r/chinchilla • • 6d ago

PSA Chinchilla Community Announcement šŸ‘€ Rehoming Rules

Post image
49 Upvotes

Reddit has its own platform-wide rules, and one of the strictest is a total ban on animal sales. It is their Content Policy Against Transactions Involving Prohibited Goods.

Rehoming falls into a grey area. A "rehoming fee" is still considered a sale by Reddit Admins, so we cannot allow posts asking for any fees. We highly encourage you to have a thorough private discussion with any interested party to set expectations about the transfer of ownership.

When posting to rehome a pet, please follow these guidelines. Failure to do so will result in the post being removed:

• Zero manipulation: We strictly prohibit "adopt my pet or else" content that threatens neglect, abuse, abandonment, or self-harm.

If the situation is urgent, ask for help locating a rescue near you to step in.

• Clear titles: Please include your city/state, the number of animals, and their sexes in the title of the post.

• Detailed descriptions: In the body of your post, share more about the animals, their immediate medical needs, and if they come with any supplies, cages, or accessories.

No discussion of fees or reimbursement.

• Go to PMs: Once someone shows interest in a comment, immediately move the conversation to private messages to discuss the remaining details.

Please remember that the mods cannot protect you from scams. It is a major red flag if someone asks for a deposit, gas money, shipping fees, or requests payment online via "Friends and Family."

Additionally, reputable breeders do not "rehome" animals they produced, it is not adoption. They sell them. While they may occasionally list an owner surrender as a courtesy, these breeders have their own websites and social media channels to handle those arrangements. This is not a dig or drag at breeders, we support ethical operations. This is to point out that there are bad actors out there pretending to be breeders, pretending to be rescues, and hoping to manipulate you with feel-good posts of animals for " adoption ".

You are more than welcome to ask the community for referrals or reviews about a family in need of help, a rescue, or local breeder while you're trying to source an ethical place to obtain a chinchilla, but we absolutely cannot allow direct sales posts here.

We have to respect the platforms rules.


r/chinchilla • • Nov 26 '24

Chinchilla Care FAQ!

104 Upvotes

I’ve put together a list of chinchilla recommendations & FAQ, as we get a lot of repeat questions and such in here. I’ve been a chinchilla owner for about 19 years, and have fostered many. I have been through the gamut of accessories, cages, etc, over the years. I'm happy to add/modify with feedback from others. I definitely do not claim to be the most knowledgeable person here!

Which cage should I get?
Ferret Nation & Critter Nation are the best widely available cages you can buy. A two-story cage is recommended for a one or two chins, at minimum. Adding a third story is also very easy to do. You can also attach two cages side-by-side for extra running room. These cages can be found used on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.
Other cages can be okay, but please ensure the cage is around 36ā€x25ā€x63ā€. Cages should not have any exposed plastic (trays, bases, or otherwise). Cages should have no exposed wire floors, this includes ramps. Any exposed wire floors must be covered with a lined plastic trayliner or a metal tray (see below). Chinchillas will get their feet caught in wire flooring and will get injured. This can be very serious. Also keep in mind that any cages with small door openings could leave you struggling to wrangle your little friend.

What is the difference between Ferret Nation and Critter Nation?
Ferret Nation has wider and thicker bars. I prefer these because it’s easier to give them treats through the bars. The cages also feel more open. The panels are interchangeable, so you can stack either one on each other.

What else do I need for a cage?
Cage liners/Trays: It’s recommended to use either fleece liners over the plastic trays, or use a replacement tray from Bass Equipment. Bass makes 3ā€ deep galvanized or stainless trays, which are ideal for keeping in the mess of both bedding… and poop! They also sell scatter guards.

Bedding:
It is not advised to use paper bedding (Carefresh, etc). However, I used it for years before I knew better and never had issues. The chins like walking on it, but the dangerous part is that they can eat it and it can clog their digestive system.
The main options seem to be Aspen shavings or fleece liners (which you can buy or make). Just make sure any fleece you use is no-pill. You can use other shaving types, but I don't like risking it with Pine. Aspen is cheap and safe. I frequently buy huge bags from the big pet stores for ~$5/ea or less (watch for sales).
I have mixed feelings on using Aspen! My chins seem to be more scared to jump down onto the floors because I think they hurt their feet. Some of the aspen isn't ground down well and makes for some sharp and dangerous situations. Whenever I change the bedding out, I use a big wood plank and flatten everything down. Even still, I'm not happy with it. I'm going to be sewing up some fleece liners but also use my Bass Equipment shelf pans (the half-length ones) full of aspen shavings. The hope is that they pee on the aspen because they're used to that, and keep the liners a little nicer.

Water Bottle: Glass Kaytee bottles have been the best for me. I recommend the small bottles, as it will force you to refill more often so they get fresh water. Keep the bottles out of direct sunlight or they will get algae bloom. Definitely do not use plastic bottles if you can avoid it! Bottles should be rinsed every refill, and soap-cleaned every 2nd refill. I use a q-tip in the metal tip to clean them out. Every few months you can put in 1/3 cup of rice and water and shake the bottle for a while to remove any of the stuck sediment. Dump out the rice and heavily rinse afterward!

Food Bowl: Recommend ceramic food bowls. I use cat dishes that are ~3ā€ wide, similar to a wide ramekin. The lower/wider the better, so they can’t tip it. No plastic bowls! Metal is okay if you prefer.

Wheel: The consensus is that any 14ā€+ wheel is okay, however I’d advise getting a metal wheel of 15ā€ diameter or larger. There are options on Etsy from Pandamonium Pets, Silver Surfer, and others. There are also metal saucers. Chinchillas should not have plastic wheels and I would advise against any with wood. I have had multiple wheels from Pandamonium Pets as well as Silver Surfers. My personal opinion is that the bearing mechanism on the Pandamonium Pets wheel is rather unrefined and they always wear out on me after a few years. I haven’t been able to find a good source for replacement bearings on their newer wheels, as they now use a flanged type. They have been unwilling to sell me bearings/mechanisms separately. The Silver Surfer wheel is great for Ferret Nation cages, but they don't fit well in Critter Nation due to the bar spacing. The Silver Surfer bearing mechanism has a flywheel weight and is an engineered system. I prefer these wheels, but wish they were larger than 14ā€.

Shelves: Hopping shelves/ledges are great to fill the cage space and give chins a stimulating habitat. There is a list of safe woods here: https://www.sunshinechinchillas.com/safe-wood. I have used a few types, mainly kiln-dried pine and poplar. I prefer poplar as it’s pretty hard, and they can’t really chew through all of it. The downside is that it can be expensive. You can DIY your own shelves/ledges. I've added some DIY info in a comment below.

Houses/Other: Chins love having somewhere to hide and sleep. Some chins like hammocks and fleece hanging options and some prefer wood/solid options. There are a number on Etsy, but you can also DIY both of these. My chins have all preferred wood houses mounted to the highest point in the cage possible. I've added some DIY info in a comment below.

What is the best food?
Oxbow Essentials, if available, is the best and most affordable. You can buy 25lb bags on Chewy or Amazon that will last a long time. Any foods with treats or other things in them are not recommended, as they often contain things chinchillas shouldn’t have, especially not daily. Providing food with treats in it also will cause them to be snooty with their food, and they will start to just look for the treats and ignore the rest.

What is the best hay?
Chinchillas require Timothy Hay on a daily basis. I have tried at least 10 brands over the years, basically everything Chewy and local pet stores offer. So far, the winners are Brytin 1st Cut and Viking Farmer 1st Cut. Your mileage may vary, but ensure you’re getting 100% timothy with nothing added.

What else is essential for my chins?
I recommend giving applewood (or other approved) sticks on a daily basis, 1 or 2 a day, They can be bought in 600gram bags on Amazon for ~$15. This is the best deal I've found so far, though I'd prefer to buy more locally, I have not found a better source yet. Chew sticks will prevent them from chewing on other things (shelving, houses, ledges, wheels, etc).

What treats should I give my chins?
Treats are safe in moderation, but the type of treat is important.
Dandelion Root, mixed flower pieces, apple blossoms, chamomile, calendula, lavender, peach blossoms, jasmine, honeysuckle, oats (oatmeal), and small pieces of hibiscus leaves can be given as more frequent treats. I'd say 2 a day is safe, but not required. I change-up the treats everyday. The pieces I am giving them are small. I usually give my treats as a form of enrichment reward (see section). My chins also like the Apple & Oat treats from Ronda's Chins, which I break into marble sized chunks (or smaller) and use as treats a few times a week.
Rose buds and rose hips can be given as infrequent treats.
Anything with sugar in it should not be given as a treat. Goji berries are 'safe', but I really only ever give mine a pea-sized amount every few weeks, if that.

What can I do for my chins for enrichment?
Puzzle toys made for dogs can be great for chins, while supervised, as long as they aren't chewing on the plastics. I often place coconut halves on the floor with a fragrant treat under them, so they have to work for it. I'm working on making some other enrichment toys for them out of safe wood. I will add to the DIY later.

How do I keep the dust to a minimum?
I swear by my Winix 5500-2 air purifier. It sucks up a lot of the dust/hair and the generic filters work just fine to keep the dust down elsewhere. My chins are in their own room with this purifier and I really don't see their dust anywhere else. Mine has been running solid for 6 years straight. The filters can be shaken/beat out and used for quite a while.

What temperature is safe?
The recommended safe range is 60-70°F (15.5-21.1°C) with low humidity (sub 60%).
74°F (23.3°C) is the highest I'd recommend letting their area ever getting to, and I do not recommend them living at this temperature. My chins spend half the year around 70°F, the other half at around 65°F. Chins are good down to 60°F (15.5°C) without problems and can probably withstand colder. They will start to 'puddle' above 75°F and this is when it becomes dangerous. Fans will not keep them cool and there is no alternative for air conditioning. Chinchiller's (granite stones) are nice, but are not meant as an alternative to safe environment temps.

What do I do if my chin is being aggressive or biting?
If they bite when you're petting them or something and it's not drawing blood, let out an "ouch" or a yip sound, similar to the sound they make to each other when they want space. Once they respect you they will start biting softer and softer. Eventually if they don't want your fingers around them they'll kinda just move them with their mouth. I don't think they always know they're hurting you. To them, you're a huge monster.

If they get really aggressive consistently after a few months of ownership, and they're breaking skin, I would use a different method. This is to say, there are no other outside factors causing them to be aggressive other than them trying to be dominant toward you. They can be aggressive for various reasons: general fear, noises, new surroundings, other pets in the area, etc. They may hear things you don't, even the sound of equipment/animals outside, and be on the defensive because of it. I wouldn't use this method if outside factors are the case.

If they bite fast with aggression and it breaks skin, I say "ouch" loudly. I then firmly grab hold of the offender, stare at them face-to-face, and tell them "no" multiple times. They will squirm and not like it, but it's not hurting them, even though some fur might come out. I then put them down nicely on my lap. They're almost always extremely cautious and docile immediately after putting them down. TheyĀ usuallyĀ get it after this correction is implemented a couple times and never bite that hard again. I follow it with the "ouch" method thereafter.

My chin is not eating or drinking. Help!
The first recommendation is to bring your pet to a vet experience with chinchillas, or at least exotic animals. Second, Critical Care or EmerAid HerbivoreĀ are recommended to help bring them back to health. Many people on this sub have had good experience with EmerAid. My chins did not like Critical Care, so I'll also be trying EmerAid if they ever need it.

Always remember: your chin is your friend for part of your life, but you're their best friend for their entire life.


r/chinchilla • • 8h ago

The oldest chinchilla?

Post image
281 Upvotes

I found this post on Threads. Do you think something like this is actually possible?


r/chinchilla • • 7h ago

Urgently seeking advice Bonded brother chinchillas not recognizing each other

6 Upvotes

A few weeks ago one of my boys had an accident which led to him having his middle back toe amputated. The vet informed us that he should be kept in his carrier box for two weeks for optimal healing. I think we all know how crazy chinchillas parkour skills are. He wasnt allowed to do those things. We held him in the box for two weeks as advised, but when we tried to put him back in with his brother, the other one started chasing him around and fighting like crazy. I separated them immediately, but Im very puzzled now. My toe amputation little patient probably smells unfamiliar from the vet and all, but I need to know how I can bond them again. Theyve lived together since birth, not once separated except for now. Now its just pure chaos between the two. And my patient boy is acting all weird and depressed, and he isnt really himself in a way. He used to be the bossy one. But after the operation its like he has changed.

How can I bond my boys back together? Its heartbreaking to see them fighting like theyve never known one another :(


r/chinchilla • • 9h ago

New Owner Enrichment ideas?

4 Upvotes

Hi guys! I’m coming here to ask about good enrichment for my little guy. He has a good amount of climbing space, a wheel, a dust bath, a few hanging chews as well as sticks and balls he can chew on. However, I’m worried he’s just not getting enough. I know for rabbits they enjoy things like cups or puzzles but I don’t know if he’d enjoy those. What do yall use for enrichment or other fun toys that aren’t just chews?


r/chinchilla • • 1d ago

PSA Chinchilla Community Announcement šŸ‘€ A chinchilla's natural habitat.

Post image
145 Upvotes

This is where chinchillas are found naturally. They're not up in tall trees, or commonly found scaling large tall boulders or cliffs. They're high altitude desert animals, that hop along dirt and gravel, dry brush, cactuses, and boulders.

Tall cages are not actually ideal for them, wide and deep enclosures with gradual inclines ( like Leapy ledges / perches ) to larger surfaces ( like platforms ) are much more suitable. Cages like ferret or critter nation cages, with large platforms, ledges, or the stock platform. Double tall units with the middle floor installed, or double wide modifications to keep the cage low, wide, and deep. They're great cages...

But the big, tall, empty enclosures with a lot of unusable dead space provide far too many open spaces to fall and get gravely injured. They shouldn't be kept like squirrels.


r/chinchilla • • 14h ago

Urgently seeking advice squeaking when jumping

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

8 Upvotes

as the title says, my chin is squeaking right before/as she is jumping, or as she lands. it happens whilst jumping up and down her ledges. she doesnt squeak every single jump, but most. i just noticed her doing this starting this morning, does it kinda seem like she injured herself to you guys? her movement looks good and normal.

she does it twice in this video. once in the beginning and then a second time toward the end. its the chipmunky double squeak sound. has anyone ever heard it? im literally leaving for a 4 day trip in 30 minutes, but if it cant wait my mom can take her to the vet tomorrow, or tonight if you guys think its truly an emergency. she seems totally fine otherwise but i dont want her to be in pain of course


r/chinchilla • • 16h ago

New Owner Considering a chinchilla for a pet, want to know how you knew you could commit to them?

12 Upvotes

I am 25 and am getting close to moving out in my own. I’ve always wanted a small animal to take care of and I am considering a chinchilla. I have done extensive research these last couple weeks and my main concern is knowing I will be able to provide for them the next 15-20 years. I want to give it some thought for the next couple months and not just willy nilly get one out of impulse. So my question is, how did you guys know it was time to pull the trigger and get one? Were you confident in your decision and what helped you build that confidence? What hidden things should I consider besides the basic ā€œthey live along time and need a lot of maintenanceā€? Honestly my biggest fear is having one for a while and then having to rehome them. I don’t want to put them through that because of my getting one too early. I have a general understanding of them and their personalities like how they don’t like being held and need play time etc and they take a lot of work. I’m ok with all of that. It’s hard to know where I will be in life in 15-20 years so it makes me nervous lol. Thanks in advance.


r/chinchilla • • 1d ago

Silver escaped againšŸ˜…

Post image
243 Upvotes

She went over the fence (for time outside of the cage) and directly under our bed.

Funny thing is her sisters never escaped.


r/chinchilla • • 1d ago

New Owner New owner— long tuft of fur?

Post image
34 Upvotes

Adopted this sweet boy from a desperate family friend a few weeks ago. I’m a new/first time owner, and still learning a lot. Is the long tuft of fur on the back of his neck normal? Is this shedding? Also, any tips would be greatly appreciated! I want to make sure this boy stays happy and healthy :)


r/chinchilla • • 1d ago

Invisible

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

99 Upvotes

Churro: ā€œIf I can't see you, you can't see me. That's how hiding works. Please don't question the princess.ā€ šŸ­šŸ˜ŒšŸ‘‘šŸ¼
#churrochatter #chinchilla #cutepets #petprincess #flooflogic


r/chinchilla • • 1d ago

New Owner Looking for new water bottles

Post image
16 Upvotes

Hi! I was told that I should be looking for a new water bottle for my new chinchilla! Any recommendations? Ideally I want a glass bottle. I do not want a spring in the feeder tube or a bottle with large bore holes. No double ball bottles. The brand I’m using right now is Kaytee and I’ve been told to look elsewhere.


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

New Owner Chinchilla not drinking water

Post image
65 Upvotes

I just adopted my first chinchilla 24 hours ago and I am using a water bottle for her. I have two in her cage but have not seen or heard her use them. And haven’t seen the water levels go down. Should I put a water bowl in there? I’m super worried she’ll get wet, but I’m not sure she knows how to use a water bottle! Thank you!


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Round

Post image
242 Upvotes

r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Queen Guinevere the Fingerless

Thumbnail
gallery
143 Upvotes

I thought I'd share my sweet (but always grumpy looking šŸ˜…) rescue girl here, I got her around three years ago, and she was already missing some fingers on her right hand...

But that thankfully hasn't stopped her thriving in any way 😊

She is the sweetest stepmom to my little girl, who lost her mama and little brother after complications at birth 😄

Some days she is very stand-off-ish, but others she climbs all over me šŸ˜„


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Trying to identify chinchilla noises

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

36 Upvotes

so I recently adopted 2 girls around 3 months old. I’m a new owner so not 100% experienced. We moved them to the bathroom for dust baths and let them run around a little and they started chirping which I hope are good and excited not scared. They are in their cage right now still eating drinking and using the bathroom but are doing the chirping again and one of chirps are very different to the other. I have the 2 videos here and curious if anyone can help me. I personally believed that the quieter one is a positive one but if anyone could help just a little worried I would very much appreciate it!


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Make sure to vacuum up after your chin after play time

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

43 Upvotes

No chins were harmed during the cleaning of the cage. Hes been with this same vacuum his entire life and he deserves a little disturbance after causing a ruckus while i was cleaning his cage.


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

favorite things about chinchillas

41 Upvotes

this sub reddit always has people asking the cons of chins but never the pros! what is ya'lls favorite things about owning chinchillas??

i'm actually super thankful for how low emotional maintenance they are! as someone with autism having pets that require a lot of attention all the time is actually very stressful. not to mention sometimes having needy pets can be quite annoying in the moment (dogs begging to play when you're just too busy, cats flopping down on your keyboard). i love that i can let my boys out for 30min-1 hour daily then put them back up and be done with them for the day without any guilt that they actually WANT my undivided attention.

i like to tell other people they are great pets for people who are very busy or have low energy. they're a nice in-between something like a reptile or a more demanding small pet like a guinea pig or rabbit.

oh and the dry no smell poops and low pee amount is fantastic. i'm sad that i now pass rodent booths at reptile expos holding my nose and wondering how i ever owned rats in the past lol.


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Cozy flomps

Post image
71 Upvotes

r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Admins have informed user of concerns Animals in rescue

Thumbnail
gallery
25 Upvotes

There’s a rescue local to me that took in a lot of chins from a hoarding deal. It wasn’t just chins but there do seem to be several.

Anyways this is the wheel they are providing them, purchased specifically for them. The chin has to arch to use it. Is this an appropriate wheel? When asked they said that in their 27 years of rescue they have never had an issue.

Is this really an acceptable wheel setup?


r/chinchilla • • 3d ago

Hi there! It’s me, FranƧois-Charlotte!

Thumbnail
gallery
183 Upvotes

r/chinchilla • • 3d ago

Cutie Patootie Award šŸ† Mother, release me.

Post image
458 Upvotes

Cream puff is so baby


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

Cooking with chinchilla

5 Upvotes

Is it okay to have your chinchilla in the same room as you while you're cooking I have a window open and the vents are on and everything to like prevent him from like fumes or like smoke but I just want to double check that it's okay


r/chinchilla • • 2d ago

New Owner new owner! need advice on cage/accessories 🫶

4 Upvotes

hi all! i'm being joined by my new friend middle of next month and want to start getting together his cage and accessories but i'm a little overwhelmed by all the options.

i'd love to see some of your favourite cages, accessories and set up pics - just a note that i'm in the UK so preferably things that are available over here.

thanks!

edit: i'll add to frequently over the first couple months it as i get to know his habits with things, just looking for the basics right now! i'm his first home so i just want it to be safe/comfortable and with enough to keep him busy


r/chinchilla • • 3d ago

I spy a Milo.

Post image
92 Upvotes

Hurry everyone, we caught Milo in a hammock! šŸ‘‰šŸ» 🫣

Look while you can before he hides away forever šŸ˜‚

We're not supposed to see this ever.