How can you tell a male chin from a female?
The male and female reproductive organs look almost alike. In the male chin, there is a gap between the anus and the reproductive organ of about 3/8 inch. In the female chin, the anus and the urinary opening are really close together. To be positive always ask a chin expert or your veterinarian what sex you may have.
Reproductive Organs of Chinchillas
Is it safe to leave a chinchilla alone over a weekend?
All thou it's never good to leave your pet unattended for a long duration of time. You may leave your chin alone in its cage with ample food and water. You should always add extra water by adding an extra non-spillable dish or extra water bottle to ensure that your chin has pleanty of water while your gone.
Looks Like Double Trouble To Me!
What is the best way to help a chinchilla adjust to it's new home?
The best way to achive this is to have the home for your chin all set up BEFORE you purchase your new chin. Place your chin in its new home and ignore it for a couple of days except to feed and water it. When you do go around your chin during these first couple of days, move very slowly so that you do not frighten it. You may talk in a soft calm reassuring voice to your chin. Major changes are very stressful on these sensitive creatures. Give your chin lots of alone time to investigate its new surroundings. After a few days, you can slowly start bonding with it. Making sure to not make any sudden or grabbing movements towards it. The slower you move the less frightened your chinchilla will be.
Should sudden changes in behavior be a cause of worry?
As with any pet, any sudden changes in your chin can be an indicator of some type of illness. Things you should be watching at all times with your chin include:
Eating Behavior, if your chin suddenly stops eating or has a significant decrease in the amount he's eating.
The Feces, should be firm, dry and of appropriate size. If it is runny this is another sign of a problem.
Just sits in the corner of the cage with its head hung down with dull eyed, this ia a huge indication that something is wrong with your chin.
Any of these signs but not limited to these signs are indicators of a problem with your chin. Please don't wait to take him to a qualified veterinarian for medical treatment.
Are candy treats such as licorice safe to feed my chin from time to time?
NO NO NO!!! Candy contains more sugar than a chinchilla's system can handle. Candy should never be fed to your chin. General rule-of-thumb is no more than one treat per day. Such as a singleraisin, a single dried papaya cube, a small piece of uncooked spaghetti, one or two rosehips, or half of a plain, spoon-sized shredded wheat. Those are all acceptable treats you may feed your chin.
