Information On Chinchilla Cages
February 14th, 2010 | by admin |In the wild, chinchillas live high in the Andes Mountains, where the temperature and humidity are low, and everything stays quiet. As a chinchilla owner, it is your job to make their home as close to their natural environment as possible.
They need to have temperatures between 55 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If they are in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, they can develop heat stroke quickly. If the temperature is too hot, place a pan that is covered and filled with ice cubes near the chinchilla, so they can lie next to it and cool off. Since chinchillas do not sweat, a fan will do nothing to cool them.
Low humidity is best for chinchillas. The room the chinchilla lives in should not be damp. However, if the humidity gets too low, chinchillas can lose their hair and become sick with respiratory problems.
The cage needs to be placed somewhere with lots of light, but not directly in the sun. Even though you want to see you chinchilla, you have to think of their needs. If your house stays active much of the time, you may need to find a room where it is quieter to keep your pet. If they become too stressed, they can be more prone to disease and sickness, resulting in an unhappy pet that won’t live as long as they could. If the cage is in an area that sees a lot of action, you can cover the cage with a thin cloth during the day.
For chinchillas, the bigger the cage they have, the better. Since they are extremely active, and have lots of energy, they need room to move around, and also to climb. They need room both horizontally and vertically. Also, cages that have many stories let your chinchilla move all around and are highly preferred. If you do not have multiple levels, you can place a ramp that leads to a shelf placed higher up in the cage.
Usually, chinchilla cages are made with wire mesh. Make sure that it is not painted or coated, since chinchillas will just chew it off. Due to the poor ventilation, glass aquariums or plastic containers aren’t suitable for chinchillas. Wooden cages are also not recommended, since the chinchillas will chew it up.
You can have the cage floor either made of wire or solid. The best are ones that have trays that can be removed for cleaning. Solid bottomed cages can also be lined with shavings or newspapers. A piece of wood should be used on the bottom of wire cages, so that the chinchilla can get off the wire floor, and also have something else they can use as a chew toy.
Your chinchilla also needs a box in which they can hide and sleep. If you buy a wood box, be ready to buy more, since they will be certainly chewed up. You can also use various PVC plumbing pipes, since they work well and are simple to clean.
The best way to insure your chinchilla is healthy and happy is through making sure that as much of their natural habitat is maintained as much as possible. This can allow for a pet that is truly happy and healthy.