Q Is it better to keep one or two chinchillas?

Yes it is better to keep two chinchillas together for companionship. Remember if you don’t want babies rather purchase a mother and daughter together. Introducing 2 adult females together can be a mistake, as they do tend to fight. If 2 bucks (males) grow up together and there is no female around they will get on.

Q I work all day is it fair to have a chinchilla as a pet if I’m out all day?

Bear in mind they are nocturnal so during the day they sleep and prefer not to be disturbed. If you stay home most nights and have plenty of time for your chin at night then I see no reason not to get one. At least it won’t pine like a lonely dog all day.

Q Do chinchillas make good pets for children?

It all depends on the child and how responsible the child is although I would say children 12 and older would be better suited than younger children. My daughter of 5 is very involved with the chinchillas but under my guidance and the final care and responsibility for them rests with me.

Q Do I need to trim my chinchilla’s claws?

I have read in books that it is done but my chinchillas have never had their claws trimmed. They just don’t need to be trimmed and the only explanation that I can give is perhaps it is because they are not in metal cages. They have wooden ladders and wooden shelves and maybe this helps wear away the claws.

Q Can you feed chinchillas rabbit pellets?

No!!!!!!!!!! Under no circumstances feed chinchillas rabbit pellets. This is a fairly heated subject and some people have no problem feeding them rabbit pellets and recommending it. Firstly, some rabbit pellets are full of hormones and some contain mainly lucerne, this is not healthy for a chinchilla. The daily required protein, fat, calcium and crude fibre content also differs between a rabbit and a chinchilla.  I rescued a chinchilla from a pet shop that was kept in disgusting conditions and fed rabbit pellets. To give you an example why not to feed rabbit pellets: I immediately noticed a difference in her faeces, they where dark black and had a terrible smell. It has taken months for her faeces to change back to normal and for her cage to stop smelling so bad. This is a clear indication to me that rabbit pellets are bad for chinchillas and will shorten their lifespan!!!

Here is an example of the differences in nutritional value between chinchillas pellets and a very good quality rabbit pellet mainly feed to exotic rabbits.

PROTEIN CONTENT

Chinchilla pellets  15.5%

Rabbit pellets 18%

FAT CONTENT

Chinchilla pellets 3%

Rabbit pellets 3.5%

CALCIUM CONTENT

Chinchilla pellets 1%

Rabbit pellets 1.5%

CRUDE FIBRE CONTENT

Chinchilla pellets16%

Rabbit pellets 25%

As you can see from the above contents there is a vast difference in the nutritional daily requirments of each animal. The majority of rabbit pellets don't even contain some of the above ingredients making them even more unsuitable for chinchillas.

There are many breeders in SA that are quite happy to feed rabbit pellets and some mix the rabbit pellets with chinchilla pellets. What is the point? It's the same as saying if you only half smoke it won't be bad for you!!! Chinchilla food is available in South Africa and if pet shops don't keep the food my online shop does. There are some very good reputable pet shops that I know for a fact do keep the chinchilla pellets so there really isn't an excuse other than rabbit pellets are cheaper. It's also cheaper to eat junk food rather than a good healthy meal, does that mean we eat junk food everyday??? 

The other day I sold a chinchilla and when her new owners came to collect her they commented about a friend that had recently bought a chinchilla from another breeder who feeds rabbit pellets, they were saying how the friends chinchilla smelt bad!! Well I rest my case my chinchillas do not smell bad why does the other breeders chins smell bad???

 Why if you feed your dog dog food, your cat cat food do you want to feed your chinchilla rabbit food?