I'm thinking of getting one. I'd like a small pet. I find them irresistibly cute. Does anyone own or have owned one that could share your opinion on them?

8/10/2010 6:47:18 PM

imo they smell bad

but so do a lot of pets

8/10/2010 6:47:57 PM

They are not cuddly.

8/10/2010 6:49:14 PM

I wonder if they are worse than ferrets? Now i know those stink.

8/10/2010 6:49:22 PM

I thought that I chased you outta here

8/10/2010 6:52:56 PM

nope, im stubborn! nothing to do tonight.

8/10/2010 6:54:54 PM

talk to lutra, elise, or...I forget who else has owned one/is familiar.

But if "irresistably cute" is your main criteria, chinchillas may not be for you. They're high maintenance pets with some pretty serious needs and considerations and those considerations are very, very important.

8/10/2010 6:55:39 PM

i doubt they are worse than ferrets which have some sort of ass gland that makes them stink to high heaven. though it can be removed

8/10/2010 6:56:17 PM

Descented ferrets still have a musky odor.

I don't know about the smell of chins, but I do know that for as cute as they are. . .they often aren't cuddly pets and will bite.

8/10/2010 6:58:09 PM

Oh, I see

well, enjoy your stay.

8/10/2010 6:58:39 PM

well i wouldn't mind the needs, ive been doing research on them. if you guys didn't know i do work with calves and cows on a daily basis. i know they are much bigger than a chinchilla though.

8/10/2010 6:58:48 PM

I think I'd make a good pet. Though not a small one.

8/10/2010 6:59:30 PM

I have 2, both girls and they live together in a two level cage. I wouldn't say they are smelly, I think that is more dependent on their bedding. we have a cage with soft beds, wood ledges, and tiles with a removable tray that has cat litter that they can not interact with.

they like attention, we let them run around in our chinchilla proofed bathroom most nights of the week( I watch them while my wife straightens up the cage....or the other way around). they need attention everyday, my wife's parents or brother watch them when we are out of town but they seem upset if we aren't there (eat less and "cry").

they are fun and cute but need quite a bit of work. they also live ~15 years so not a short commitment

[Edited on August 10, 2010 at 7:02 PM. Reason : fuckin iphone]

8/10/2010 7:01:15 PM

Thanks for your information! I do appreciate it. Well would you say it would be better to have 2 than 1? I do work alot but from the hours of 7am til 3. Some days I work 2 jobs, but for the most part I am home quite a bit. How often do you give them a dust bath?

8/10/2010 7:03:04 PM

they have to get along to have 2, I don't know if that is always common. we got ours pretty young so they did pretty well getting used to each other. with that said I think they enjoy each other.

ours get dust baths every other night or so. we just put it on a tile in the cage, one of the girls felt it necessary mark her territory if a normal bath was used.

8/10/2010 7:07:47 PM

oh really? how would she mark her territory? similar to a dog? i hear they are day time sleepers and are up all night. is that how your pets are or do they sleep at night up all day?

8/10/2010 7:14:17 PM

she would roll in the bath then piss in it before getting out so the other one couldn't use it. they start going around 8-9 before then they will wake up if you talk to them but they are sleepy looking.

8/10/2010 9:18:05 PM