New owner ?

[PikachusMommy]

OK I have temporary suitable housing big guinea pig cage, til I can order Pikachu a better cage.

I have been told Good pellet food. I bought Kaytee to start him on. (the SPCA also feed him Cheerios and shredded wheat mixed and the girl at petco said no?)

I bought Ultra bites for snacks, says 1 tablespoon a day fruit and nut vitamin rich treat. 8 in 1. The girl at pet co said this was ok not to over feed treats and to offer timothy hair.

He he a wheel, a dust bath, a chew toy hanging.

Just like suggies everyone says do this don't do that. I am giving a small piece of blanket fleece to lay and bit of bedding, any other suggestions for a new chin owner would be helpful. He's 4 and kinda shy but has eat out of my hand already.

 

[Ratchilla]

Hello and welcome to the site! Congrats on the new chinnie!

First, I recommend using the search function for all questions before posting. It's my best friend.

Good pellet food = mazuri or oxbow, what I see most individuals recommending here. Don't buy it in stores, it's overpriced and you never know how long it is on the shelves. Some members here sell those brands; Sandi a seller of oxbow and Essentia sells mazuri at good prices.

Ultra bite snacks; no. Fruit and nuts are bad for chins (e.g. bananas, cranberries, raisins, etc). They can ferment and cause stasis (stopping or very slow movement of the GI tract) in a chin.

Dust: people recommend blue cloud and blue sparkle.
Wheel: no plastic, chins usually chew.

I'll copy some stuff from my chin file for you, lol.

Cheerios and shredded wheat can be given as treats in moderation, not excessively. My treat list: Old fashion rolled oats, dried rosehips, dried rose petals (once a week), plain cheerios, uncooked spaghetti, shredded wheat.

No: plastic, salt wheel, cuttlebone, fruits/vegetables/nuts/seeds

UNSAFE ANTIBIOTICS: (The use of Gram-positive spectrum oral antibiotics can seriously alter the sensitive balance of bacterial flora in the cecum.)
Penicillin
Lincomycin
Ampicillin, Amoxicillin (or Clavamox)
Cephalosporins (such as Omnicef, Cephalexin), Clindamycin
Erythromycin

SAFE ANTIBIOTICS:
Trimethoprim-Sulfa (aka Bactrim, Sulfa-trim)
Baytril (Enrofloxacin)
Gentamycin
Flagyl (aka Metronidazole, use only in low doses for short durations. Has been anecdotally linked to liver problems)
Doxycycline
Oxytetracycline
Marbofloxacin
Griseofulvin
Fenbendazole (anti-protozoal, used most often against Giardia, but still safe)

UNSAFE WOOD:
Cedar
Pine that hasn't been kiln dried
Apricot
Cherry
Peach
Prune
Plum
Nectarine

SAFE WOOD:
Apple
Arbutus
Ash
Aspen
Beech
Birch
Cholla (a form of cactus)
Cottonwood
Crabapple
Dogwood
Elm
Fir
Hawthorn
Larch
Magnolia
Manzanita
Mulberry
Pine (kiln dried or baked)
Pear
Pecan
Poplar
Sequoia (Redwood)
Willow

I'd check out the MASTER FAQ list: http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=31

Also, specifically I read Chinchilla basics by Steph.
http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Hey there and Welcome!

Good advice above - I would not feed any kind of Kaytee product (hay, treats or pellets) - Oxbow is the best you can get at a petstore. I would return the food and the treats.

Also make sure you are filtering the chin's water (either bottled or through a Britta or PUR filter) to protect them from Giardia.

Look through all the FAQs on here and check out the classifieds for chin safe products.

 

[PikachusMommy]

Thank you both very much. It was very late last night when we got home and I barely had time to register for bed. We drove everywhere looking for a better cage but everything they sell in store is all plastic or too cheap for my tastes. I think I will let him keep his plastic wheel for now as he not chewing on and it came with him, just so he has something familiar.


Thank you so much for the links.

I will look into getting a better food. This was the best I could find last night and well the poor guy had to have something.


Thanks again. Both of you were lots of help.

 

[Cuddlebug]

Just a quick word, people who work in pet stores usually do not know what they are talking about when it comes to chinchillas. They will recommend something just because the store sells it (and just because it says that it is for chinchillas, doesn't mean that it really is).

 

[Ratchilla]

Thank you both very much. It was very late last night when we got home and I barely had time to register for bed. We drove everywhere looking for a better cage but everything they sell in store is all plastic or too cheap for my tastes. I think I will let him keep his plastic wheel for now as he not chewing on and it came with him, just so he has something familiar.

Thank you so much for the links.

I will look into getting a better food. This was the best I could find last night and well the poor guy had to have something.

Thanks again. Both of you were lots of help.

Nothing wrong with that. I only use the search fuction because it helps so much (unless I spell something wrong like I did today, lol) then it's of no use. This site has been awesome for me, I've learned so much in only the week I've been here, it's been amazing.

There are a lot of cage threads in chin housing and supplies section. I spent a lot of time there and am currently getting my cage up to speed (so excited!). You can get an idea of what you want and then look for it online or through craigslist.

I've started to compile my "chin list" because there is so much information that I don't know and I just can't remember it all right now. There is still so much I need to do. It's a lot of work.

 

[Godofgods]

Just a quick word, people who work in pet stores usually do not know what they are talking about when it comes to chinchillas. They will recommend something just because the store sells it (and just because it says that it is for chinchillas, doesn't mean that it really is).

A pretty good rule to follow. Store near me has more product labeled for chins that are hazzordus for them then they have good items.

As for finding a cage, it depends on your style and howmuch room u have along with how much your willing to spend. I have two Ferret Nation cages myself. Pretty good cages if you remove the ramps and add ledges. Gives plenty of room for them. And unlike msot cage designs i find, it has more horizontal room instead of vertical room. I never understood that even when i was a kid. Animals cant run up and down thin air.

Ferret Nation Cage
thats the link to the makers sight if you care to look. Their a bunch of greedie *******s, but the cage is good. And designed to be infinaly expandable. Which also means it can be seperated should the neeed ever arise

 

[Brittany]

Ferret Nations are excellent cages. For 1 chin you may not want to spend that much money. I also like Quality Cages, the townhouse model is PLEANTY big enough for 1 chinchilla. This company also makes chin-safe wheels. Make sure you get the 15" chin-spin. The 11" model is too small and can cause back issues. Several members of this forum have had issues with the powder coating on the pans and wheels flaking off. You can ordered the cage pans and chin-spin with out powder coating, just ask them.

I have both a Ferret Nation and a few Quality Cages. Each cage has it's benefits and drawbacks, however these are the only two cages that I would recommened if someone asked me.

http://qualitycage.com/

 

[Isabella Whateva]

Ferret Nations are great. A single level is plenty of room for one chin, but keep in mind you'll need to spend a little bit extra customizing it (remove plastic shelves and metal ramps, replace with wood shelves... buy metal pan for bottom)

For food, most people feed Oxbow, Mazuri, or Purina Rabbit Chow Show. You can get the first two at PetSmart (not sure about Petco) and the most at many feed stores.

Chins should eat NO fruits, veggies, or nuts under ANY circumstances. Unfortunately, the Petco employee you spoke to (like many many petstore employees) was sadly misinformed. Fruit, vegetables, and nuts are very bad for chins and can even kill them. All a chin needs to eat is a good pellet and some fresh hay (usually timothy.) Plain cheerios and unfrosted shredded wheat are definitely acceptable treats in moderation (only one per day or so.) Chins also love chewing pieces of chin-safe wood (listed above in Ratchilla's reply) and will nibble them up like treats!

Welcome to the forums! Please know that everyone here loves chins and chin parents and will do everything they can to help you. People here have years and years of experience, and we even have a few people who own more than 100 chinchillas! If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

And definitely post pictures of your chinny!