Baja Blast Chinchilla Chinchilla Novato, CA

Baja Blast is a social guy looking for an experienced home, or at least one willing to do a lot of research first! Chins are adorable and unique little critters that can make great companions for someone with the right expectations. There are important things to consider before adopting a chinchilla as they have very specific care requirements. One, they can NOT tolerate heat- they can potentially die at temperatures over 80 degrees, and are most comfortable between 55-65. This means you must have air conditioning in the room where they are housed, or have a basement or similar room that stays cool for them to stay in.Chins are very active and need large cages to hop around in. A double-unit Critter Nation or Ferret Nation cage is recommended. Their cage should be fitted with shelves and ledges for them to jump on and a large (14-16") chin-safe wheel. They can not have anything plastic or cardboard in their cage (chewing/ingestion risk) so all cage accessories must be metal, glass, stone/tile, non-pill fleece, or untreated kiln-dried pine. No paper, plastic, cardboard, plywood, other fabrics, etc.Chins are also very messy. They poop hundreds of droppings a day! Thankfully they are dry and very easy to sweep up, but be prepared for frequent spot-cleaning. Some chins can learn to use a litter box for urine, but not all will. Another messy aspect of chin-keeping is their dust baths. 1-2 times a week they should be offered a large container of "chinchilla dust" to roll around in- this is how they keep their coats clean. Chinchillas should NEVER be bathed in water or be allowed to get wet, this can make them sick.Chinchillas have sensitive digestive systems and need a strict and simple diet of pelleted chinchilla food and timothy hay. There are a few treats that are safe in moderation which include some select dried herbs and flowers- there are comprehensive lists online. They should never be fed produce (fruits/veggies) or anything with a high sugar content. Unfortunately many commercially available treats that are marketed for chinchillas are not actually safe.As rodents with constantly-growing teeth, Chinchillas need to chew! Pumice blocks are great for their teeth, as are organic/unsprayed dried apple tree sticks (easily purchased online, we recommend Etsy for fresher, USA-grown products.)When setting up your chinchilla's cage, you have a couple options for cage (or litter box) substrate: kiln-dried pine or aspen shavings, non-pill fleece, or ceramic or stone tile. If using fleece or shavings its a good idea to have at least one big tile in their cage for them to lay on to stay cool.Chins can live 15-20+ years so be prepared for a commitment! They are also nocturnal and do not relish being caught and held. However they can be social especially if you are patient with them and use treats as a reward. They are not for everyone, but for the right person they are wonderful! And could they be any cuter? Primary Color: Grey Secondary Color: Black Age: 1yrs 6mths 2wks