Chinchillas can make for delightfully fluffy and docile pets, but they do require a little more care and maintenance than your average gerbil or hamster. Although these unique creatures are hardy and convenient in many ways, they have special needs that must be met to ensure they live happily and comfortably, including a few unique pet supplies. As you shop around to prepare for your new pet chinchilla's arrival, make sure you have these four items ready to go beforehand.
Choosing the Right Cage
Chinchillas tend to sleep throughout the day, which may leave you with the impression that they are lazy. But these animals are actually more active at night or around dusk and dawn, and they need plenty of space to hop, roam and climb while they are awake. Because of this, you should buy as large a cage as your budget will allow. Choose one with multiple levels for your chinchilla to jump to and from, and never buy a cage with a wire floor. Wire mesh can cause injury to your chinchilla, particularly if it jumps down from a platform too hard. Opt instead for a solid floor lined with hay.
Keeping Teeth Short
Like other rodents, a chinchilla's teeth never stop growing. In the wild, chewing on food and nearby plants is enough to keep teeth short and manageable, but your pet may need a little extra help in captivity. Use specially designed chewing logs or chewing treats in your chinchilla's cage. Avoid salt or mineral blocks, since they may interfere with your chinchilla's nutritional balance.
Practicing Good Hygiene
One of the major benefits of chinchillas as pets is that their fur is so dense and soft that pests like fleas simply cannot survive on them. These desert animals adapted to an environment where rain and standing water are scarce, which means they also adapted very different hygiene methods than, for example, a cat or dog. You will need to give your chinchilla regular dust baths to keeps its coat shiny and healthy. Most pet supply stores sell specially formulated dust for this purpose.
Providing a Source of Exercise
If you don't intend to let your chinchilla out of its cage regularly, it will need another source of exercise to stay active and stimulated. Do not buy the rolling balls meant for hamsters and smaller rodents, since they can be hard on a chinchilla's spine and lead to injury. Instead, buy a solid plastic running wheel and a few puzzle toys to keep your pet moving and thinking. With the right preparations and pet supplies, you should be able to provide an ideal, safe and loving home for your new companion.
For more information, contact a local pet store, like Petland of Crystal Lake.
Share11 July 2016
Hello. My name is Sarah. Welcome to my website. I would like to share my knowledge about pet supplies on this site. Each type of pet requires a specific set of supplies to stay happy and healthy throughout life. The supplies you acquire for your pet can make providing healthcare and entertainment much easier. I will use this site to cover everything from cages and crates to brushes and nail clippers. Please follow my site on a regular basis to learn more about the supplies you can use for your pet care tasks. Thanks for visiting my site. See you again soon.