chinchilla cage help ! asap

[mgeath1251]

last night while looking for a chinchilla to rehome on craigslist i seen a ad
the chinchilla comes with a cage and all other accessories she has
the cage look like it terrible
i really want the chinchilla but i don't want to take a 2 hour drive; get the chinchilla and then have to raise $200 dollar to get a ferret nation or critter nation
so can you guys tell me your opinion on the cage

and i will be taking the plastic shelves out as soon as i order wooden ones

 

[skygirl]

the cage itself isnt bad but all the plastic stuff in it is.....I would remove all the plastic shelves and make or buy wood shelves and get a real chinny wheel not that plastic thing that will break if the chin really has at it in the wheel

 

[Amethyst]

Most of the stuff in that cage will have to go, shelves, wheel, hanging house, need a new water bottle (that one looks like plastic) and take that dust bath out of the cage, I don't see a food bowl or hay holder. It could work with those corrections so long as she doesn't chew on the plastic base, you might want to get a better cage later though. However, are you really sure it's a good idea to get a chinchilla if paying a couple hundred for a cage is that big of a deal? If you can't afford $200 for a cage can you afford vet care, especially coming from a cage full of plastic? If the chin ends up with an impaction it could easily end up being over $200 and needs immediate attention, no time to raise the money. However if you are talking about an additional $200 separate of your vet fund then disregard what I said, but keep in mind vet care for chins is expensive.

 

[mgeath1251]

my problem is that i know that i would need to replace everything that and then to replacing a cage isnt realy a problem i just as of Christmas just passing im wiped out and my next paycheck isnt for 2 weeks
im defiantly going to get her a new cage as soon as i have money that i can just play with
but i have no problem kicking out $200 $300 from my savings for a vet bill.
i know how expensive vet bills can cost as i own 2 guinea pigs and my vet is highly skilled with rodents and reptiles

 

[saphire]

She has been living in that cage for some time and is still alive.,

No saying you should stick with it, but better in your care with eventual positive changes in the cage and so on than adding to a shelter who are over loaded or left to it's own outside.

So, If you really want her for the good reasons, and whole heartedly saving and checking on craigslist of a FN and improve her direct environment... go ahead.
She will have a better chance with you who is looking to improve her environment than who knows who may come her way..... see what I am saying.

Good Luck


My view of this specific situation.

 

[AZChins]

I agree, it's not that bad. If chins leave the plastic alone, it isn't going to kill them. I've seen a lot of chins that are on plastic shelves and in plastic cages and never have a problem. When chins are provided with toys and properly taken care of otherwise, they will usually ignore the plastic. While that cage isn't ideal, it would be alright to use it temporarily with the idea that you will replace the shelves with wood or keep a close eye on if the chin is chewing on plastic or not.

This isn't a chin that looks like it wasn't cared for at all. At least the people did buy her things...I could tell you some stories about what people have done to chins that make this look like it's nothing at all.

The cage isn't bad, you could use that cage indefinitely with better shelves. Overlap the shelves a bit to prevent any falls from the top and it's fine. Any cage like this without shelves is just a big empty cage the same as any other big empty cage....

 

[mgeath1251]

I was searching for cages yesterday and i found a ferret nation for $75
the owner said she didn't like it she only used it for 2 weeks with her ferrets and she already covered the floor with what looks like laminate sqaures

and i think were going to pick up the chin sometime in the middle of the week

 

[LittleCyrus]

I know this was from about a year ago, but what color is that chin? That's the same color as my new baby boy, Cyrus, and I don't know what to call it..:hmm:

 

[Shenanigans]

looks like beige, called tan if there's not a white belly.