Community Profile

This community is for chinchilla lovers to post questions, pictures, stories, etc. Feel free to ask for help, but if your chinchilla is sick or seems sick, a vet will always be the answer you will receive. It's an excellent idea to find a vet in your area BEFORE your chinchilla gets sick. If you don't have the money for vet care, you should either find a new home for your chin or start a little "vet fund" in advance (save a few dollars every week ....for a rainy day). That being said, we'll do everything we can to help you, if you need it.

Other sources for chinchilla help and information:

<ul><li><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChinMail/">ChinMail</a>:
This is an email list (probably the oldest) on chinchillas. You will find breeders who have been involved with chinchillas for decades. They have seen everything.</li>
<li><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chinformation">Chinformation Email List</a>
Another great option is which is a YahooGroup I started a few years ago.

<li><a href="http://www.chinchillas.org/">Chinchillas.org</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chinformation.org/">Chinformation.org run by <lj user="chinchillaz"></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cachins.org/">California Chins</a></li></ul>

Trying multiple locations increases the likelihood of finding someone who has experienced your problem before.

--------------------------------------

<b>Basic Rules</b>

A note: Flaming people asking for help will not be tolerated. Posts by non-members will be moderated to prevent spamming from other groups.

Advertisements for food or chinchillas are fine, as long as you're a regular participant. Using the community strictly as a sales vehicle won't be tolerated.

This group has a three strikes rule. Three strikes and your out unless you're a spammer. Then, you're out immediately. Otherwise, the rule will be enforced. It will not, however, be abused. I don't ban people simply because I'm in a bad mood that day.

Please use cuts for long posts or posts with more than one picture.

Invitations to other communities must be approved by the moderator. Thanks!

--------------------------------------

<b>Recommendations</b>

This is a list of sites and/or products that I like or have seen/heard multiple recommendations made about them.

<b>Health and Care</b>

A great site for health info:
http://www.cachins.org/

Setting up a cage:
http://www.etc-etc.com/chincage.htm

Temperatures:
http://www.chin-chillas.com/heat_stroke.htm
DISCLAIMER: The rule of 150 is meant as a guide to determining absolute maximum humidity for use with normal comfortable chinchilla temps (between 60 and 80 MAXIMUM). It is not implying that 125F + 25% humidity is safe! In short, 75 degrees F + 75% humidity is unsafe, 80 degrees F and 70 percent humidity is also unsafe. Keep the temps between 60 and 80 (preferably UNDER 80) and the humidity should be 30-40%.

Basic Fungus Info and potential treatment options:
http://www.etc-etc.com/fungus.htm

Diarrhea info:
http://www.etc-etc.com/chindiar.htm

Gestation:
http://www.etc-etc.com/calendar.htm

Birth Prep/Baby Saving:
http://www.etc-etc.com/babysav.htm

Malocclusion/Teeth:
http://www.chinbin.com/malocclusion_surgery_info.html
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_teeth.html

Heart Murmurs:
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_heartmurmurs.html

Seizures:
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_seizures.html

Parasites:
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_parasites.html
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_ringworm.html

Hair Rings:
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_hairrings.html

Vitamin C:
(chewable C is a great treat that helps teeth and muscles without so much sugar)
http://www.cachins.org/health_body_teeth.html

Critical Care (great for feeding to a chin with malocclusion or other health issues)
http://www.oxbowhay.com/link.sp?page=critical_care
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57368

Recommended books:
http://www.etc-etc.com/chinbook.htm


<b>Food:</b>
http://www.mazuri.com/ (check out the dealer locator)
http://www.oxbowhay.com/ (excellent quality hay and food)
https://securestore.hosting4less.com/americanpetdiner/index.html (American Pet Diner - Timothy based AND Alfalfa based feeds)
http://www.mannapro.com/ss_sho_tech.htm (Manna Pro Sho - a very high quality rabbit food used by many breeders)
Tradition sold by <a href="http://www.spoiledchins.net/Feed.htm">Spoiled Chins</a>, <a href="http://www.lonestarchinchilla.com/">the Ryersons</a>, and <a href="http://www.sewardbreeders.com/page4.html">Seward Breeders</a>.

Alice Kline pellets are also highly recommended, but they're harder to find.


<b>Hay:</b>
http://www.oxbowhay.com/ (my favorite for Timothy hay)
http://www.americanpetdiner.com/
http://www.alfalfaking.com/

There are some interesting 60/40 alfalfa/timothy compressed hay cubes on the market. Here's one (really good) breeder who is selling them, and if you're looking for Tradition, you can order the cubes and the feed....

<a href="http://www.sewardbreeders.com/page4.html">Seward Breeders</a>. The site says 50/50, but the manufacturers of both cube brands (that I could find) both say 60/40.


<b>Treats:</b>
http://www.lonestarchinchilla.com/
(excellent source for apple sticks, alfalfa hay cubes, chew blocks, rose hips, etc).
Shipping charge is actual USPS, and Chuck is great.
http://www.chinworld.com/ (some great toys/treats and reasonable prices)


<b>Wheels</b>
Safe wheel information:
http://www.geocities.com/secondchancechins/safewheels.htm

Flying Saucer: (my favorite)
http://www.chinworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CW030010&Category_Code=CW03

Flying Saucer AND ChinSpin:
http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=129_142_143_144

Silver Surfer (comes in 12, 14, AND 16 inch sizes): <b>NOT AVAILABLE CURRENTLY</b>
http://www.chinchillas.com/estore/detail.aspx?ID=106
http://www.chinchillas.com/estore/detail.aspx?ID=108

Sage Jasmine Wheel (sold only on Ebay at this time)
http://myworld.ebay.com/sagejasmine (click "Items for Sale")

Note: I have tried the Sage Jasmine wheel. It is an excellent size. The mounting hardware
is a bit large, but it's secure and sturdy. Unlike the Silver Surfer (which I also love), this wheel is affordable and won't break through lighter weight hardware cloth that's so often used on wire cages.


<b>****Just say NO to wheels with spokes****</b>
Wheels with spokes are responsible for broken legs and broken necks. Wheels with rungs (instead of a solid running surface) have been responsible for broken legs and broken toes.

Why are spokes bad? Chins have a habit of jumping out of the wheel while it's still going. The spokes catch the leg or the head, and if the chin is unlucky, its neck or leg is snapped. I recently read something by a breeder who witnessed a chin snap its neck on one of these spoked wheels, and I can't advocate ceasing to use them fast enough!
<b>****Just say NO to wheels with spokes****</b>

Another recommended wheel is the Leo Braun wheel which is difficult to obtain these days.


<b>Cages:</b>
http://www.martinscages.com/ (excellent though a little shallower than I would like)
http://www.qualitycage.com/chinchilla.html
http://www.prevuepet.com/rabbit1.html
http://www.ferret.com/item/critter-nation-double-unit-with-stand-36lx24wx63h/ (Critter Nation made by the Ferret Nation folks but with narrower bar spacing)

A note for those unfamiliar with Prevue Hendryx: They have been making decent bird cages for years. They're now making "rabbit" cages. I bought one as a temporary cage (I build my own) when we relocated to Georgia. I found it to be excellent (remove the plastic grate) with the addition of a couple of shelves from Petsmart. It (the smallest of the three) was strong enough and tall enough to handle the additional shelves AND my Leo Braun wheel. The slide-out pan is handy as well.

<b>Accessories</b>
<a href="http://www.chinchillapetstore.com/products/cageaccessories</a>Chinchilla Pet Store</a>.

<b>Chin Proofing</b>
<a href="http://www.chinchillarescue.org/chincare.html">California Chins Chin Cage Page</a>

<b>Rescue Chins</b>
<a href="http://www.chinchillarescue.org/">California Chins Chinchilla Rescue</a>
<a href="http://www.chinformation.org/railroad.html">Chinchilla Railroad</a>

<b>Introducing Chins</b>
<a href="http://www.chinchillarescue.org/introducing.html">California Chins Chinchilla Introduction Page</a>

<b>Vets</b>
<a href="http://www.chinformation.org/">Chinformation</a>: Click the chinchilla vets link.


If you have any other suggested websites, let me know.

Have fun and enjoy!

<img src="http://www.peytonsmind.com/chinchillas/oliver/OliverCage.jpg">