How to Decide if a Chinchilla is the Right Pet

Chinchillas are adorable, relatively low-maintenance pets. They are highly social animals that are largely nocturnal. They can be trained to interact with humans and other animals, and--if you start young enough--can be litter trained as well. However, chinchillas also have some very specific needs that must be met in order for you and your pet to remain happy and healthy. Chinchillas are very sensitive animals that loudly and aggressively demonstrate their unhappiness if they are regularly bored or unhappy. Before buying a chinchilla, consider this type of pet's needs and your ability to meet them. In this article we will discuss how to decide if a chinchilla is the right pet for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Notepad
• Pen

How to Decide if a Chinchilla is the Right Pet

1. A female chinchilla can have up to three litters a year. Decide where the chinchilla will live.If you are only going to have one chinchilla, then your pet needs to live in a "high-traffic" area of your home, such as the family room, den or an often-used study. Chinchillas become nippy and prone to "scolding" when they are lonely, so it is important that your pet experience a fair amount of interaction with you and your family. This becomes less important if you are willing to have two chinchillas, but as the males do not deal well with other males, you will need either two females or to be prepared to deal with chinchilla babies.
2. Hold your chinchilla firmly and do not let its legs dangle. Allot a certain amount of time each day to interacting with your chinchilla.Chinchillas are affectionate and very personable, but they can become very skittish if they are not handled daily. It is important to hold your pet every day--especially while it is small. If you cannot commit 15 to 20 minutes of time each day to this tactile interaction, your adult chinchilla will be anti-social and even prone to biting in an effort to avoid being petted or touched.
3. As you can see in this illustration, chinchillas like to have many diversions to keep them entertained. If they do not have toys, they can become agressive and mean. Tally the cost of chinchilla accessories. Because many pet stores classify chinchillas as "exotic pets," their food, toys and cages are often more expensive than those of their more common counterparts, such as guinea pigs and hamsters. Chinchillas need large, roomy cages, special running wheels, chinchilla "dust" for bathing and lots of toys to keep them occupied. The cost can add up, so before purchasing your pet, visit your local pet store and make a list of the things that your pet will need. Then add up the prices of these items to figure out about how much you will need to spend on your pet each month. Make sure that you can afford the maintenance before investing in a chinchilla.
4. Evaluate your previous pet experiences. Think about your past pets. Did you enjoy their company and spend lots of time with them? Or rather, were you very busy with work and family so that you had to--unwillingly of course--let someone else care for them? With the exception of needing social interactions, chinchillas are very low maintenance. They require cleaning only about once every two weeks and eat and drink very little. As a result, they are a good first pet for children because they do not need a lot of janitorial services. However, if no one in your house will commit to handling them each day, a chinchilla is not for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Chinchillas love raisins, and even skittish ones will approach and take them from your hand. Keep a jar of raisins next to the cage so that family members can hand-feed your pet raisins to help it feel incorporated into the routine around it.
• Adult chinchillas that have been raised in pet stores are frequently very wild, easily frightened and prone to biting. If you decide to purchase an adult chinchilla, it is very important to purchase a companion as well so that it does not lose what little social skills it may already have. Adult chinchillas that have not been raised by hand require a great deal of patience and care, and may not be suitable pets for small children.