Chinchilla Questions?

Cunningham4678 · Jul 12, 2014

1.) what is the BEST, healthiest snack food? I feed mine a lot of different stuff.. I feel I am doing wrong.

2.) I just purchased More chinchillas today and they were not well kept.. They smell bad, not soft, and have stuff caped in the fur.. How do I clean it?(afraid to use water)

3.) is it okay to put a 4 month old with a 1 1/2 year old??

4.) they chew the plastic levels is that okay?

5.) can I buy regular hydrated apples and bananas? :hmm:

THANKS in advance!!

Nerk · Jul 13, 2014

1.) what is the BEST, healthiest snack food? I feed mine a lot of different stuff.. I feel I am doing wrong.

I feed mine Unfrosted Shredded Mini Wheat, Unsweetened Cheerios, and rose hips. Treats should be given once or twice a week at most. A lot of people do not give treats, the most important thing they need is a good quality hay and pellet.

2.) I just purchased More chinchillas today and they were not well kept.. They smell bad, not soft, and have stuff caped in the fur.. How do I clean it?(afraid to use water)

I have heard of people using water on special occasions BUT you need to immediately dry them on a no heat/low setting on the hair dryer. Although, most of the time a couple of good buddy baths will help get rid of the junk in their fur.
If you haven't already your new chins should do a 30 quarantine from the other chins just to make sure all chins are healthy.

3.) is it okay to put a 4 month old with a 1 1/2 year old?

Yes, but you need to do a introducing and bonding method. If you do a site search you'll find a ton of suggestions on how to do it. It will take time and patience though.

4.) they chew the plastic levels is that okay?

You should never have exposed plastic in their cages. They will chew and consume which will eventually lead to impaction. If your chin survives you'll be left with a sick chin and a costly vet bill.
Try to provide a chew safe wood such as Kiln Dried Pine or Poplar. Kiln Dried Pine will be cheaper.

5.) can I buy regular hydrated apples and bananas? :hmm:

Please avoid fruits of any kind because they cannot properly digest sugars. This will lead to Fatty Liver Disease or even Diabetes. We have a lot of amazing vendors here who can provide you with chin treats for a fair price.

I hope this helps and that you enjoy your new companions!

THANKS in advance!!

saphire · Jul 13, 2014

question on baths: You can dust them daily till they fully clean up... I would NOT use water. As Nerk mention and want to emphazise on, water is used only for extreme situations because of health situations or. But your situation only calls or Dust baths.

Shenanigans · Jul 13, 2014

1.) what is the BEST, healthiest snack food? I feed mine a lot of different stuff.. I feel I am doing wrong.

One of the healthiest and one of my chins favorite treats is simply a a small amount of a new flavor of chew stick or hay (Yuki LOVES thin grapevine tendrils enough that it's a treat, not a chew). I also do organic unsweetened cherios, oats (not the instant kind that will swell up inside them and block stuff), rosehips, Post shredded wheat, or once in a blue moon he gets a tiny piece of unsulfered unsweeted dried paypa. If you browse the threads there's plenty of talk about safe treats-maybe even visit the vendors in the classifieds for ideas. Remember treats are for you more than the chin and to feed in moderation. It may be one Cheerio to you, but think how big that is compared to the chin and the food he eats.

2.) I just purchased More chinchillas today and they were not well kept.. They smell bad, not soft, and have stuff caped in the fur.. How do I clean it?(afraid to use water)
Like others suggested, dust baths.

3.) is it okay to put a 4 month old with a 1 1/2 year old??
After you hopefully quarantine your new chins for a month, the age shouldn't be a problem. Remember that chins may not get along-after all you don't get along with every person. Also, a backup cage would be needed just in case one day they didn't get along anymore (the baby may also go through pubery-i dont know how that'd effect his relationship with his cagemate). Whatever you do, make sure you take time, are informed, and are careful. There are some horror stories about attempted bondings. Also, make sure they're the same gender! (just an extra warning-you wouldnt want to breed the rescues with no pedigree from the sound of it)

4.) they chew the plastic levels is that okay?
plastic can kill. Cover the levels in fleece so the chins cant get to them, and look into wood shelving (of chin-safe wood). This goes for plastic houses, wheels and everything else too.

5.) can I buy regular hydrated apples and bananas?
For treats for yourself,

but please keep them away from your chin. Chins are from a dry mountainous region. That's way too much sugar and water for their systems.

Welcome to the forum. Please keep browsing through all the info here, and don't be afraid to use the search function! There's tons of info already here. Also, for getting things for your chins the petstores cant beat our vendors in healthiness or prices, check them out for wood shelving and all that.