able to get it down to her only doing it when she had kits, so I learned to live with it.
BTW, malo doesn't simply come from chins who have it in their lines. Malo can occur simply in aging chins whose bite pattern changes. You aren't 100% safe because you got a piece of paper with yours. Malo can pop up anywhere. It's just a crappy draw of the cards.
Why would a reputable breeder sell to pet stores? Well, let's take a walk through the chins wanted section here on our forum. They say "chin wanted, ANY color but standard." Where do you think all those standards go? Would you prefer they have cervical dislocation and get thrown out with the garbage? Not all chins born are pelting quality. So, if they aren't going to be pelted, they aren't wholesaled, and they aren't sold to pet owners who only want nifty colors, where do you think they are going to end up? As Dawn said, breeding chins on a large scale is a business. If they aren't going to make a profit, then they are going to be destroyed. The majority of chins in pet stores are standard. I would much rather see my chins end up in a pet store than going to research or in a garbage dump.
<sigh> I get so tired of explaining this particular point, but here I am, doing it again.
A wholesaler calls Mr. Smith and says, I need 50 chins to fulfill your contract. I am coming today. He shows up, Mr. Smith starts pulling out chins. It doesn't matter if they are under grand show champs or less high quality chins. He has a quota he has to meet, a contract he agreed to, so he sends those chins along. Breeders don't deliberately breed chins with malo or other issues just to dupe the unsuspecting public and sell them to wholesalers. Some may breed chins of a lesser quality fur wise, but not health wise.
Uninformed people like to point fingers and scream to the rooftops that all breeders who wholesale are scumbags because they don't CARE where their chins go. Whether you sell to a wholesaler or to Joe Schmoe off the street, lemme tell ya, you don't have a clue where your chins are going. People talk a great line about how they are going to do this or that, but once that chin leaves your hands you know jack bout where they are going. I've had friends and strangers alike screw me over with equal fervor. So how is that any different than selling to a pet store?
As far as friendlier? I have gotten some of THE nastiest chins I have from a breeder. They bite, spray, lunge. Don't use that as an excuse. ANY chin has the potential to be a wonderful pet if you spend enough time with them. Chins by nature are gentle animals, but they are skittish simply because they are at the bottom of the food chain. I have only had one chin in my entire barn that I wasn't able to change from attacking me, but I was able to get it down to her only doing it when she had kits, so I learned to live with it.
BTW, malo doesn't simply come from chins who have it in their lines. Malo can occur simply in aging chins whose bite pattern changes. You aren't 100% safe because you got a piece of paper with yours. Malo can pop up anywhere. It's just a crappy draw of the cards.
Kara315
Well-known member
Knowing that it's basically because of the info they give, I'll probably get mine there, because I've been doing a ton of research and learning things from all of you!
Once you've found this place, your golden lol. Learning all the info you get from here before you get a chin is great. I didn't come here until six years after I got Tigger and Eeyore and they were on bad food and had treats/toys they shouldn't of gotten. Now they are on a healthy diet with good treats, they love shredded wheat!
I'm glad your going with a chin from a petstore, like others have said, it's not their fault they ended up there, and are just as much in need of love and a home as other chins.
pitbullgirl
Well-known member
In my opinion i wouldn't recommend getting one from petsmart. I got my very first chinchilla there and she got sick about a week later. I spent a ton of money on her trying to get her better but nothing worked. Not only that but i had bought several hamsters there as well and all of them where all sick. Some people might have better luck than i have had with pet stores but i still wouldn't recommend it.
ticklechin
Well-known member
I bought a pink white that came from a award winning rancher, 2 weeks after I got him he was diagnosed with a class 5 murmur, 2 months later malocclusion, chin was only 11 months old, 1000s and 1000s of dollars later, he was PTS after suffering from congestive heart failure. No matter WHERE you get a chin from, you can have issues, pet store chins are no better or worse with health issues than anywhere else.
devonmariexoxo
Annabelle's Mommy! (:
Thank you all for your input! Right now, the two thing that's keeping me from going with Petsmart are:
1. I hear breeders are usually cheaper.
2. I really want a black chin, plus the name I'd love to give her is Galaxy, and my boyfriend says she would have to be black.
But I just can't find breeders. l: Asdfghjkl. Thanks though!
1. I hear breeders are usually cheaper.
2. I really want a black chin, plus the name I'd love to give her is Galaxy, and my boyfriend says she would have to be black.
But I just can't find breeders. l: Asdfghjkl. Thanks though!
Where did I say that? You are reading things into what I have said that aren't there. I didn't say the only reason they weren't going with a breeder was because they wanted to walk in and walk out with a chin. I said that *if* that was *the* reason then I questioned their level of responsibility. Work on reading comprehension without getting your emotions thrown in there. I never said anything about people buying from a petstore being irresponsible. However, you do see it everyday. People who buy their five year old any number of pets at Petsmart because "it was cute" and a month later realize they do not want to put in the time or money for it.
I also did not say that all chinchillas from petstores are unfriendly or unhealthy. I didn't say that all chinchillas from breeders are friendly and healthy. However, when I talked about breeders I was *only* talking about reputable ones. I wasn't discussing the ones who would sell a sick chinchilla to someone. Those ones aren't reputable. If you buy from a reputable breeder you are more than likely going to get a pet that is at least healthy when purchased, is the sex you requested, and is relatively friendly. A reputable breeder isn't going to sell you a vicious or ill chinchilla without letting you know what you're buying.
Several people have mentioned the fact that all chinchilla can have malo. I understand that, completely. I do not have a 100% health guarantee for myself. I would never expect it in a pet. However I know all of my questions will be answered and I know the person I got them from will actually care if my chinchillas get ill. That makes a world of difference in my book.
Thank you Tunes for explaining the nature of whole sale selling. You may have explained it many times but I have never seen it explained. Unfortunately much of what you read on the internet is rumor and I am still having a hard time sorting rumor from fact. I really had no idea how exactly animals ended up at petstores. I knew they came from brokers but had always told they were coming from disreputable and backyard breeders. Is there even a way to find out what breeder a particular petstore chin is coming from? I was told at petstores it's hard to know if the males and females at the place are related or not.
Nope, there is no way to find out. The pet stores have no clue. Like I said, they go through a wholesaler (broker) to get their chins. The broker doesn't give a rip about pedigrees and doesn't keep track of which chin came from which place. He just picks them up and moves them out.
I just had a wholesaler purchase 62 chinchillas from me last Wednesday. They are the supplier of all the Petsmarts. My chins are not neglected, etc, but I will say that I agree with the point that you "don't know what you are getting." They took adults, and young adults. But, they were all pedigreed.
Your ad hominem attack is pitiable.
Your posts are self evident, the meanings there for everyone to see .....
I was simply challenging your assumptions.
You keep throwing in these generalisations .......
Again, I say, really? The most vicious chin I have was sold to me as a breeding male by a 'reputable' breeder - he's tiny and he's nasty.
Some people have good experiences and some bad - not every pet shop should be tarred with the same brush.
ticklechin
Well-known member
My most friendly chins came from Petco and Petsmart, the nastiest came from a breeder that also had malo and had a few loose screws in the head, this was from a "reputable" hobby breeder.
cindyv3737
<---House beaver.
Of the three chins I own, two are very sweet. One is from a pet store. The reason I chose her is, she climbed into my arms and fell asleep on my chest. I was smitten and took her home that night.
My other sweet chin is from a breeder. Personally, I don't think she has a mean bone in her body.
My third chin, is taking her sweet time settling in. She huffs and charges. We are a work in progress and she also came from a breeder.
My other sweet chin is from a breeder. Personally, I don't think she has a mean bone in her body.
My third chin, is taking her sweet time settling in. She huffs and charges. We are a work in progress and she also came from a breeder.
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