Chinchillas are one of the most cutest and loving small mammals which you can choose for you as a pet. Before buying a chinchilla, you must consider the following points in your mind. One of the most important factor is whether a chinchilla is really a right pet for you. Here are some points which you should keep in mind before buying a one :-
1. YOU MUST BUY A CHINCHILLA WHICH IS UNDER THE AGE OF TWELVE WEEKS OLD :-
Well, you should not buy a chinchilla who is under the age of twelve weeks old as it is the amount of time which takes to wean a chinchilla baby properly. They usually learn from their parents and each and every chinchilla have unique personality so all of them have their own learning – rates. Therefore, if they are being taken too soon, from their mother then the chinchillas might experience some behavior and health problems.
2. LIFE – SPAN OF CHINCHILLAS :-
They live for a very long time comparing to other rodents and you should consider this point before buying one. An average chinchillas lives approximately ten to fifteen years but with good husbandry and good genetics, a chinchilla can live upto twenty years. Before buying a chinchilla, you must consider what life plans you are going to have for the next decade and then decide whether a chinchilla fits into those plans or not. A chinchilla will need a safe and stable environment during that long commitment.
3. THEY WILL NEED DAILY EXERCISE OUTSIDE THE CAGE :-
They will need to exercise daily, outside the cage for at least one to two hours. So you also should consider this point in your mind, whether you have time for it or not. Also you should know how destructive they can be, before buying a chinchilla. This behavior is natural in them as they search for objects in order to file their teeth and gnaw.
4. THEY ARE JUST LIKE HAVING YOUNG CHILDREN :-
You must keep this point in mind before buying a chinchilla as they can quickly become bored and stressed which can trigger behavior and health problems. They gnaw on live electrical – wiring, chew toxic plaster off your walls, eat painted wood – work. They also eat pot – plants whether they are hazardous or not. Therefore, this means you must change your surroundings in order to keep safe the chinchilla from any harm. If he is whilst out for play then the windows should be closed, hide electrical wiring, block small cavities, and also you should remove all the objects which might fall on them.
5. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP :-
This is one of the most important thing that you should consider before buying a chinchilla. They also needs to go to the vet which can bite out from the pocket. If you are going to buy a chinchilla then there is going to be not only vet bills for regular checkups and treatments but also they will need a larger cage and also some good quality of course hays to gnaw on and I must admit that all of these do not come cheap.
6. THEY DO NOT LIKE TO BE HANDLED MUCH :-
If you wants to buy a chinchilla for a loving companion then I must tell you that they do not like to be handled much. They are very loving if properly treated but they love to be free and like to do things on their own. They are not known to be “lap animals” although you might find a chinchilla which likes to be rubbed under the chin or around the ears. Although they like to be free but it is important to handle him regularly, for instance, when you take him to the vet, they rarely enjoy it.
7. THEY ARE NOCTURNAL :-
If you like to sleep peacefully or relaxing watching T.V in the late evening then chinchilla is not for you. They need a lot of interaction during the evening and night time and therefore, they don’ appreciate you to watch T.V by ignoring them. They also crash in their cage when you sleep but they do not want to be disturbed while they sleep. They need continues quietness and peace when they sleep during the day – time. Sudden broken sleeping patterns by loud noises can cause some disorders like digestive upset, fur biting etc.
8. BUYING A CHINCHILLA IS NOT A GOOD IDEA IF YOU LIKE TO GO AWAY ON HOLIDAY A LOT :-
You must remember that they are highly – maintenance pets which should be taken care on a daily basis by providing pellets, fresh water, exercise outside, hay, cleaning cage and so on. In your absence, you’ll need to make sure someone attends your pet, however sometimes it is not enough especially if it is a lone chinchilla. They looks at their owner as its mate. Therefore, you should buy a chinchilla only if you know that you can make these “commitments” to the adorable chinchilla during his lifetime.