Chinchilla from pet store

[ChinsForLife]

Here is what I was going by...

In this video(probably the angle though) the chin looks to be significantly bigger than the guinea pigs but I may be wrong. From back to toe I mean

 

[ChinsForLife]

Do you mean 3-4 inches from back to floor or head to toe?

 

[Amethyst]

Are they super active/hyper at that age? Like puppies? Or are they more laid back.

Yes, they are often very hyper, they climb and bounce around, and seem to have no idea they aren't indestructible, but you can get the odd laid back one. They are very active which is why they should be kept contained in the cage for the most part when young, you want them to grow and to not risk hurting themselves.

 

[ChinsForLife]

Yes, they are often very hyper, they climb and bounce around, and seem to have no idea they aren't indestructible, but you can get the odd laid back one. They are very active which is why they should be kept contained in the cage for the most part when young, you want them to grow and to not risk hurting themselves.

When you say they bounce, lets say...3 feet. Do you mean horizontal or vertical?

 

[Amethyst]

Here is what I was going by...

In this video(probably the angle though) the chin looks to be significantly bigger than the guinea pigs but I may be wrong. From back to toe I mean

The camera angle does seem to play tricks on you in that video, and it doesn't say how old the guinea pigs are, I'm not watching the whole video, but when they are side by side they are about the same length I think. That is definately a full grown chin in that video though.

Do you mean 3-4 inches from back to floor or head to toe?

From base of the tail to the tip of the nose. Ok, I grabbed a ruler... maybe about 5 inches? it's been like 20 years since I had a kit so it's hard to remember exactly.

When you say they bounce, lets say...3 feet. Do you mean horizontal or vertical?

Well I mean more like popcorning bouncing (if you look up chinchilla popcorning you should find videos), so like a few inches, but they can easily jump a few feet high if they want to. Even adults can easily jump 5-6 feet.

 

[ChinsForLife]

How old is this chin do you think?

 

[ChinsForLife]

Oops sorry wrong video

 

[ChinsForLife]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...410&id=2334312926824965&anchor_composer=false

 

[ChinsForLife]

The camera angle does seem to play tricks on you in that video, and it doesn't say how old the guinea pigs are, I'm not watching the whole video, but when they are side by side they are about the same length I think. That is definately a full grown chin in that video though.


From base of the tail to the tip of the nose. Ok, I grabbed a ruler... maybe about 5 inches? it's been like 20 years since I had a kit so it's hard to remember exactly.


Well I mean more like popcorning bouncing (if you look up chinchilla popcorning you should find videos), so like a few inches, but they can easily jump a few feet high if they want to. Even adults can easily jump 5-6 feet.

Ok thanks!

 

[Amethyst]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...410&id=2334312926824965&anchor_composer=false

I would guess maybe 4-6 months?

 

[ChinsForLife]

I will probably hold him on the way home. Is that safe? I am very careful so I'm not going to drop him or anything. But would he get too hot?

 

[Amethyst]

I will probably hold him on the way home. Is that safe? I am very careful so I'm not going to drop him or anything. But would he get too hot?

Not a good idea, chins squirm a lot and they are fast, it would be better to have him in a carrier, or if it's a short drive then a box will do. If you squeeze or hold on to him tight to prevent him from getting away you can hurt or kill him. If it's warm out, like above 60F he can very easily overheat with you holding on to him, unless it's just a couple minute drive away. If he gets away in the car you could lose him for good, or worse case that happened to someone, their chin got lose in the car and got squished and killed under I think it was the brake the pedal.

 

[Amethyst]

looking at the FB page you linked, here is a 10 week old chin (so about the age you would be getting) Facebook

 

[ChinsForLife]

looking at the FB page you linked, here is a 10 week old chin (so about the age you would be getting) Facebook

Thank you!

 

[ChinsForLife]

Not a good idea, chins squirm a lot and they are fast, it would be better to have him in a carrier, or if it's a short drive then a box will do. If you squeeze or hold on to him tight to prevent him from getting away you can hurt or kill him. If it's warm out, like above 60F he can very easily overheat with you holding on to him, unless it's just a couple minute drive away. If he gets away in the car you could lose him for good, or worse case that happened to someone, their chin got lose in the car and got squished and killed under I think it was the brake the pedal.

Ok..... Wow. Yes, thanks for the info!

 

[ChinsForLife]

Ok..... Wow. Yes, thanks for the info!

I have a carrier like for dogs or cats. Would that work?

 

[ChinsForLife]

One like this...
Not that exact one but the same type

 

[Amethyst]

One like this...
Not that exact one but the same type

Yes a small cat or dog carry can work, a lot of people do that, just line the bottom with fleece, and put some hay in there to munch on. If possible one that isn't all plastic would be better, but so long as the drive isn't hours, and your kit isn't like my two when I brought them home it should be fine. Most chins just sleep or are too freaked out to really do much in the carrier so it's not normally a problem.

I got my current two from the next town over, about a 45 minute drive, and in that time they had chewed holes in the cardboard box they were put in and by the time we got home I had my hands over the holes to prevent them from getting out. Luckily I wasn't the one driving, and they came with their cage so I we were able to quickly set it up and put them in. We had planned to get a pair of chinchillas but didn't plan to get chinchillas that day, we went to the feed shop for cat and dog food and they were being sold by the owner for someone that moved and couldn't take them with them, the shop didn't normally sell chinchillas.

What I currently use as their travel cage/carrier is this (it also doubles as their bath house cage).

(old pic I have a different bath now)
It's just a plastic base but I can just put a piece of fleece over it to prevent chewing. You can get smaller size ones too, and even a small one with a handle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MD3MH8/ref=twister_B07K8CQMVB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ChinsForLife]

Yes a small cat or dog carry can work, a lot of people do that, just line the bottom with fleece, and put some hay in there to munch on. If possible one that isn't all plastic would be better, but so long as the drive isn't hours, and your kit isn't like my two when I brought them home it should be fine. Most chins just sleep or are too freaked out to really do much in the carrier so it's not normally a problem.

I got my current two from the next town over, about a 45 minute drive, and in that time they had chewed holes in the cardboard box they were put in and by the time we got home I had my hands over the holes to prevent them from getting out. Luckily I wasn't the one driving, and they came with their cage so I we were able to quickly set it up and put them in. We had planned to get a pair of chinchillas but didn't plan to get chinchillas that day, we went to the feed shop for cat and dog food and they were being sold by the owner for someone that moved and couldn't take them with them, the shop didn't normally sell chinchillas.

What I currently use as their travel cage/carrier is this (it also doubles as their bath house cage).
View attachment 21322
(old pic I have a different bath now)
It's just a plastic base but I can just put a piece of fleece over it to prevent chewing. You can get smaller size ones too, and even a small one with a handle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MD3MH8/ref=twister_B07K8CQMVB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The drive is about an hour and a half

 

[ChinsForLife]

I will have $440 when I get him.(he is 8 weeks old the same weekend as our puppies) so ill be paid then(ill have already gotten everything ready obviously) and ill be getting around $150 in about 3 months. Along with other jobs. Like the bells for the dog breeder. So hopefully ill always have a steady income with The puppies, bells, etc and ill have a fund for emergencies.