nervous new chin owner confused....

[catem777]

So I just got my first chinchilla yesterday. I got him from petsmart which i heard was a nono but i just fell in love with the little man. I have a few questions to ask because i'm not happy with the information I got from the store.
1.What are approved treats? I want to bond with him and i want a safe treat I can give him once or twice a day.(i have been using a pinch of old fashioned oats right now and i think that is ok.)And what are dangerous treats that some people might say to use as well?

2.The cage I got for him is entirely metal with little grates everywhere. I am worried he might hurt his little paws . Is this a valid concern? and how am i supposed to use the pet bedding with a grate at the bottom?

3.Initially I was going to keep him in my room but last night didn't go to well, I should have known better because I knew they were nocturnal he was just so quiet during the day. I was planning to move him in to the bathroom at night and let him run and then put him in his cage til morning and then I would put him back in my room. Is this too much stess? or will the exercise and attention I give him be positive reinforcement for the move everyday?

4.The food that they were giving him at petsmart has seeds and fruit chunks in it and he just picks out those and mostly ignores the pellets.(and i heard that seeds and fruit was bad) If i get him just pellets will he stop picking and throwing out all of it? And how should I introduce it to him so it wont upset his tummy?

5.Is it safe if i tie one of his houses to his cage with metal twine? he likes to launch off of it and i dont want him to get hurt. I tried using regular twine but he saw me do it and went straight after it .

6. He made a strange noise a couple times last night. I dont know if it would be barking or what it almost built up like a dog howls. We checked on him and he was just sitting in his little hideaway looking at us. Does anyone know what this means in Chin Chin language? Just curious

I think that does it for now I know it is enormously long but im a worry wort and i just want to make the right choices. I had got him an exercise ball that petsmart urged me to get and then i read it is aslo called a death ball and that freaked me out! OH and i named him Kramer Ozzy Mengel

 

[RDZCRanch]

1.What are approved treats? I want to bond with him and i want a safe treat I can give him once or twice a day.(i have been using a pinch of old fashioned oats right now and i think that is ok.)And what are dangerous treats that some people might say to use as well?

You can also give non-frosted mini wheat cereal and cheerios. I would limit treats to every other day though, it's not necessary for them to get something every single day and it's not good for them. Handing them hay through the bars is fun and a good "treat" for them. They should also be free fed hay, but I find mine like to play tug of war with me now and then. No fruits, veggies, nuts or seeds.

2.The cage I got for him is entirely metal with little grates everywhere. I am worried he might hurt his little paws . Is this a valid concern? and how am i supposed to use the pet bedding with a grate at the bottom?

You don't have to use shavings and I, personally, have a strong dislike for carefresh bedding. You can line the bottom of the cage (the wire) with fleece liners and that will work as "bedding" for him. I would also cover any wire shelves with fleece or wood or remove them all together. As far as the walls of the cage being wire, that's not harmful. Be weary of ramps and shelves made of wire as those can be dangerous and potentially fatal to chinchillas.

3.Initially I was going to keep him in my room but last night didn't go to well, I should have known better because I knew they were nocturnal he was just so quiet during the day. I was planning to move him in to the bathroom at night and let him run and then put him in his cage til morning and then I would put him back in my room. Is this too much stess? or will the exercise and attention I give him be positive reinforcement for the move everyday?

How long have you had him? You don't want to let them out or introduce too many new things to them in the first couple weeks of owning them. He needs to spend the first couple of weeks in a constant environment with you just talking to them and going slowly. No grabbing them out, running them around the bathroom, etc...this adds too much stress. Chins need a constant environment so either keep him in the bedroom and get earplugs or find a different, quiet room for him.

4.The food that they were giving him at petsmart has seeds and fruit chunks in it and he just picks out those and mostly ignores the pellets.(and i heard that seeds and fruit was bad) If i get him just pellets will he stop picking and throwing out all of it? And how should I introduce it to him so it wont upset his tummy?

That food is horrible for them. I'd do a cold turkey switch immediately to Oxbow, Tradition or Mazuri and just offer an excessive amount of hay. The hay should help keep any diarrhea or stomach upset from changing feeds at bay.

5.Is it safe if i tie one of his houses to his cage with metal twine? he likes to launch off of it and i dont want him to get hurt. I tried using regular twine but he saw me do it and went straight after it .

You can use zipties or twist ties...metal "twine" should be fine as well.

6. He made a strange noise a couple times last night. I dont know if it would be barking or what it almost built up like a dog howls. We checked on him and he was just sitting in his little hideaway looking at us. Does anyone know what this means in Chin Chin language? Just curious

It means he's stressed. It's a "warning" call they give when afraid or stressed. It's because he's in a new environment with so many new things to take in. Again, another reason to move slowly with him.

I had got him an exercise ball that petsmart urged me to get and then i read it is aslo called a death ball and that freaked me out! OH and i named him Kramer Ozzy Mengel

Don't use the ball, at all. I've seen chins die in them and heard of chins dying in them, had people call me as their chin was dying from being in one. Take it back or toss it out. No small animal should be subjected to those things.

Any questions you have, we'll be happy to answer! Good for you for finding this forum and being concerned enough about your new little guy to ask! Welcome to Chins-N-Hedgies and congrats on your lovely little guy!:thumbsup:

 

[catem777]

thanks for the reply. I just got him yesterday so i will go out and get ear plugs . I will have to order those fleece covers as well. I wish I had found this sight before I went and spent all that money on all those death traps at petsmart but live and learn i guess. I will go and get him new food as well. I was wondering do you really have to buy one of those saucer wheels? I got a regular one that is farely large but i just want to be sure it is ok for him.

 

[RDZCRanch]

Is the flying saucer wheel plastic or metal? The plastic ones are not suitable for chinchillas, many have been injured on them. The metal one is fine but it is not the only option for a chinchilla safe wheel. There are some quieter ones. There is a Silver Surfer wheel you can buy off of Chinchillas.com, it's expensive but very quite. There is also the forum favorite, the Chin Spin and the Ed Wheel. The last two are very similar and cheaper than the silver surfer.

At least you DID find us though! I'm glad you did, you'll get a lot of great information on here and we have many vendors that will be able to supply you with chinnie safe products for reasonable prices! There are fleece tubes, fleece hammocks, wooden shelves, wooden houses, wooden toys, etc. ALL made with chinchillas in mind.

 

[catem777]

thanks so much I think i will ask my mom if she will sew me some fleece covers for me or atleast show me how and then a might be able to make him a fleece buddy or something I will look up those wheels and just donate mine and maybe someone with a suitable animal can use it.

 

[Sandi]

Hello and welcome to you and your new chinnie. I just wanted to add that sometimes petsmart sells chins younger than 6 months old. It's also hard to tell how old they really are unless you have the breeder's info/papers/pedigree on this particular chin. Chins under 6 months shouldn't really get treats of any kind, just his pellets, hay and water. Also, if you look in each section of the forum there are FAQ's that offer a lot of great info. I know one of them has a link to chinchilla sounds so you could hear and decipher specific noises your chin makes.

 

[Jenn]

Hi and congrats with your new chin! You did great by questioning the info that Petsmart had given you. They really shouldn't be selling chins when they don't even know how to corrrectly care for a chin! Tab has already answered everything for you, so I won't repeat what she said, but give your chin a few weeks to settle in and it will be worth it. It takes time for them to adjust to a new environment and to you. I sat next to my chin's cage when I first got her and would just talk to her, and get her used to my presence. Chin's are not nocturnal, either. Mine is up and down throughout the day and night. Chew toys are great, especially applesticks. It is a favorite treat and great for their teeth. And be prepared for your chin to poop, and poop, and poop, lol. They never seem to stop! After a little time, your chin will really warm up to you, and they are so personable and fun. And pictures are always great for us!

 

[Idgie]

Glad you are here. You'll learn a lot on this site and get much support.

I have a wire bottom cage and I ended up getting a piece of lucite to cover the bottom. Not sure if this will work in your cage or not. It is the cover for a flourescent light in a drop ceiling. It would be found at any home improvement store for about $5. You may have to score it and snap it to make it fit (wear safety glasses). If that doesn't work, some people have used ceramic tiles to cover the wires and then put the bedding in. When you clean the cage, you just remove the bedding and wipe down the bottom with vinegar and water, rinse, and dry. Pretty easy--at least that's the way it works for me. You could also put some cardboard over it for now with the bedding, but the cardboard will need to be changed constantly, so that's not a permanent solution.

I wouldn't leave my chin out of her cage all night to run around, ever. After you have some time to bond, you would want to take him out with you in the bathroom for some exercise. But keep an eye on him.

Make sure he has lots of things to chew--like apple sticks, wood (some woods are safe and others not), pumice, etc. And always have fresh hay.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Luci]

hey! congrats on getting your little chin, Kramer!

all of your concerns have already been addressed in the previous posts but i just wanted to add that i got the same exact cage you did. im assuming its the same one because mine has a metal grate at the bottom as well. i line the bottom of the cage with fleece and all the metal/wire levels have been taken out. ive found that if you buy wooden ledges with sturdy hardware, it makes the cage sturdier as well. and since my chin isnt a chewer, i used binder clips to make sure the bottom grate doesnt rattle as much. the cage isnt the best quality and you will need to invest in a better one sometime down the road. ive had my cage for a year and a half almost, and am still trying to get all the funds together for a ferret nation.

oh and if you decide to switch to Oxbow, get them from sandi! 5lbs for 10.75 (including shipping)! i will gladly spend that much. (surprisingly gizmo doesnt devour his food quickly lol).

welcome to the forum and ask away! you can also use the search feature at the top to see if your concerns have already been answered.

oh...and pics?

 

[catem777]

Thanks everyone! I will be posting pics soon. I have actually decided to order all new safe things for Cosmo (kramer). This includes a new martin cage an approved wheel and new treats and hideaways. I am going to take all of it back to petsmart and ask for a refund. I dont blame the man who sold it to me because he was doing the best he could and he wasnt a chinchilla expert. I blame the store for having such hazardous products. I dont think I will have a problem I just have to wait until his new supplies arrive so I can take them back. Almost everything they sold me is toxic or dangerous! Its scary and i feel bad for other naive people like me thinking they are spoiling there chins. So happy I found this place where everyone is happy to help little cosmo.

 

[catem777]

oh and i would never leave him roaming alone out of his cage i would be worrying like crazy the whole time . and they told me he was 7 months old.

 

[catem777]

and what size chin spin should i get 11 or 15?

 

[RDZCRanch]

15" diameter is the better, 11" is too small.

 

[caiti]

Hi!!! Congrats on the new chin and I commend you for seeking out correct information and asking questions.

It scares me a lot when pet stores tell people what they told you.

 

[KristinC1983]

HI

It is soooo good you found this forum! Seriously-you've got really good help on here!

I just got my chin a Chin SPin from Quality Cage- http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=129_142_143_144 (the 15" cause the smaller one is way too small), and I also share a room with my chin. It's basically silent and will last his whole life, so it's worth the extra money, not to mentioin the most important part-the fact that it's totally safe! The first night in the same room with him, it did get a little nosy, but I sleep right through whatever noise he makes now, lol! You'll get used to it fast.

Yeah, the barking is the loudest noise they make-the rest is usually a whisper-and in the beginning it means they're scared and/or stressed out. When he does this, leave him alone for an hour at least to relax. Then come back in quietly, whispering to him. Eventually barking sometimes is used for other things-they smart little buggers, lol, and I've read about a few who use it to get attention, but that's awhile after they're living with their owners. And if young ones get too stressed, it could actually hurt them, so make sure you give him that time to really calm down and relax. Don't go back in by him until you hear him playing and jumping around again.

www.petchinchillas.info is a great website about chins-you can learn basically everything on there and here Mistywaterwoman names good treats (nuts, raisons, other dried fruit, and veggies are a few that are NOT good), plus talks about hay, different pellets, and how to switch food without upsetting their touchy digestive systems. She also talks about the first few weeks and how you can ease your chin into his new home. Plus cages-which are good, how to make them totally chin safe, etc.

It can also be good for him if you can play a radio quietly in the room with him-it drowns out any noise in the house, plus makes the quiet a lot less intimidating I think. I do it for my chin and it helps him sleep-my mom watches two 3 1/2 year olds here during the day, so it can get a little loud, lol! He barely notices anymore, though cause during the day he usually has on his AC (or radio if AC isn't needed) and at night he has on his radio until I go to bed-I can't sleep with that on and I can't wear earplugs cause I have to hear my daughter if she cries or something.

 

[KristinC1983]

Oh, yes, petshops I shop at them occassionaly, yes, but they're just horrible places when it comes to small animals especially! Petsmart does the adoption thing for like cats and I think dogs to, but I'm not sure, but you ask about chins, or even guinea pigs, and a lot of the time all that comes out of their mouths is total crap!!!! Plus the supplies they sell, like the death ball, plastic 12" wheels, some fatty foods and fatty treats, and a bunch of other things that just drive me crazy. And people who are new chin owners often don't know and many never find out. You were sooooo lucky to find this wonderful site where you can get the truth on great chin care. Many owners never find it, though, never think they need help, or just don't care enough to look, so seriously, goodd for you

Now, some of the Petsmart and Petco products i do like and my chin loves:
The roll-a-nest he loves to tear apart and throw around his cage!
Some of the wood is ok and goes a long with with brightening up the cage-fleece really does that, though.
I got his glass water bottle there-I think its Super Pet.
I just tested Oxbow Timothy hay on him I got at Petsmart and he LOVES it!
The lava ledges-I highly reccomend these-my chin LOVES them, and its really good for their teeth and nails, plus he rolls in the dust and chunks he gets off, lol, using it as a 'dust bath' wheneever he feels like it-doesn't do much good, though.
I'm sure there's a few more-you just have to decide how good something is-its a pain bringing stuff back, too, so I make up a list before I go out and don't get anything else, lol!

But Kaytee dust bath and Timothy hay I do not reccomend. I switched to Blue Sparkle dust bath and I LOVE it-I never knew he needed a change until I saw how amazing his fur felt and looked after he used that the first night. I got it here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/14-lbs-Blue-Spa...742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eaf9d75de -a lot of people on here don't like ebay. I was on ebay mode for awhile, but am switching to a lot of people reccomended on here instead just to be on the safe side, but I'll be buying Blue Sparkle from that guy again unless I find it cheapear somewhere else-he still has like 10 pounds left, though, lol, so it won't be for awhile. And like I said above, I've switched from Kaytee hay to Oxbow! My chin devoured the Oxbow last night, but was never anywhere near as enthusiastic about Kaytee.

The petshop applewood isn't as good either. You can get it for a lot cheaper and a lot more from members on here. Just look under the 'Products for sale' sections (I think thats what it's called, lol) I just learned this a few days ago

 

[QnMidnight]

If you're interested in a few good online vendors (who are also forum members), my two recommendations would be QMC and Camphor Chins. I've ordered from both and love their products and top-notch service!

 

[ticklechin]

I prefer to endorse participating members websites, Stackie who is a buddy here has a great site that is in depth, unlike some other sites. Also use the classifieds and there is a list of member vendors.


http://www.chinnation.com/

 

[caiti]

I like Stackie's site also. It's one of the best I've come across.