Wooden house and sleeping

[JohhnyBishop]

Hi Al,
I wanted to know your opinion about chinchilla sleeping.
Does it require a house to sleep in it?
I see 2 or 3 chinchillas cuddle together when they sleep on the shelf.
I was thinking maybe it's too cold for them and they should sleep in a wooden house?
I mean the temperature in the room does not go lower than 18 degree but in my opinion it makes a difference if contained in a small space or a "drafty" cage.

Thanks
Best regards

 

[Amethyst]

They don't need to sleep in a house, but it is more natural as prey animals to feel more secure in a house (they would normally sleep in rocky crevices in the wild) so it's a good idea to provide one so they can use it if they want. If they are sleeping on a shelf they feel safe enough to relax out in the open, which is a good thing. I assume you mean 18C? If so that is still plenty warm enough for chins especially if they have each other to cuddle up with, cuddling together in a house may actually be too warm, lol. I wouldn't worry about them getting cold unless it's down to about 10C or below.

Chins sleep in all kinds of places, my boy will mostly sleep in his house, likely because it's nice and dark in there, but will also sleep in his hammock, tunnel, and on various shelves and ledges around the cage.

 

[JohhnyBishop]

They don't need to sleep in a house, but it is more natural as prey animals to feel more secure in a house (they would normally sleep in rocky crevices in the wild) so it's a good idea to provide one so they can use it if they want. If they are sleeping on a shelf they feel safe enough to relax out in the open, which is a good thing. I assume you mean 18C? If so that is still plenty warm enough for chins especially if they have each other to cuddle up with, cuddling together in a house may actually be too warm, lol. I wouldn't worry about them getting cold unless it's down to about 10C or below.

Chins sleep in all kinds of places, my boy will mostly sleep in his house, likely because it's nice and dark in there, but will also sleep in his hammock, tunnel, and on various shelves and ledges around the cage.

Thanks for reply.
This is what I noticed so far they sleep in all sorts of combinations. They don't always cuddle.
I think a house for one chin is OK but you won't see two chins sleeping and cuddling in the same house.
I think as you said it's too warm for them.
If they sleep in the rocky crevices then you can assume there is no draft but still pretty cold like in a cave.

yes, sorry I meant 18C not 18F.

 

[Amethyst]

When I had two they definitely both slept in the house together (of course I can't seem to find a photo of both in the house together, lol). I get the extra large houses though (like the extra large version of this one https://www.kaytee.com/all-products/small-animal/woodland-get-a-way ), so two could actually lay down in there comfortably. I think it was more just some place dark to sleep and had nothing to do with being cold.