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| If you need help, contact Karen at: wvchins@excite.com
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Care
of your new chinchilla Chinchillas need a daily dust bath with commercial dust bath powder. Do not use any substitute. At the minimum, do it twice a week. They eat 2 tablespoons of chinchilla food per day, plus alphalfa. You can feed half the daily ration twice a day, or feed once at night. Never substitute rabbit, hamster, cat or any other animal food. Chinchillas need a commercial chew block for their teeth. Use untreated pine shavings for their bedding. Never use cedar or chlorophyll (fumes are dangerous to them). Daily fresh water should be supplied by water bottle, since open water containers become contaminated and can make them ill. If your pets chew plastic water bottles you can protect them with 1/2 x 1/2 wire net, or you might use glass bottles. Chinchillas need daily exercise. Let your pet out in a safe area (like a bathroom that has no wires to chew) for at least 15 minutes a day with supervision. Chinchillas are sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, so don't risk leaving them out of doors. They need a cage with shelf and ladder, having sturdy door closure. Minimum cage size is 18" x 24" x 18", with 1/2" x 1/2" wire floor. Urine guards are beneficial. Look for cages that are easy to clean (set inside a tray, with springs and S hooks that can be released). In addition, they need a sleeping house (such as a wooden box). Make sure entrance hole is big enough to allow the pet to jump through. Clean cages at least once a week. At least
twice a year scrub cage with water, soap and a small amount of bleach. Make sure cage is
thoroughly rinsed and dried after cleaning.
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