eChipmunks

What should I know about taking care of chipmunks and chinchillas?

I want to buy one of them. How much time do they take up and what else should I know before possibly getting one?

Public Comments

1. they may be quick to bite. i have had chipmonks and they did bite. it hurts really bad bleeds alot to. never had a chinchilla but just like all rodents it bites.
2. I never had a chipmunk, but I found these sites that might be helpful: http://www.mismatch.co.uk/chipmunk.htm http://www.thechipmunkcrossing.co.uk/index.html http://members.aol.com/oddpet/chapterchip.html I do have chinchillas, and here's a little info on them: *They need a tall cage with lots of ledges to jump around on. The cage should also be big enough to put in a large wheel for them to run on when their bored. They will also need a wooden sleep box (a rectangular box covered all around with one opening large enough for the chin to go in and out). And please, no plastic cages! They will chew on the cage and the plastic can over time kill them. *Chinchillas are herbivores - they should be fed a chinchilla specific food (not rabbit, guinea pig, or other, it HAS to be a chinchilla food). I like Mazuri and Oxbow the best. As for treats, stick with dried fruits (most LOVE raisins!) but don't give them too many or they might start to refuse their "real" food. They should also have constant access to fresh hay. They also like alfalfa, but it should only be given a few times a week (mine usually get a handful of alfalfa two or three times a week). *They are nocturnal - they need to be kept somewhere that will be quiet during the day so they can rest and won't get stressed out. They can get noisy at night, especially if they have a wheel in their cage, so you'll also want to keep them somewhere that won't be occupied by someone trying to sleep. My chinchillas actually have their own room, which is what I think is best for them. *They need at least an hour (more is better) a day outside of their cage. *They chew - on EVERYTHING! Keep this in mind when they are out of the cage running around. Anything that you don't want them to chew on should be up out of their reach or blocked off somehow so they can't get to it. You also need to make sure there are no wires around that they can chew on. *They require a dust bath about three times a week. They do not take water baths. However, it's a myth that they can't have water baths, it's just that they shouldn't be given one except for emergencies and you need to make sure your chin is thoroughly dried afterwards. See this site for more info: http://www.chincare.com/HealthLifestyle/GroomingFurHealth.htm#baths *They cannot tolerate high temps or high humidity - during the summer, the temp should be in the low 60s F; during the winter, the temp can be in the high 60s to low 70s F (no higher than 75 F). *Male chinchillas can develop hair rings around their penises and sometimes you need to remove the hair rings. Some chinchillas can do it themselves, but some (especially younger males) need your help. If your chinchilla develops a hair ring and you do not remove it, it could eventually lead to the chin's death! You have to check the males about once or twice a month for these rings. *If properly cared for, a chinchilla can live to be 20 or older. The average age is about 10 to 15. Don't get one if you don't want to make that kind of commitment! Or, find a chinchilla shelter in your area and adopt an older chinchilla. And here's a few sites with info on them, too: http://luvnchins.com/ http://www.chincare.com/ http://members.aol.com/sirchin/chininfo.htm