Care For Your Chinchilla With The Right Pet Products

     When you're looking for a great pet, there are plenty of options that will spring to mind. But it may surprise you to learn that a chinchilla could be exactly what you want. Whether it's for you or your kids, buying one of these little critters is a great decision that will likely give you plenty of smiles. They're small, cute, and easy to take care of.

Of course, you'll still want to learn the basics of proper chinchilla care before you get one. Knowing how to take care of an animal before you buy it is important so you don't make a purchase that you decide you can't handle. It's also vital so you know how to keep your pet comfortable. Luckily, chinchilla care is fairly easy when compared to many other animals.

Here are the basics of chinchilla care and what you can expect to go through taking care of your new little critter.

Start by making sure you have the right kind of cage. This is a lot more important than most people think. Just dropping your little guy into an old aquarium isn't enough. Multiple levels are important, for example, because chinchillas actually like to jump. Make sure that the bars are close together so he can't fit through them, and get a solid bottom instead of a wire one so the animal won't get its feet stuck in a wire mesh.

Avoid cedar or pine bedding. These can cause skin, respiratory, and liver problems to develop and are actually poisonous. Look for something like Carefresh or kiln dried shavings for your chinchilla.

A big part of chinchilla care is the nesting box. Place it on the floor and be sure it's around 20 inches by 10 inches. While it's not required, having a nesting box will make your animal much more comfortable and reduce stress.

Feeding your chinchilla is an important part of chinchilla care. There are two main things to offer them. Chinchilla pellets are a good idea for nutrition, but avoid the kind that includes treats imbedded inside. Always make sure you provide timothy hay to your chinchilla. It's a must for their health.

Change drinking water every day. Even if it looks clean, it can host algae growth which could cause numerous problems including death in some cases.

Also change the soiled bedding or dirty hay each day. Disease is just as large a problem for chinchillas as it is for any other animal, so keep its cage clean.

You'll need to give a dust bath to your chinchilla at least twice a week.

Exercise is a vital part of chinchilla care, so be sure to keep them active. An exercise wheel is a good idea, and so is some free time outside of the cage supervision required, of course.

Finally, be sure that you provide branches to chew on to promote their dental health. Pumice stones or special blocks of wood are good options as well.

Once you understand the basics of chinchilla care, you'll be able to take care of your new pet the way they deserve.