Hello from sunny (air conditioned) California!

[HermesMama]

Hello Everyone!

I just got my first Chinchilla from a breeder in Northern California about a month ago. He was 12 weeks when I got him. From the very beginning, he has been extremely friendly and social. I simply adore him!

I am so glad to have found this forum so that I can continue my research on how to give him the best, safest, and longest life possible.

I attached pictures of him and his cage below. Two questions based on what I have read here: 1.) Is the outside of this hammock dangerous for him since he appears to be chewing it? The inside is fleece, but the outside definitely is not. Perhaps I could just remove that outer part from the hammock? I may just remove it altogether.. and he mostly just runs in and out, never relaxing and laying in it to my knowledge. He LOVES all of his ledges, and as soon as he is bigger I will take some of the larger shelves out and replace with ledges galore! 2.) I have a "salt lick" hanging in the back of the cage. Is this no good for him? He doesn't lick it very often (again, to my knowledge), but he does seem to enjoy chewing the rope that it hangs on.

Also, I purchased the large metal flying saucer wheel, which he literally figured out in a day and is OBSESSED with… but I have since removed it until he is 6 months old. I will miss singing "Up in his cage just working on his fitness, Hermilicious!" while he is on it… but 2 more months of a wait is a small price to pay for his overall wellbeing.

Anyways, I am excited to be a part of the forum. Thanks in advance for all the helpful advice!

-Sandra

 

[Snickers]

Welcome to CnH from another person in SO CA. Did you get your chin from Sumiko?

 

[HermesMama]

Yes, I did! He is so healthy and was clearly well taken care of. She has also been so helpful and available to answer all of my questions! How have these hot summers been for you and your chinnie? I am already cringing at the thought of the electric bill because I KNOW the air will need to be on 24/7. But my fur baby is totally worth it!

 

[Amethyst]

The hammock is going to have to go, the only safe fabric is fleece, as it doesn't unravel like other fabric, but still only so long as it's not eaten, so the hammock needs to be 100% fleece with metal clips. The most common hammocks are either fleece with fleece loops with clips in them, or fleece with metal grommets in the corners with clips. The salt lick is also no good, he should be getting all the salt he needs from his food pellets, so will cause more harm then good.

With the wheel, even when he is old enough make sure you monitor his weight, even adult chins can over do it and end up losing weight because they want to be on it too much. Monitoring weight is a good idea anyway, one of the first signs of a health issue is weight lose, a basic digital kitchen scale that measures grams and can zero/tare is all you need.

By the way my boys only took a day to figure it out too, but still use the flying saucer as not just a running wheel but also a swing, slide and launching pad, it's very amusing.

 

[Chinmama]

Welcome to the forum! You have a cute baby, and he has a very nice cage set up.

I would remove the hammock, especially if he is chewing it. Also remove the salt lick. It doesn't really serve any purpose for chinchillas. They get everything they need from their food and hay.

 

[Snickers]

Yes, I did! He is so healthy and was clearly well taken care of. She has also been so helpful and available to answer all of my questions! How have these hot summers been for you and your chinnie? I am already cringing at the thought of the electric bill because I KNOW the air will need to be on 24/7. But my fur baby is totally worth it!

She has nice chins. It hasn't been too hot at night in the summer time didn't have to use a/c at night. They are housed outside in a wooden barn with a window unit.

You should come to ECBC National show in Ventura the last weekend of February 2016.

 

[HermesMama]

How do I go about going to that show?

 

[Minccino]

Hello and welcome :wave:
Cute chinny and very nice cage! :cute:

 

[cnith]

Yes, I did! He is so healthy and was clearly well taken care of. She has also been so helpful and available to answer all of my questions! How have these hot summers been for you and your chinnie? I am already cringing at the thought of the electric bill because I KNOW the air will need to be on 24/7. But my fur baby is totally worth it!

Where are you? We live in No Cal too and thankfully our A/C hasn't been on since probably November? Maybe even October. We're now having to turn on the heater because it dips to the mid 20s! In summer though we'll pay for the bill for sure, as we get to over 100s easy. I hate summers here...

 

[Snickers]

How do I go about going to that show?

Feb 27th & 28th
Marriott Courtyard
600 Esplanade Dr.
Oxnard, CA
805-809-3511

You don't have to attend both days. It's free to watch.