What smells are toxic to chinchillas?
The fragrances from pine, eucalyptus, cedar, or sandalwood can stress a chinchilla’s respiratory tract and ingestion can cause liver or kidney disease. Chinchillas are generally odorless. Odors should not be an issue if the cage is kept very clean and their dust replaced when feces contaminate it.
At what age can chinchillas get pregnant?
Most females mature at about 7 months of age and may be put into breeding at this time. Males should be placed into breeding when they are approximately 7 or 8 months old. Chinchillas should be placed into breeding before they turn 2 years old for optimum ability to breed.
Do male chinchillas kill babies?
If this happens, the mother chinchilla may still discharge the baby chinchilla into small pieces that you may notice in the cage. However, mother chinchillas do not purposely kill and eat their babies. They are quite good and caring mothers with their litters.
Can a chinchilla die from stress?
The easy answer is no, your chinchilla will not die from stress alone. Chinchillas are not fragile creatures, so sudden stresses like new animals or loud noises will not kill them.
Do chinchillas pee stink?
Yes, chinchilla pee will cause an odor if it is not cleaned often enough. A cage that has urine either on aspen shavings or other chinchilla bedding will begin to smell or cause a stink that smells much like ammonia. It will smell just like any other dirty rodent cage such as a hamster, rabbit, or even ferret.
Why do chinchillas kill their babies?
These animals will sometimes kill their own babies if they can’t nurse them or find enough food to keep them all sustained. If one of the babies dies, the mother will likely eat it to not only nourish her but to remove the carcass.
Can you buy a baby Chinchilla in a pet store?
Until there are laws that prevent animals sold at pet stores, they will have baby chinchillas for sale. If you do decide you do want to get a chinchilla in a pet store double check if it’s a male or female. Most times, they are sexed wrong and if you are counting on a male or female you had better check for yourself.
Are there any antibiotics that will kill a chinchilla?
Antibiotic sensitivity: Rodents are very susceptible to antibiotic toxicity. Human antibiotics, including penicillin and erythromycin, can be fatal to pet chinchillas.
What should I give my Chinchilla for grooming?
Dust bathing: Chinchillas have a unique grooming habit called dust bathing. Each day, they should be provided with a dust bath — a mixture of nine parts silver sand and one part fuller’s earth. These ingredients are available at most pet stores. Enough dust should be provided so that the chinchilla can roll around in it.
Why are chinchillas not allowed to have a dust bath?
When chinchillas do not have access to a dust bath in captivity, the fur becomes matted from oily secretions. Dust bathing often causes irritation of the eyes, resulting in conjunctivitis without associated clinical signs of upper respiratory infection.
