Information

WE'D LIKE
TO BE ALLOWED OUT - but remember we chew everything and anything, we climb and need watching in case we are in danger. Patience should mean you learn how to persuade us to go back to our cage on our own (most of us will return to our cage now and then it's just a case of bribing us, dust bath and/or treats we'll soon have you trained) but some of us simply don't want to go back! CHASING is best avoided, it will either frighten us or we'll think it's a game. If you have the room you may consider CAGE WHEELS choose carefully, ensure they are safe and do make sure they are big enough

SOCIALISING - we are social creatures but we won't 'take' to other chins 'just like that'. We need introducing. Buying a pair is best, and we can get along just fine as single sex siblings, if you buy a male-female pair then you will have to keep us separately until the female is at least 8 months old and also consider either having the male castrated or breeding - if the latter then please do not buy a closely related pair and ensure you look into his/her pedigree so that you are as sure as you can be that he/she comes from healthy lines. Bear in mind you may need to separate us (we may fall out or ill) a SPARE CAGE must be a consideration. Electrical wires and precious items should be kept well away from us whether we are in or out of cage. You will also need a CARRYING CAGE it's all very well popping us in a cardboard box and rushing us to the vets when we are poorly but hopefully when you have to bring us back we will be feeling much better and can easily chew our way out. Invest in a chinchilla show cage, it will also be useful when you want to weigh us (recommended regularly as it is not obvious if we are losing weight which can be the first clue we give that we are ill)!