Chinchillas As Pets

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jack_Sterling]Jack Sterling
You may be planning on buying a chinchilla.
If not for you, then perhaps for a loved one or for your children. Before you can bring in a brand new furry friend to your home however, it really is of critical importance that you choose to have a look at chinchilla info and learn about exactly what there is to find out about the animal.
The chinchilla can live to be about 15, give or take a couple of years. Some chinchillas only live 12 years, whilst others live a longer life; up till the age of 20. It is easily possible to get yourself a tame chinchilla, so long as you provide them with the attention and nurturing they crave while they are young.
Note: Just in case you're considering buying a chinchilla for a child: Show the child the best way to properly take care of the chinchilla. Even though it may appear all warm and cuddly, the chinchilla can and most often will bite when it feels threatened. In case the child by mistake squeezes the rodent a little too hard, it might panic and bite. Sit down with the youngster and show him/her the best way to hold and pet the chinchilla. If taken care of early on, you won't have any bite marks from your chinchilla.
But what about the scent?
You're in luck! Chinchillas do not share the "unique" odor that other rodents possess. Owning a chinchilla will not turn your house into a mini zoo in the case of smells. If you clean your chinchilla's cage once a week, you should have a pretty much odor free zone. In fact, strong smells from the chinchilla may indicate that it's got some kind of parasite (in the event you haven't cleaned it in a while, then its most likely just it's cage)
What does it eat?
Mostly pellets intended for the animal. You could supplement the pellets with a little spinach or hay, but keep in mind that most of the chinchilla's daily consumption have to come from the pellets. That does not mean that the chinchilla is picky when it comes to food. It may dine on a leftover burger, some nachos, chips and other salty food, for that reason be sure you do not have leftover food close to it's cage when you let it out to be able to play. In case the teeth grow too particularly long, it may hinder it's ability to eat, therefore getting something for it to munch on is really important. At the same time, keep a vitamin or sodium block in the cage for vitamins.
Can I train it?
Yes, you certainly can. As with most other animals, the method to train a chinchilla is through food treats. You could lure it with a small piece of fruit. Place the piece of fruit on your shoulder/arm/hand and wait for the animal to leap on to you. Make sure to pet it extensively afterwards!
Buying a chinchilla
I will now go over a couple of things that you need to keep in mind at the pet store/breeder if you choose to buy a chinchilla. The best time to get yourself a chinchilla is when they are 10 weeks old, should you get them at an earlier age, they might not necessarily have had the sufficient contact required from it's parents or siblings. If you're able to, ask to see it's mother and father before buying it. Look out for spots of fur missing, watery eyes and drooling (drooling usually means tooth issues). Some great attributes to search for in a new chinchilla tend to be: curiosity, healthy looking eyes and pelt, along with a good personality.
Hopefully I have helped shed light on the most crucial things for you.
Having chinchillas as pets is a fantastic thing.
Curious about what it's like to have   chinchillas as pets you can find this and much more at http://www.allchinchillafacts.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Chinchillas-As-Pets&id=6584173] Chinchillas As Pets