18 replies to this topic

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

So I’ve been wanting a pet, either a hamster, or a guinea pig, or a chinchilla. And I realized hamsters aren’t exactly a cuddly type, and guinea pigs need loads of space. So I’m wondering about chinchillas now? Are chinchillas a good pet? Do they like to be held? Are they worth the price ($150)? What items do they need other than cage, food, bathing dust, and water? And any more information that’ll be helpful! Please tell me about your experience with chinchillas, and how big of a cage? They’re personality and needs. Thanks!

[dancinghammy447]

Hello. When I was younger, I was looking into getting a chinchilla, but I decided against it. Keep in mind that they live for 20 years, so if you are a minor, probably not a good idea, since you will most likely go to college. They also are pretty expensive, when you add up the cage, the actual chinchilla, food, etc, so make sure you are in a financially stable situation. Also, I personally never felt that I would be able to give it what it needs. Chinchillas like to jump around, and climb, so they need height. It is also super hard to chinchilla-proof a room to have free roam/playtime. Last but not least, they are social creatures, and it is highly suggested to get a companion. Now sure, they can live without one, and bond to their owner more, but they get bored easily. I chose not to get one, because of the situation I'm in right now, but a chinchilla might be a great pet for you!

Edited by dancinghammy447, 08 June 2020 - 02:32 AM.

[Taxonomist]

For what it's worth, I don't have any personal experience with them but have researched them a bit.

 

Chinchillas are very, very high-maintenance compared to hamsters and even guinea pigs.  

 

Temperature and humidity controls are an absolute MUST.  They're most comfortable well below what most people consider room temperature - the 60F - 70F range seems to be the most commonly recommended.  You need to be willing to have the A/C blasting in the summer for them if you live anywhere that gets warm.

 

They need lots of out-of-cage time and stimulation, as they are very active and intelligent.  They are social and generally do best in pairs.  They're not necessarily known for being very cuddly, but this varies from animal to animal.

 

Some things you might want to consider when deciding on a pet:

 

What kind of space do you have available for you?

What kind of environment are you able to provide (how hot / cold does it get, what's the lighting like, etc.)?

What is your startup and maintenance budget?

What kind of time commitment is reasonable for you in terms of lifespan?

What kind of access do you have to a vet (all pets - other than maybe fish and inverts - absolutely need vet care)?

 

If you were to give a little more information, we'd probably be able to help you out a bit more.  

[MushuTheHamster]

Hello! I personally don't have any experience with a chinchilla, so I cannot say about them.

I do have a hamster, and a long time ago I had guinea pigs.

 

If you haven't done your research yet, you may be surprised by how big of a cage a hamster needs. Other than that, hamsters are considerably easy to take care of. Yes, they do not need human interaction to be happy, but they are really sweet once you get it tame. 

I haven't had guinea pigs in a while so I can give you some advice, but not a whole ton. Guinea pigs are super sweet and very chill. Well, actually sometimes chill. I don't think there is any animal you can guarantee a pet to be cuddly, because no matter what kind of pet you get, they all have different personalities. Yes, guinea pigs do need a large cage, but they are super sweet!! I'm pretty sure most like to be held, and honestly they are very cute. I cannot say much about them, but be SURE to do tons of research. Right now I am trying to think of a down side of owning guinea pigs, but I can't remember any. I do know (/think) that you do have to clean out their cage often, and you have to give them an unlimited amount of hay. Unlike hamsters, guinea pigs do require much more attention, and they are social animals meaning they need a pair. Hamsters are non social, so they do not need a pair. 

 

There are many kinds of animals you can get and as long as you do your research, they can be very rewarding. I owned rats a few months ago (some owner thought they didn't want them anymore, so they gave their rats to me. They ended up wanting them back, so I gave them back.) and they were very sweet. Rats are very high maintenance, but I heard if you get males they tend to be more calm and cuddly. Rats need a big cage (not as big as a chinchilla I believe, but not much smaller either) and they are VERY social, so it's best to get them in a group of 3 or more. It is alright to get them in a pair (of 2) but they do best in bigger numbers. Rats CANNOT live alone because of how social they are. They aren't easy to take care of, but they are so much fun.

 

I owned a gerbil when I was a small kid and I didn't take great care of it. I don't remember really anything about owning one. Again, gerbils are social animals, and do best in pairs.

 

Those are all the pets that I have ever owned, and I don't know much about any other kinds of pets.

 

There is a big list of animals you can take in. Here is a list you might want to look into, but it's pretty small compared to how many animals there actually are out there.

Hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, reptiles (there are MANY kinds of reptiles, but I don't know much about them), fish, gerbils, birds, hermit crabs, ferrets, turtles, and many more.

 

Please always consider adoption before buying from pet stores. Adopt don't shop!!

 

Don't forget to do PLENTY of research before you plan on getting an animal. Don't impulse!! To give a pet it's best life, always remember "the bigger the cage, the better."

 

I wish you well on your pet journey,

-MushuTheHamster47

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

For what it's worth, I don't have any personal experience with them but have researched them a bit.

 

Chinchillas are very, very high-maintenance compared to hamsters and even guinea pigs.  

 

Temperature and humidity controls are an absolute MUST.  They're most comfortable well below what most people consider room temperature - the 60F - 70F range seems to be the most commonly recommended.  You need to be willing to have the A/C blasting in the summer for them if you live anywhere that gets warm.

 

They need lots of out-of-cage time and stimulation, as they are very active and intelligent.  They are social and generally do best in pairs.  They're not necessarily known for being very cuddly, but this varies from animal to animal.

 

Some things you might want to consider when deciding on a pet:

 

What kind of space do you have available for you?

What kind of environment are you able to provide (how hot / cold does it get, what's the lighting like, etc.)?

What is your startup and maintenance budget?

What kind of time commitment is reasonable for you in terms of lifespan?

What kind of access do you have to a vet (all pets - other than maybe fish and inverts - absolutely need vet care)?

 

If you were to give a little more information, we'd probably be able to help you out a bit more.  

thanks for responding! I have watched videos and researched a bit. And found out chinchillas are more of an in between pet, they aren’t beginner but not advanced either. But other than that, I was deciding between a hamster and a chinchilla. Hamsters are obviously cheaper but don’t live long and aren’t big enough to cuddle or “hold”. Chinchillas seemed like a perfect size but the problem is the cost. And obviously how long they live, but I thought that shouldn’t be a problem because both me and my sister are planning to get one and by the time I go into college, she will just be starting highschool and take care of the chin. Hopefully our chinchilla will live that long (if we get one) and we will find a home with our friends afterwards. And chinchillas seem soft, and adventurous which I like. But another problem is how much they use the potty. Which is a problem unless they can get litter trained. Any advice on which to choose?

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

For what it's worth, I don't have any personal experience with them but have researched them a bit.

 

Chinchillas are very, very high-maintenance compared to hamsters and even guinea pigs.  

 

Temperature and humidity controls are an absolute MUST.  They're most comfortable well below what most people consider room temperature - the 60F - 70F range seems to be the most commonly recommended.  You need to be willing to have the A/C blasting in the summer for them if you live anywhere that gets warm.

 

They need lots of out-of-cage time and stimulation, as they are very active and intelligent.  They are social and generally do best in pairs.  They're not necessarily known for being very cuddly, but this varies from animal to animal.

 

Some things you might want to consider when deciding on a pet:

 

What kind of space do you have available for you?

What kind of environment are you able to provide (how hot / cold does it get, what's the lighting like, etc.)?

What is your startup and maintenance budget?

What kind of time commitment is reasonable for you in terms of lifespan?

What kind of access do you have to a vet (all pets - other than maybe fish and inverts - absolutely need vet care)?

 

If you were to give a little more information, we'd probably be able to help you out a bit more.  

 

Hi thanks for responding!

 

I have considered a bit on chinchillas (since I only started looking into the, recently. And when I go to college my sister will care for the chin. I also well let her play in my room while under supervision, and I have vets near me, but I’m wondering if the costs are higher for more exotic pets. However my room is usually in the mid seventies, and during summer I have a fan which might help cool down. I also have a.c. but even with that my room is in the seventies. I also am worried about chinchilla droppings, which there seem to be a lot judging from YouTube videos. So I was wondering if (this May sound silly) but be litter trained. Anyways that’s about most of the information i have now. Tell me if there is anything to help or might hurt the chinchilla in this environment and any tips?

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

Hello! I personally don't have any experience with a chinchilla, so I cannot say about them.

I do have a hamster, and a long time ago I had guinea pigs.

 

If you haven't done your research yet, you may be surprised by how big of a cage a hamster needs. Other than that, hamsters are considerably easy to take care of. Yes, they do not need human interaction to be happy, but they are really sweet once you get it tame. 

I haven't had guinea pigs in a while so I can give you some advice, but not a whole ton. Guinea pigs are super sweet and very chill. Well, actually sometimes chill. I don't think there is any animal you can guarantee a pet to be cuddly, because no matter what kind of pet you get, they all have different personalities. Yes, guinea pigs do need a large cage, but they are super sweet!! I'm pretty sure most like to be held, and honestly they are very cute. I cannot say much about them, but be SURE to do tons of research. Right now I am trying to think of a down side of owning guinea pigs, but I can't remember any. I do know (/think) that you do have to clean out their cage often, and you have to give them an unlimited amount of hay. Unlike hamsters, guinea pigs do require much more attention, and they are social animals meaning they need a pair. Hamsters are non social, so they do not need a pair. 

 

There are many kinds of animals you can get and as long as you do your research, they can be very rewarding. I owned rats a few months ago (some owner thought they didn't want them anymore, so they gave their rats to me. They ended up wanting them back, so I gave them back.) and they were very sweet. Rats are very high maintenance, but I heard if you get males they tend to be more calm and cuddly. Rats need a big cage (not as big as a chinchilla I believe, but not much smaller either) and they are VERY social, so it's best to get them in a group of 3 or more. It is alright to get them in a pair (of 2) but they do best in bigger numbers. Rats CANNOT live alone because of how social they are. They aren't easy to take care of, but they are so much fun.

 

I owned a gerbil when I was a small kid and I didn't take great care of it. I don't remember really anything about owning one. Again, gerbils are social animals, and do best in pairs.

 

Those are all the pets that I have ever owned, and I don't know much about any other kinds of pets.

 

There is a big list of animals you can take in. Here is a list you might want to look into, but it's pretty small compared to how many animals there actually are out there.

Hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, reptiles (there are MANY kinds of reptiles, but I don't know much about them), fish, gerbils, birds, hermit crabs, ferrets, turtles, and many more.

 

Please always consider adoption before buying from pet stores. Adopt don't shop!!

 

Don't forget to do PLENTY of research before you plan on getting an animal. Don't impulse!! To give a pet it's best life, always remember "the bigger the cage, the better."

 

I wish you well on your pet journey,

-MushuTheHamster47

Thanks for responding!

 

This is a lot of information which will be helpful because I’m considering many pets rn

 

so about guinea pigs: have you ever had a problem with their cages having to be cleaned a lot I’ve noticed that they have more than 100 droppings per day which is a lot by my standards. And are they awake during the day? Do they make a lot of noises when your not there. And is having one guinea pig bad for the guinea pig. Or will he/she adjust and spend more time with you. Thanks!

[dancinghammy447]

Guinea pigs are social animals and need a companion. My cousin has guinea pigs, and when he first got them, he was uninformed and only got one. That guinea pig would bite everybody, and just hid in the corner of the enclosure all the time. It is very bad for the guinea pig if it is solitary.

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

Guinea pigs are social animals and need a companion. My cousin has guinea pigs, and when he first got them, he was uninformed and only got one. That guinea pig would bite everybody, and just hid in the corner of the enclosure all the time. It is very bad for the guinea pig if it is solitary.

Ah, ok. Thanks for responding

[Robin~]

Guinea pigs produce a lot of feces, but so does every other rodent. I don’t think you’ll be able to find a rodent that doesn’t poop everywhere—they can’t really control that. Not out of a lack of being able to be potty trained, you can potty train most rodents’ urine, but they don’t have control over where they defecate.

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

Guinea pigs produce a lot of feces, but so does every other rodent. I don’t think you’ll be able to find a rodent that doesn’t poop everywhere—they can’t really control that. Not out of a lack of being able to be potty trained, you can potty train most rodents’ urine, but they don’t have control over where they defecate.

Ok, well that may be a problem because when school starts again, I won’t have the ability to clean their cage multiple times a day. 

[MushuTheHamster]

Thanks for responding!
 
This is a lot of information which will be helpful because I’m considering many pets rn
 
so about guinea pigs: have you ever had a problem with their cages having to be cleaned a lot I’ve noticed that they have more than 100 droppings per day which is a lot by my standards. And are they awake during the day? Do they make a lot of noises when your not there. And is having one guinea pig bad for the guinea pig. Or will he/she adjust and spend more time with you. Thanks!

Hello again!
When I had guinea pigs I DID NOT take proper care of them. I had them in a very very veeeerrrrrrryyyyy small cage. I do know a friend who DOES take proper care of her MANY pigs and she cleans their cage every week. She has two separate pins, for she has males and females. Guinea pigs I believe are mostly awake during the day, but stay up a bit during the night. They make a few noises (when and when you are not there), but when you feed them they go crazy and make a ton of noises. You do need to get a guinea pig in a pair, because otherwise they will become easily depressed, no matter how much time you spend with it. It is best to get two, or maybe even three. Two is enough, but the more the better, as long as the cage is big enough. I would really suggest getting a large pin, because most closed cages are way to small for a guinea pig. Back to cleaning, if you spot clean daily (and strictly daily) you may only have to do a large clean through every two weeks. I cannot say if that is completely accurate though, because again, I did not care properly for my guinea pigs at the time. The bigger the cage means the less you have to clean it. After you go through the taming process, your guinea pigs will warm up to you. The will become more calm and less nervous, but you have to remember that all animals have different personalities. One may love to cuddle and be held, while the next may hate to be touched and picked up. One may love you to death, while the other may be a nightmare. You can never know!!!

I hope this helps!!

[Taxonomist]

Hi thanks for responding!

I have considered a bit on chinchillas (since I only started looking into the, recently. And when I go to college my sister will care for the chin. I also well let her play in my room while under supervision, and I have vets near me, but I’m wondering if the costs are higher for more exotic pets. However my room is usually in the mid seventies, and during summer I have a fan which might help cool down. I also have a.c. but even with that my room is in the seventies. I also am worried about chinchilla droppings, which there seem to be a lot judging from YouTube videos. So I was wondering if (this May sound silly) but be litter trained. Anyways that’s about most of the information i have now. Tell me if there is anything to help or might hurt the chinchilla in this environment and any tips?

I would not personally feel comfortable keeping a chinchilla in mid 70s temps. That is warm for them, and they are going to be uncomfortable. A fan does not help. Fans work for humans because we sweat. The air evaporating the moisture on our skin cools us off. Fans do basically nothing for an animal that doesn't sweat as a means to cool down.

Pretty much all small animals produce a lot of drippings. That's just kind of how they work - they make tons of small droppings instead of a few larger ones.

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

I would not personally feel comfortable keeping a chinchilla in mid 70s temps. That is warm for them, and they are going to be uncomfortable. A fan does not help. Fans work for humans because we sweat. The air evaporating the moisture on our skin cools us off. Fans do basically nothing for an animal that doesn't sweat as a means to cool down.

Pretty much all small animals produce a lot of drippings. That's just kind of how they work - they make tons of small droppings instead of a few larger ones.

Hi, thanks for responding!

 

Ok chinchillas seem very high maintenance, and since my house is at a high temperature I will not get one, they are still adorable though!

[Aurora ♥ Hammy]

Hello again!
When I had guinea pigs I DID NOT take proper care of them. I had them in a very very veeeerrrrrrryyyyy small cage. I do know a friend who DOES take proper care of her MANY pigs and she cleans their cage every week. She has two separate pins, for she has males and females. Guinea pigs I believe are mostly awake during the day, but stay up a bit during the night. They make a few noises (when and when you are not there), but when you feed them they go crazy and make a ton of noises. You do need to get a guinea pig in a pair, because otherwise they will become easily depressed, no matter how much time you spend with it. It is best to get two, or maybe even three. Two is enough, but the more the better, as long as the cage is big enough. I would really suggest getting a large pin, because most closed cages are way to small for a guinea pig. Back to cleaning, if you spot clean daily (and strictly daily) you may only have to do a large clean through every two weeks. I cannot say if that is completely accurate though, because again, I did not care properly for my guinea pigs at the time. The bigger the cage means the less you have to clean it. After you go through the taming process, your guinea pigs will warm up to you. The will become more calm and less nervous, but you have to remember that all animals have different personalities. One may love to cuddle and be held, while the next may hate to be touched and picked up. One may love you to death, while the other may be a nightmare. You can never know!!!

I hope this helps!!

Hi! Thanks for all this information! 

I think guinea pig noises might disturbe others at my house, but that’s the only thing. Anyways thanks for all this information it’s really helpful! And the people at my house might not like guinea pigs as pets since not many people have them! But they sure are adorable.