Chinchillas are patient and sweet animals with big, funny ears, fluffy tails, and unique personalities. Therefore, they are often bought for children of different ages. Knowing the basic rules for chinchilla care is essential when purchasing one. This article will discuss the features of keeping and feeding chinchillas so that the animal is comfortable and grows active and healthy.
How to set up a place for a chinchilla
To acquire a cute animal and a faithful friend, you must provide special conditions for comfortable living, average well-being, and development.
When arranging a place for the chinchilla’s future habitat, try to adhere to the following points:
- To prevent the animal from feeling cramped, choose a metal cage with a length and height of at least 60 cm and a width of at least 50 cm. The higher the cell, the more floors you can make, install stairs, and other additional attributes. Metal is considered the best material for the cage itself and the locks. For example, a wooden cage will likely be chewed up in a month.
- It is better to install the cage away from heating devices and windows. Chinchillas do not like direct sunlight or drafts. A comfortable temperature for them is +22 °CC. Air humidity should also be at an average 50” 60% level but within 70%.
- You must equip the cage with a high-quality bathing bowl, drinking bowl, feeder, hammock, walking ball, display case, and wheel. Hanging options attached to the outside of the cage are preferred. The rodent should have the opportunity to retire, so it is recommended that he purchase a small house.
- Mineral and salt stones placed in the cage will be an excellent material for the animal to wear down its teeth and help enrich the body with essential microelements.
- It is advisable to place store-bought wooden filler on the cage floor since it does not stick to the animal’s paws. He will be glad to have additional containers with grass and hay installed.
Five basic rules for caring for a chinchilla:
- Fur care. Chinchillas’ fur also needs regular brushing. This should be done delicately, as the process causes discomfort to the animals. Tangled hairballs are cut off. If several animals are in one cage, they do not need to be combed; they help each other with this.
- Cleaning the cage. The animal’s home should be disinfected and cleaned at least once a week. Metal parts are treated with salicylic acid, and wooden elements are cleaned of pathogens with a bactericidal lamp. After each cleaning, the litter is also changed. It is also advisable to wash the drinker and feeder with soapy water, followed by rinsing at least a couple of times a week.
- Feeding and watering. To ensure your pet grows healthy, give it only high-quality products. The diet of chinchillas should be combined and include:
- dry granulated food;
- dry granulated food;
- corn kernels;
- fresh leaves of young nettle, strawberry, dandelion;
- hay (dandelion, clover, alfalfa);
- flax seeds;
- branches of linden, raspberry, birch, currant, or apple tree;
- pieces of carrot, pear, or apple.
You should not give your chinchilla muesli any sweets, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, persimmons, sweet peppers, seeds and nuts, oak, cherry, spruce branches, cottage cheese, and other food from the table. As for water, it must be filtered or boiled. I need it daily.
If you follow the basic guidelines for caring for chinchillas, keeping them will be a pleasure.
