FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions with the answers.
Where should i Purchase a Chinchilla from?
I highly recommend purchasing a chinchilla from a well established breeder, preferrably a local one if you have one, and one that is a member of an organisation if possible. Someone who breeds chinchillas isnt necessarily an expert, there are quite a few what i call cowboys across the globe that try to maintain they are "good" breeders, in my eyes a good breeder is someone who has looked into breeding chinchillas before actually going into it, not someone whos out to make money - these are the ones you must take care and watch out for, getting references is a good start too, or recommendations from other sources/breeders to one closer to you. Its all too easy to get hold of two chinchillas and put them together. The end results though may not be what you expect. There is things like hereditary factors to consider as well as many other health implications that come from bad breeding practices. The internet, although a good source for breeders - as said before anyone can put chinchillas together and also make up a website - be very careful, ask lots of questions and even ask for referrences from previous customers if at all possible. If you want to breed then i suggest also doing a lot of research and keep chinchillas as pets first before going into the breeding side. I can recommend various breeders - just take a look at my links page for some i highly recommend are among the best breeders in the UK.
Male or female/1 or 2 ?
Some people say males are more friendlier than females, i tend to disagree and say that it depends on how they have been handled since birth etc. As for buying one or two, if your out a lot during the day, 2 would be good company for each other while your out - but please remember to choose same sex pairs if you do not want them to breed. Chinchillas can breed from 10 - 12 weeks old and onwards.
What do i need for my Chinchilla
Firstly you will need a suitable cage - See website like John Hopewell, Chillaquip all based in the UK for a better idea of a good standard easy clean chinchilla cage. You will also need the following:
Food
A good diet of Chinchilla Pellets and Hay is all your chinchilla should need. Find a recommended source for pellets and hay, the internet again is a good source for that and the above links i gave has both. Duggins pellets and also Charnwoods seem to be the favourite brands for breeders and pet owners alike.
Do they breed easily
Chinchilla females will breed throughout their lives and can also breed as soon as they give birth, to avoid breed back and risking your females health always separate the male before the birth if at all possible. I was told many years ago they were very hard to breed, but i can assure you that they are very easy to breed - i also dont recommend breeding chinchillas unless you have talked to a few people who do and know what they are talking about, There are many ups and downs in chinchilla breeding and quite often theres many downs.
Are they Generally Healthy Animals, Do they require regular vet visits?
If kept on the appropriate diet a chinchilla from a healthy background should remain reasonably healthy. Remembering to provide clean water cleaning housing and be strict when it comes to hygiene and your chinchillas should have happy long lives. However, their are certain hereditary factors that cannot be seen and may appear a few years down the line, this is something breeders cannot forsee and these circumstances are known to arise.
Are chinchillas suitable pet's for little children?
I do not personally recommend chinchillas as pets for children, mainly because they move very fast and accidents can occur fast too. A child considering a chinchilla must have full backing from his or her parent/s and also the supervision that they keep the animal in the condtions it should be kept in.
What kind of person makes a good owner?
One that does their homework and finds out about all aspects of chinchilla keeping before they take one on. I also see a good owner as someone who has successfully kept other pets or chinchillas previously and knows what they are doing with them. Chinchillas do have specialist requirements and these must be adhered to to ensure a healthy happy life, whether its for a pet or for breeding.
How much will I pay for a chinchilla?
A common standard grey will cost about £50 - 60, a show quality standard grey can be anything from £60 - £200+ depending on the awards it has gained. An ebony (self black) used to cost around £100 - £200 as they were quite rare, but these days they have become very common and their value has dropped considerably. Award winning chinchillas will cost more as their quality has been rated by a qualified judge so please take that into consideration when buying from a breeder whom also shows - in that sense quality of an animal is also guaranteed too.