Do you know anyone with a chinchilla?

[imported_Tomato]

Chinchillas.

I am considered getting a puppy, but have been offered the alternative of a chinchilla (cute, albeit a bit rattish).

Perks of getting a chinchilla:

Adorable & sweet creatures with exquisitely soft fur.
Easy to take care of and inexpensive to house and feed.
Virtually odor free.
They cannot get fleas as their fur is too dense.
They live a long time. They have a lifespan of 12-20 years.
Quiet during the day since they are nocturnal.

Does anyone have a chinchilla, or know anyone who does? I'm still leaning towards a puppy, but with my lifestyle, a chinchilla might be more manageable.

 

[human2k]

Looks delicious.

 

[Azraele]

I think I read somewhere that these little guys need lots of love. If you've got a really busy schedule, you still need to make time for a pet.

 

[ViperXX]

chinchilla??

Isn't Chinchilla the Spanish word for loucast????

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Azraele
I think I read somewhere that these little guys need lots of love. If you've got a really busy schedule, you still need to make time for a pet.

Oh dear... I work from 9am-6pm, and my roommates work even later. I would spend all my free time with it, though... I'm going to look at some puppies tonight, I've just been feeling the need for an animal as a companion lately...

 

[gopunk]

yes, my middle school english + history teacher's daughter had one. um.. that's about all i know, sorry

those pics are soo cute

 

[datalink7]

My sister had some when she was younger.

They were kind of cool for a while, but after a bit they got boring. We had to keep them caged though because of the dog. If you don't have a dog or a cat you could probably let it run around the house and it would be more fun (though it would leave poop pellets around... I don't know if you can potty train them).

 

[EvilYoda]

Virtually odor free? I'm sorry, but my friend's g/f has like a bajillion (no, really ) chinchilla's, and they stink the place up. Yes, they're cute, but I would strongly suggest finding one that you can play with first, and figure out if it will fulfill what you would be looking for in a dog before you buy one.

And if you get more than one, they multiply...like rabbits, I guess.

 

[Azraele]

I've just been feeling the need for an animal as a companion lately...

I can understand that. Do some serious research on Google. You want to pick a companion that's right for you.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Azraele

I've just been feeling the need for an animal as a companion lately...

I can understand that. Do some serious research on Google. You want to pick a companion that's right for you.

Thanks, Azraele... I do have a lot more research to do, and I don't want to get a pet on impulse that the pet and I might regret later on.

Apparently chinchillas do poop a lot, but always in hard little pellets... pretty easy to clean. And I'd hope they'd be odor-free... I wouldn't want to disturb my roommates!

 

[imported_Tomato]

More chinchilla pictures.

 

[d33pt]

even hamsters stink if you don't clean them up every few days...so how would a chinchilla be odor free?

 

[Armitage]

We have several for may years ... they're very cool. Very easy to take care of, and if you keep em reasonably clean I don't think they smell at all.
The downside to being nocturnal is of course, that they tend to be active & noisy at night, which can be bad in a small place. They are also dusty ... literally. They love to roll in a very fine powder/dust, ussually every few day. It helps keep their fur clean, but it tends to get all over things. They love to run in wheels, climb on shelves, etc. They are social and prefer companions, but never try to keep two males together. One of em will end up dead.

They tend to be kind of expensive though. When we lived in LA we had several litters and sold the kits easily for $50 each, but that was cheap compared to most breeders. IIRC prices started around $100+

As others have said, you need to find the right pet ... a chinchilla is much lower maintenance then a dog. But you have to decide if your happy with a pet that will spend much of its time in a cage.

 

[NogginBoink]

I had one for a while.

It's a boring pet, much like a hamster or gerbil. If you want companionship, a puppy is a much better choice; you'll interact with a dog much more than a chinchilla.

 

[PoonDaddy007]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda


And if you get more than one, they multiply...like rabbits, I guess.

They don't really mate that quickly. Roommate had them for over a year tryin to get them "get together" and she got pregnate once with one off spring.

My old roommate used to have a couple of them in the apartment. I hated them so so badly. He had 3 of them and got a huge cage to hold them in. With food paste, water, toys, etc. it does add up to alot.

Any they do poop like crazy, everywhere, anytime. I would go to my closet and find dookie pellets in my sock drawer. I don't know how they got in but they did. Also, you don't wash them in water but they take dust baths. You have to fill a box with some dust and let them roll around in it. Caused havoc on my gf's allergies. And one thing, they are nocturnal like you said and the thangs use the squeaky wheel throughout the night.

They are a lot of work and they will cost a lot of money.

However, they are cute and you can make a good deal of money by selling the babies.

 

[Keego]

looks as gross as ads on the left side of the window!

(really, what crosses make that freak animal?)

 

[UNCjigga]

Missy Elliot has one...she sings about it all the time!

no wait...that's her cho-cha...

 

[Chadder007]

Ive always liked lil Chi's.

 

[datalink7]

Plus, their self defense mechanism is to piss on you.

They stand up on their hind legs and piss a pretty strong stream right at you.

 

[Looney]

Chinchillas are so cute. I've always wanted a couple as well. And with your busy schedule, i would think it would be much better than a puppy.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Plus, their self defense mechanism is to piss on you.

They stand up on their hind legs and piss a pretty strong stream right at you.

LOL... okay... maybe it's just the fact I'm at work too late... but I can't stop laughing... that would really suck...

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Chinchillas are so cute. I've always wanted a couple as well. And with your busy schedule, i would think it would be much better than a puppy.

Yes, although I would go out of my way to make time for a puppy... puppies sound more social, although the chinchillas are pretty cute. The defensive peeing thing kinda scares me.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Plus, their self defense mechanism is to piss on you.

They stand up on their hind legs and piss a pretty strong stream right at you.

We've had several for years ... I've never seen that.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Dezign

Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Chinchillas are so cute. I've always wanted a couple as well. And with your busy schedule, i would think it would be much better than a puppy.

Yes, although I would go out of my way to make time for a puppy... puppies sound more social, although the chinchillas are pretty cute. The defensive peeing thing kinda scares me.

A puppy will pee itself if it's too happy. Mine always did it right on the spot when i came home.

 

[Geekbabe]

Get a ferret,they are a lot of work but very portable,they can travel in your backpack or the hood of your sweatshirt,they are VERY bright,highly social animals