| Buying A Chinchilla A word of advice. If you seek advice, or wish to buy from breeder? A few tips to remember. -
Ask how long have they been breeding chinchillas? -
how many awards have they won? -
Do they offer a full pedigree with the chinchillas they sell? -
Are they a member of a Chinchilla breeding association? -
If not why not? -
If yes? for how long? This is a good guide as to what their 'experience' in breeding is. -
Also ask other breeders in the association about that person. -
Most good breeder have a good reputation and are respected by fellow members. anyone may have knowledge of chinchillas in a short while, I grant you that. However to have 'experience' in breeding chinchillas takes years.I have been breeding now since 1992. My reputation for being honest (sometimes outspoken) is well known in chinchilla show and breeding circles And now to you. -
So you want a chin? can you afford one? -
Have you made the invironment safe for that chinchilla? -
Have you bought an AC unit if your country has high temps in summer? Remember HEAT KILLS. A chinchilla should not get heatstroke! It is an exotic animal and should be kept in the proper conditions. would you buy a snake and keep it in the fridge? No you would not so please prepare for you chinchilla. Before you buy -
Can you afford the vet fees? these can be very high. -
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The rest is up to you, should anyone wish to check up on me they are most welcome email address Never owned a chinchilla before? Most responsible people read up on a pet before buying one. I am often asked which is the best colour to buy. This is all a matter of personal opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are many colours and mutations around nowadays. Look before you decide on what you want to buy. A few things you will need First and foremost. I always tell people to think carefully.As you may know some chinchillas can live to the age of 14 and over.(average age is from 8-10 years) You will need a std size cage. Don't buy a high one with lots of shelves if your chinchilla is still young. They may fall. better a long cage and only 3 feet high. A sand bath, food dish, water bottle. good quality chinchilla pellets, good quality hay, some untreated pine and/or apple branches to chew on and some toys. a few treats such as raisins, apples etc as recommended by the breeder. A hide box or a cardboard box just big enough for a chinchilla to hide in. No bedding needed for a chinchilla however they do love to play in the white shredded paper you can buy at pet stores as bedding. Sheets of newspaper to line litter tray or some suitable litter material. Do NOT buy one with Cedar shavings. This gives of fumes TOXIC to a chinchillas
Buying a chinchilla at a pet shop? You may not have blood-line record (pedigree)or see the parents. Nor have the backup help if anything you need help with. As regards the best colour? Standards (Grey) are the strongest. Every quality breeder relies on their standards for strength. Most of the breeders who are in the National Chinchilla Society (UK) have stock they dont require. Otherwise we would have too many chinchillas. So try them first. Decide what colour or mutation you want. Remember if you are going to be breeding them it is advisable to have a standard. Continually breeding mutation to mutation is not recommended. It weakens the bloodline, also results eventually in smaller, puny, weak animals. Far better to use standard, or standards carrying a mutation to breed to a mutation. Of course other breeders may disagree, however it's my opinion and to prove it I have award winning chinchillas to show my ability. My chinchillas have done well on the show bench and are proven champions on the bench. That speaks for itself. Colours are numerous now. White, beige, black velvet, brown velvet, charcoal, sapphire, violet. oh so many now. I myself have a good variety. Colour does not matter as regards nature and so on. Male/female nature is different regardless of sex. Best guide of temperament is the mother and father. When you go to a breeder ask if you may see the mother and father.(for obvious reasons) with some of my kits I can also show the grandparents. I find though that most times males make the best pets. other breeders also agree with me. Females can be very bickery at time and also spray urine at you as a warning to stay away. Also ask if you may handle the chinchilla. Judge for yourself the nature of it. Try scratching at the back of its ears, they like that. Also look at the size. At 7 months a chin is probably almost adult size. It may grow a bit more of course, some do. Especially mutations. They are well known for being smaller until taking a spurt at about 10 months or so. Some mutations are not fully grown until a year old. Also check the coat. How dense is the fur? What is the fur quality like? Is it well covered? Ask about feeding. A good breeder will give you a care leaflet and sample of food to take home with you. This helps the chinchilla adapt to the pellets you will be using. Introduce the new pellets slowly, mixing in with the ones it was used to eating.
Cheap Toys ( members' ideas)
Sexual maturity of young males and females
Any other questions you may have? feel free to mail me. Or alternatively phone (44 country code) 01592 571038 Hope this helps in your quest for knowledge about chinchillas. © Kingdom Chinchillas 2001 2002 2003 2004 Click here to read how this site is protected by copyright laws. Kingdom Chinchillas Fife Scotland UK. Aileen e-mail KINGDOM CHINCHILLAS telephone Aileen 7519489574 7:30pm - 9:30pm evenings emergency anytime up to 11:00pm UK time | 
