Joeychinchilla

Chinchilla Rules

These are the rules we follow and have set out for ourselves in keeping to what we feel is best for the chinchillas that we have live with us and what we feel are good rules for all chinchilla owners to follow.

Always ensure you can care for a chinchilla you take into your home

This rule includes making sure you can afford everything the chinchilla/chinchillas need which includes food,hay,cage,toys,gnaw blocks,dust,dust-bath and various other essential day to day care along with spare money for vet treatment if the chinchilla/chinchillas ever need it.

Make sure you can have time with your chinchilla/chinchillas

Make sure when you take on a chinchilla/chinchillas you have at least an hour spare in the day to have the chinchilla out of their cage and make them feel loved and fussed and give them time to run around and explore in a safe environment for both them and you.

Spend time getting to know your chinchilla/chinchillas

Make sure your chinchilla knows you, when bringing a chinchilla/chinchillas home let them settle in and then slowly introduce yourself to them by gently talking to them and getting them used to you by putting your hands to them to let them smell you, gain their confidence by offering them a healthy treat or even just by passing them a piece of hay,most importantly if the chinchilla/chinchillas seem nervous or scared, let them settle down on their own and then try again another time, most importantly do not try and rush it because that will frighten them even more.

Limit exercise in the heat (unless in purpose built area that has air conditioning that the chinchilla/chinchillas is used to)

A chinchilla will happily play out for hours and can not tell you if they are feeling to hot or unwell so make sure if the weather outside is hot or if your home is hot to limit the chinchilla/chinchillas run time so they cannot over heat (this can cause fits/convulsions which in worst cases can cause death).

Taking in rescue/re-home chinchillas

If taking in chinchillas it is important to keep the new chinchillas away from any chinchillas you already have, this is to stop the spread of any problems the new chinchilla/chinchillas may have spreading to your existing chinchilla family

Never under any circumstances breed from rescue chinchillas

Due to various chinchilla ailments it is vital that you never breed from a rescue chinchilla, a chinchilla may come to you looking like the perfect specimen of health but this does not mean there isn't a history of some sort in the breeding lines that could result in a nasty and painful life for any offspring that would be born(most common example is teeth problems).