Hello everyone!

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

Wahhh! I wrote a long introduction and it didn't save! Crap.

Firstly I randomly found you guys while searching for information on chinchillas. I have never owned one but hope to in the near future. I have always had dogs growing up, so I am mostly unfamiliar with little pets. But the lady whom I babysit for has a three-year-old chinchilla and I am totally in love with her. And as odd as it sounds, being around my boyfriends' two pet rats has really opened my eyes to the small-pets world.

Anyway, I am so glad I found this forum!!! I was hoping to find a place where everything I wanted and needed to know could be answered by actual chinchilla owners, not pet shops or merchandise stores.

I have a question that I haven't seen mentioned specifically in any of the forums, and hoped you all could help me. There is a local woman (I'm fron North Alabama) whom I found on Craigslist that is needing to find a home for her two year old female chinchilla she's had for five months. This is her post: "I have a two year old chinchilla (standard) Her HUGE cage food toys water bottle etc. I really need to rehome ASAP I AM NOT SELLING HER AS A BREEDER I paid 150.00 for her and 100.00 for her cage all of her stuff comes to 110.00 I am asking a rehoming fee of 200.00 for everything we have had her for five months and LOVE HER to death but I lost my job and we are having to down size! "


I know you all have said rehoming fees should be under $50.00, but this would include everything. It seems like a fair deal to me? Also, I really want to adopt (or purchase) a baby, but the closest breeder is an hour away, and I'd like to be able to look at my future chinchilla, and go home and think about it, before taking him/her.

I completely trust your feedback! Thank you!

Jessica

 

[JodiO]

Have you seen a pic of the cage? If it has a lot of plastic ( and a lot of them do!), I'd wait and invest in a nice metal cage ( like the FN). If you're interested in the chin, ask to see it and check its temperment. Make sure everything is a "right fit" for you. Chins are a long term committment. I don't think $200 is too much if the chin is in good shape and the cage is a good one. However, you can always ask her to lower the price a little. Also, a breeder an hour away isn't too bad. By contacting a breeder you could get exactly what you want ( color, age) an know the background of the chin.

 

[Pikaia]

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with Jodi. Go and meet the chin and check out the supplies. A Ferret Nation cage and a chin for $200 wouldn't be a bad deal. Just make sure to check first. You can also check breeders in your area for what they offer. There are pros and cons to each choice.

I hope you find everything you are looking for in this board! It is full of information and friendly people!

 

[alli713]

Welcome!

 

[lauralynne]

Hello & Welcome.

What a chinchilla is worth to one person will be completely different for the next. Ask the woman for some pictures, ask to go see the chinchilla and take some pictures.

Many times, people will advertise all the "stuff" that comes with chins, but it usually isn't good for them (treats, death ball, etc.) and most of it ends of being thrown away. So, take that into consideration as well.

 

[Chin_Up_Sunshine]

Welcome!
I agree with everything said thus far but, to put some things into perspective:
My boys were originally pet store chins that were taken in by employees when they were injured/ill. I found them on CL as well, but only paid $150 for both boys, their cage, feed, dust, at least 3 bales of hay and hay blocks. Granted, I still had to buy a new cage, am slowly switching over better dust and feed (thank goodness they were on Mazuri instead of Kaytee or something) and spent a lot of money putting actual toys in there because they didn't have much. That's the monetary side though.

I personally, would probably take her anyway, although I'd barter a little first considering chances are good that I'd replace a lot of her stuff anyway. The less you pay for the cage etc, the more you can spend on new toys! Maybe, you can ask what the price for just her is if the cage isn't great.

 

[cindyv3737]

Welcome.

 

[Jenn]

Hi and welcome! You've already gotten a lot of good advice. Is this the chin you want? How old is this chin, what color (if that matters to you), does she have any health issues - especially dental? I once bought a cockatiel from someone on craigslist who was beautiful and well behaved, but died a few months later from a huge tumor. There is always a bit of risk involved when buying from another. I also traveled to another state to get my chihuahua puppy that came from a reputable puppy. So an hour to a chin breeder totally sounds reasonable. If the breeder is reputable, you can feel assured that you are getting a healthy chin who will be with you for many years.

 

[starleomach]

welcome!

 

[momenteller]

Welcome to CnH!

If I were you, I would make the drive to the breeder. They may have a few different chins so you could see which one clicks with you. An hour drive is really not far when you consider this will be a member of your family for the next 15 - 20 years!

 

[Laurie]

Hello and Welcome Jessica. The advice you've been given is great. While we do say yes a rehoming fee shouldn't be astronomical at the same time you want to see someone not giving the chin up dirt cheap because sometimes they do actually want the chin to go to a good home and often times free is out there for all the hoarders and people who don't want to pay money to have a chinchilla.

With that said an hour away from a breeder is not really that far. Think long and hard about this decision as it seems you are. I have also recently lost my job and I have 9 chinchillas and would never dream of giving a single one up--so is that really the reason they are giving up the chin? You never know. With a breeder most often you do not have health issues, from a pet store sometimes yes we see health issues, from Craigslist, YES we see lots of health issues.

Just be prepared for a ll the possibilities that may come.

 

[tati121]

Welcome to the forum! You're going to learn so much on here!

 

[tunes]

Welcome to CnH.

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

Thanks everyone! Yes I've already contacted the lady about getting pictures, and you're all right...I never considered the chinchilla might have health issues. I know this may sound kind of picky (I tend to be detailed oriented), but besides the information I posted, the woman hasn't given me anymore feedback. I would think that if I were in the same situation, I would be bending over backwards to answer any questions or concerns the proposed buyer would have.

And you're right, an hour is not a long drive considering how long I'll have my future boy/girl. The only reason I have reservations about that is because I have anxiety with driving (particularly on interstate), and I wonder if I'll go all the way down there, only to drive all the way home before deciding if I want one of her's. Again, I don't in theory mind making such effort for a pet. But, because driving for me is difficult sometimes, I feel like finding a chinchilla a little closer would be simpler.

Regardless, you all have given me great feedback, and I'll keep you posted. Thank you!

 

[Jenn]

do you have someone you could go with to see the breeder? Someone who doesn't mind driving or would at least be a passenger with you and make you feel more comfortable? Does this breeder have a website? Then you could "meet" the chinchillas and know that you want a certain one before you head there. Or maybe the breeder can send you pics...anything to help you make your decision easier. Good luck!

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

do you have someone you could go with to see the breeder? Someone who doesn't mind driving or would at least be a passenger with you and make you feel more comfortable? Does this breeder have a website? Then you could "meet" the chinchillas and know that you want a certain one before you head there. Or maybe the breeder can send you pics...anything to help you make your decision easier. Good luck!

I have thought of having a passenger, But, as odd as it may sound, I think I'd be most comfortable--and best able to make my decision--being by myself....without anyone's outside influence/opinions. I try to make such decisions with my gut, and it's harder to do when someone else is around. But if I have to, it'll work out.

Yes, thankfully, the breeder does have a website, with pictures. And lots of information. So, that's reassuring.

 

[Chin_Up_Sunshine]

Thanks everyone! Yes I've already contacted the lady about getting pictures, and you're all right...I never considered the chinchilla might have health issues. I know this may sound kind of picky (I tend to be detailed oriented), but besides the information I posted, the woman hasn't given me anymore feedback. I would think that if I were in the same situation, I would be bending over backwards to answer any questions or concerns the proposed buyer would have. ...

I only got my boys because I "proved myself worthy" as it were. I don't think you're being picky. I would have been turned off by such lack of communication as well. Good luck in your chinnie hunt!

 

[Claire D]

:wave: Hi & welcome to the forum.