Let me tell you about my chinchilla
By Marie5656
@Marie5656 (336)
United States
October 22, 2008 11:35am CST
Hello all
Are there any chinchilla owners here? I have a pretty little 4 year old standard grey, name of Trixie. We have had her since she was about 4 months old. She is definatly an enjoyable little critter to watch.
Sometimes when I take Trixie out for a run she whill just run laps around the room, bounce off walls and just have a great time. When she goes back to her cage, she gets a treat, goes for a drink and then just passes out for an hour or so.
Chins can have a life span of up to 12 years or more. They look heavier than they seem, because of all the fur, but Trixie weighs in at about 2 and a half pounds. If you feel her body, her shape is much like a squirrel, though her face and ears look similar to a bunny, though the ears are shorter. She has kangaroo type bottom feet, and it makes for great hopping or jumping.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Wow...she is adorable! I never realized that they were that big, or that they had such a long life span. She sounds like a lot of fun, too. Where do you buy them, and what do they eat? Are they pretty much vegetarians? Please post more pics too...would love to see them. Is it hard to find a veterinarian for them?
@Marie5656 (336)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Hi catdla1
She is very light..just looks poofy because of all her fur. Pretty much a vegetarian, but no much in the way of fresh food. Best diet is simply chinchilla pellets and hay. Occasionaly I will treat her with a piece of dried banana, a rasin or a cheerio (yes the cereal). And wood blocks to chew on.
I had to make a few calls to find a vet, as I needed to find one that dealt with exotics. Luckily there was one not far from me.
You can buy them from breeders or pet shops.
I will post more pics over time. Here is another of her..practicing her jumping skills.
Well..it seems I cannot add a picture to this reply. So I will start a new thread with a picture.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
23 Oct 08
The reason I asked about the vet, is that in the past, I've been able to email to Tufts Veterinary School...and they are excellent for answering questions. They're very prompt too. Their web address is: www.tufts.edu/vet/
They are located in MA, so not knowing where you are, there isn't substitution for a vet neat you. However, for additional information, they can't be beat. At the website, go to 'Acedemics', then 'Facilty Profiles'. Takes a while to scroll thru, but you'll be able to find one that fits your needs. It's worth bookmarking, hopefully you'd never need it.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
9 Nov 08
Trixie is so cute and so small. Yeah, she looks like a bunny.
I didn't know about this dog breed, they really look cute.
It's really happy to see the dogs' behaviors, they are so cute, full of face expression. 
@Marie5656 (336)
• United States
9 Nov 08
Trixie is not a dog, she is a chinchilla. They are in the rodent family, cousins to squirrel.
@lisa0502 (1724)
• Canada
22 Oct 08
I have owned a few chins in my life. Although I do not have any right now they sure are a great addition to have. And their fur is so unbelievably soft. I have owned 6 in total. My last pair had two babies and they are real cute when they are newly born. Congrats on your chin, and she is too cute.
@Marie5656 (336)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Hi Lisa
She is adorable..and she knows it. There is a mirror on the wall in the room she plays in, and she enjoys hopping up on a nearby table and admiring herself. We also got her a small cage mirror..like for a birdcage. She will sit and look at herself in that too.
