Chinchillas are known for how soft and cute they are. They look like a giant mouse with a fluffy tail and they are also larger than your average mouse by at least ten times the size. They are very intelligent animals and they are also gentle as well. Chinchillas make excellent pets and they do not make a big mess like some other types of animals do. They will require dust baths, however. Chinchillas can never get wet! Never give your chinchilla a regular bath because the weight of the fur will crush the organs. When you clean the chinchilla’s cage make sure to dry the cage before putting the chinchilla back into the cage. If you are wondering does your chinchilla need a big space? Then you can click here and see why it is important that your pet has enough space to move around in their cage.
You can not purchase one chinchilla and buy another chinchilla later down the road. If you want to buy two chinchillas you need to get them as a pair in the pet store. Make sure that the chinchillas are compatible before you buy them or you will end up with two chinchillas in two different cages. You will need to buy quite a few items for your new chinchilla. You will need a nice, large cage. You will also need a food dish, water dish, chew sticks, and toys. Don’t forget to purchase a dust bathhouse and volcanic dust at the pet store. Chinchillas need a dust bath several times a week.
It’s impossible to potty train a chinchilla. This is because chinchillas go to the bathroom about once every couple of minutes. You will need a cage with a liner on the bottom to place some type of bedding inside. If you don’t buy a cage with a liner you should expect to clean the cage out every couple of days. In addition to pellet food, chinchillas need some type of timothy hay or alfalfa to live on. This helps to grind down their teeth and keep them from becoming uncomfortable which will lead to them not eating.
Make sure that when you buy your chinchilla you take it to the vet for a check-up. Buy your chinchilla from a reputable pet store with standards. Look around for fish in quarantine tanks and new cages which say, “New arrivals, not for sale at this time.” That means that the pet store cares about animals and customers. Make sure that your chinchilla is active and playful. Look for obvious signs of illness. There are several different color variations of chinchillas. Some of them are light grey, dark grey, black, white, and ebony. Expect to spend around $150 for the chinchilla and $100 for the new cage.