Chinchilla! Chinchilla!

A friend of mine asked about Chinchillas! So I figured I'd blog about Chinchillas today! :))

What is a Chinchilla?
A Chinchilla is an adorable little creature with a funny name! No but seriously, a Chinchilla is a crepuscular rodent native to the Andes Mountains in South America. The animal, whose name literally means "small Chincha", is named after the Chincha people who lived in the Andes. Chinchillas live up to 10 or more years depending on it's care and breeding. The average adult Chinchilla is 12 inches long and weighs between 16 to 38 ounces, putting them at the size of a small rabbit.

Chin-Chins are social animals and often do well with a second Chinchilla, but are ok on their own. If you keep only a single Chinchilla it will hold a very strong bond with you, but if you have two Chins, they will most likely have a stronger bond with each other. If you do keep more than one Chinchilla in the same cage, make sure they are of the same sex to prevent breeding. Chinchilla breeding should be left to the experts. If you are not sure of the sex of your chinchillas, take them to a vet or expert breeder to be checked.

Chins are very active creatures that love to climb, run, and jump. They need a lot of room to play and exercise, and may things to play on. Chinchillas are also very vocal animals and can make a wide range of noises. They chirp and squeak when they are happy.

Is a Chinchilla the right pet for me?
There are many questions to answer before you decide to adopt a Chinchilla!
*Do you live in a rent house or an apartment where you have a landlord? If so, check with them first to make sure small animals are allowed in your home. There may be a security deposit and/or additional rent required. Make sure your budget will allow for this.
*Do you have time in your schedule to properly care for this little bundle of joy? Do you have room in your budget for all of it's expenses?*Do you have a safe area in your home for a roomy cage?*Do you have any other pets or small children that may harm or scare the Chinchilla?


Chin-Chin Must Haves!
Chinchillas are becoming very popular as pets! To properly care for a Chin, you will need these things!

Cage/Habitat: A very large, multi-tiered habitat will be the most suitable for a Chin, as they love to climb and jump. (Keep in mind, the more chinchillas in a cage the larger it should be. If you have two chinchillas in a cage meant for one, this can cause many problems, such as irritability, fighting, illness, injury, and more.) They will need many things to play on like shelves and ramps. The bottom of the cage should have at least a two inch layer of bedding. Aspen wood shavings and paper bedding work best. Do not use ceder or pine bedding, as they can lead to respiratory and eye problems. Your Chinchilla's cage should be cleaned at least once a week and spot cleaned when necessary. (If multiple Chins are living together in a cage it should be cleaned at least 2-3 times a week with daily spot cleaning.) When buying a cage remember that most store sold cages are too small for a multiple (and sadly often a single) Chin. You may need to special order a larger cage, build one yourself, or connect multiple cages. When buying a cage, try to get the biggest cage you have room for in your home and that you can afford. For a Chin Chin, a cage can never be too big!

Food: Like all creatures, Chinchillas need to eat! Fresh Chinchilla food pellets should always be available for him/her to eat throughout the day. Chin-Chins should also have access to fresh timothy hay at all times. You can purchase a hay rack from most pet shops or online to hold the hay so it does make the cage floor messy. Limited amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables can be offered as treats but should not exceed 10% of your Chinchilla's diet. Also, any uneaten fruits or veggies should be removed from the cage after 24 hours. We don't want a sick Chin! You will also need to provide your Chin-Chin with chew sticks at all times.

Food Bowl and Water Bottle: You will need a bowl to hold food in. A ceramic bowl will work best as it will be harder for your Chinchilla to tip it over and spill his/her food. To provide your Chin with water, use a water bottle, and NOT a bowl. Chinchilla's can get a fur fungus if their fur gets wet, and bowls provide an unnecessary opportunity for this to happen. The water will also get dirty quickly if in a bowl, or they may dump the bowl and spill water. Fresh water should be provided daily.

Running Wheel/flying saucer: Chinchillas are very active little creatures that love to run and play. They need an exercise wheel or flying saucer running disk to ensure they have plenty of exercise. The wheel or saucer should be large enough that your pet's back does not arch when they run. It is better to use a saucer for Chinchillas, but a wheel will work too.

House: Everyone needs some privacy now and then! Provide your Chin with a little house that he/she can sleep in. Make sure it is large enough for them to fit in comfortably! Shredded toilet paper or timothy hay is a great nesting material. (If you have more than one Chinchilla, they should each have a house, and one of them should be large enough for them both to sleep in.)

Baths: You should never get a Chin-Chin wet, but you can give them sand baths! All you need is a bath house and Chinchilla sand! Chins need a sand bath at least once a week, twice preferably.

Toys: Chinchillas like to play with toys. Try giving them little balls and toilet paper rolls to push around.

Chinchillas are high-energy little creatures but they are gentle and intelligent. Adding a Chinchilla to you family is a great idea (as long as your capable of properly caring for one).

I hope you all enjoyed this post. I'm sorry to all my ham-ham fans! I know I've veered off the topic of Hamsters, and I promise Hamster Talk! still has a main focus of hamsters! Soon I will be posting more things on hamsters! Until then!

-Tracy

The Pygmy Hedgehog!

My friend and neighbor is adopting a South African Pygmy Hedgehog soon and I thought it would be nice and informative to write a post about them for her! I'm sure my readers will enjoy it too!

What is a Pygmy Hedgehog?
It's a cuddly little animal, burdened with swords! The South African Pygmy Hedgehog, also known as the four-toed hedgehog, is a creature that has been on our Earth since the time of the dinosaurs! They range in size from 6 to ten inches in length and have quills on their backs, but soft fur on their faces and stomachs. They have a long pointed snout, making for a very cute face.

Pygmy Hedgehogs are solitary, nocturnal creatures that are capable of climbing and swimming. They are highly energetic in the night and can cover miles of ground at night searching for food in the wild. (In captivity they run for miles on a wheel.) In the wild they consume insects, plant matter, and even some very small vertebrates.

When threatened or scared, they tend to roll up into a small ball hiding the face and soft belly and exposing the quills. They are capable of making sounds. They most common are snorts, hisses, and small twittering sounds.When attacked or threatened, they are capable of making a loud screaming noise.

A female Pygmy Hedgehog typically only gives birth once a year to a littler consisting of 2 to ten baby hedgehogs called pups, though 4 to 5 is most typical. Their lifespan is typically 4 to 6 years.

Is a Hedgehog the right pet for me?
Well there are a few big factors that will help answer this question.
*What city/state you you live in? In some cities/states it is illegal to own a hedgehog. In some cities/states you may own a hedgehog but must have one or more permits for them. Some cities/states don't require a permit but may have anti-breeding laws are laws against how many you are allowed to own. In most cases, failure to obey these laws can result in large fines, and the confiscation and possible euthanasia of your pet. (For any younger readers, this means they can take your hedgehog away and put him/her to sleep.) Make sure hedgehogs are legal in your city/state before considering one as a pet. If they are legal, but one or more permits are required, I suggest picking those up first. Lawa are always changing, so keep up with them!
*Do you live in a rent house or an apartment where you have a landlord? If so, check with them first to make sure small animals are allowed in your home. There may be a security deposit and/or additional rent required. Make sure your budget will allow for this.
*Do you have time in your schedule to properly care for this little bundle of joy? Do you have room in your budget for all of it's expenses?
*Do you have a safe area in your home for a roomy cage?
*Do you have any other pets or small children that may harm or scare the hedgehog?

Hedgehog Must-Haves:
The African Pygmy Hedgehog is the most widely kept pet of all they hedgehog species. I's small size and calm temper make them great pets, but there are some things you must have!

Cage/Habitat: Hedgehogs are highly active and need plenty of space to run around. Because of this, a large cage is necessary, one preferably 2 to 3 feet long. A twenty gallon tank is ideal. Hedgehogs can be housed in either tanks with screen lids, or large wire/plastic cages.

Food: Food is essential to life for everything! Hedgehog food is available in some pet stores, but may be hard to find. If this is the case, you can also feed hedgies high-quality cat food that is high in protein and low in fat. Treats can also be fed up to four times a week. These treats include high-quality canned cat food with meat, cooked chicken, cooked turkey, cooked lamb, meal worms, beetles, Caterpillars, fruits and vegetables. Offer these supplements for up to 15 minutes and then remove whatever is left uneaten as they will spoil. Make sure all cooked foods are cooled before feeding.

Food Bowl and Water Bowl/Bottle: Hedehogs like to tip over bowls, so a heavy glass one with low edges is ideal. You can also use one that bolts to the side of the cage. Make sure food and water is provided fresh daily. If your hedgie tips over the water bowl or you refer a bottle, then that is acceptable too. Whatever makes your hedgie more comfortable.

Bedding: Many people use small fleece blankets to cover the bottom of their hedgehog's cage, and while there is nothing wrong with this, I also recommend using some bedding materials as well to promote burrowing and give nesting materials. Aspen is the only wood based bedding that should be used so any small animal or a paper based bedding such a Carefresh will work just fine too. There are also mixed beddings available, or you can mix your own.

Running Wheel: Hedgehogs are very active little creatures that need a wheel to run on. The wheel should be large enough so they can run on it without arching their back. Both free standing wheels and wheels that attach to the wall of a cage are available in all sizes and colors. A solid surface is better than one with spokes as they may get caught in the openings.

House: When tired, stressed, or scared, hedgies will want a place to feel secure or just someplace dark to go to sleep! Be sure to supply them with adequate housing. A cardboard box, flower pot, or store bought home will work nicely.


Now your all set to bring home your Pygmy Hedgehog! Good luck and have fun! I hope all my readers and my friend found this helpful.

-Tracy

Dirty Tank? Clean It up!

Many people keep their small animals in aquariums with screen lids. These work as excellent habitats, but can be a bit expensive. In order to save money, you could conciser buying a used one or using one you had laying around. But what? It's dirty? Well clean it!

Does the tank have a white chalky or powdery substance on it? That' a calcium mineral deposit caused when hard water evaporates. The minerals are left behind and cling to the walls of the tank leaving a big ugly mess.

So let me guess. You tried every cleaning solution known to man and none of them worked? Thinking of giving up? Well try one more thing! I promise it will work!

What you'll need:
*Water
*White vinegar
*Spray bottle
*Scouring pad

How to make the solution:
Mix 2 cups water with 1 cup white vinegar. Pour solution into spray bottle

What to do:
Spray the tank with the solution you just mixed. Using the scouring pad, scrub the entire tank down until there is no more white mineral build up anywhere. Once the entire tank has been scrubbed, rinse thoroughly with clean water. Repeat for any missed areas.
                ****MAKE SURE TO RINSE THOROUGHLY WITH CLEAN WATER****

I recently used this solution to clean a tank and it worked very well. My friend and across the hall neighbor is adopting a pygmy hedgehog and had tank that was left outside and covered in mineral buildup. It was a wreck. We mixed the simple solution and scrubbed until our arms felt like they were going to fall off! We rinsed it off in her sink and spilled water everywhere....But now the tank looks like new!

I hope this helps!

-Tracy

The Big Move!

Hello all! Ah, I'm so tired! The past few weeks have been hectic. My boyfriend and I moved into an apartment with a close friend of mine and lately all we've been doing is organizing things and working. But we are finally settled in and I have a new thing to blog about for my fans!

Moving is a very big deal, even for a pet! The move can stress out your furry friend so keep in mind these things when moving with a small animal.

Where are you moving to?

When moving to a new house or apartment keep these things in mind:

*Does your landlord apartment complex allow small animals? If so is there a security deposit and/or extra rent you will need to pay and can you afford it?

*Will you be living with other people? Do they have allergies to your pet? Do they have any other problems with them?

*Will your new home be safe and comfortable for your small animal? Will you have sufficient space for them in your new home?

*Is there a pet store in your area? You'll need to buy supplies somewhere! (Although there is always the internet. eBay.com and Amazon.com are excellent places to find pet supplies on the web.)

*Is there a veterinarian in your area that sees small animals? Find the nearest one and make a note of their location and phone number. If possible, ask your previous vet to send over your records.

The journey to your new home!

How will you be transporting your furry friend to your destination?

*Do you have a sturdy carrier?

*Will they be safe in the vehicle on the trip?

*If traveling by plane will you be able to take them with you?

How do I pack this?

When packing your belongings keep in mind that your hamster has belongings too!

*I recommend packing all of your hammie supplies together so you can find them all easily.

*Don't forget the essentials! Remember to pack a travel bag of essentials in case something comes up. This bag or box should have extra food, treats, bedding, and depending on how long the trip is, some water.

Arranging the new home!

Moving furniture and boxes in and arranging everything can be stressful and even dangerous to any animal!

*If you know someone trustworthy who can keep your little friend at their place for a bit while you get settled in, then do it! The sounds and sight of everything being rearranged can be very stressful for something so tiny.

*If you don't have anyone who can pet sit for you, then try to place them in s safe area with minimal traffic for the time being. Once everything is set up they can be placed on their table or whatever they will be placed on.

"I'm so stressed I'm going to bite you!" said the hamster.

Remember that the stress and fear from the move can upset your ham ham! He/she may try to bite you or may not want to be held.

*Give them some space! Remember when you first brought them home after adoption and you had to let them adjust to their new environment before you could handle them? The same rules may apply.

Sasha's moving experience!

Our move wasn't too far, but I still made sure to take it very seriously. Sasha rode over in her pet carrier in my lap and I quickly set up her cage. I'm lucky enough to live across the hall from a close friend now (We went to middle and high school together and now work at the same place. Small world!) who let Sasha stay with her and her boyfriend for a few days while we moved furniture around and got everything set up. Last night was her first night in the new apartment with us and I gave her some space, but she took everything rather well. I'm proud of my baby girl for being so brave! :))

See you later!

-Tracy

The Giant Gerbil!

So awhile back I was wandering through a small family owned pet shop in my city called Papa Jim's Tropical Fish and I came across a very interesting little critter that I just have to tell you guys about!

Despite the pet shop's name, they do not only sell tropical fish. They have a variety of fish, aquatic creatures, both big and tiny, lizards, hermit crabs, snakes, scorpions, birds, puppies, kittens, and small animals. And by small animals I mean everything from hamsters and mice to bunnies and ferrets! While I was checking out a really cool iguana, I overheard these two boys from around the corner talking. "Check it out!" One kept saying. "I've never seen a gerbil that big!" The other exclaimed. So I made my way to the small animal area just in time to see the two boys leaving. I walked up to a tank and instantly knew what they were talking about! It was an animal I'd only ever read about. A South American Degu! I had never seen one in person before, and was hypnotized by it's adorableness. It scurried around the cage and burrowed into the bedding to show off it's cuteness.

South American Degu

The South American Degu
The South American Degu is a small animal that originated in the lowland areas of Chile in South America. They are brown in color and have long thin tails. They closely resemble gerbils-well, if gerbils grew up to five to seven inches long that is. Degus are very social, inquisitive animals, and they can be very vocal, just as Guinea Pigs. The South American Degu has something very unique about it: when threatened  it can disconnect it's tail as a distraction letting it escape predators. Kinda sounds like a lizard, huh? Only, the Degu isn't as lucky as a lizard, and does not grow it's tail back, so this is a one time thing.

Degu Care
Degus are unique little creatures that require special care. When handling them, the handler must be genlt, as their tails are delicate and can be shed. Unless you want a tailless little Degu, you should be cautious when around one.

Feeding: A Degu's diet consists of a combination of hay and pellets. Since they are so closely related to Guinea Pigs, they can be fed Guinea Pig  food. They typically like corn, carrots, and sweet potatoes, but these should only be fed on occasion. Sunflower seeds, peanuts, and raisins make for good treats. Fruits should rarely or never be offered as they can lead to diarrhea and/or diabetes. Small amounts of fresh grass can be provided as well, though the Degu may just use it as nesting materials. Degu's teeth never stop growing so untreated wood blocks should be provided for them to chew on.

Housing: The South American Degu is a small animal that loves to climb, so wired cages are better for them than tanks. They are very active so they require plenty of space to move around. They enjoy playing in PVC pipes, clay pots, cardboard boxes and tubes, and brown paper bags. The bottom of their cage should be filled with a thick layer of aspen wood shavings.

Cleaning: Degus are naturally clean animals and have little odor. Their cage should be cleaned at least once a week and spot cleaned throughout the week when needed. Degus keep themselves clean but enjoy sand baths. Sand baths consist of an inch or so of Chinchilla sand in a shoe box or bath house.

Breeding: Degus should only be bred by an experienced handler. They have a gestation period of 90 days and usually produce up to two litters a year, that may consist of one to ten offspring. Baby Degus are called pups, and are born with fur, and their eyes open.

I hope you all found this interesting! :)) Until next time!

-Tracy

Cold Feet? ....Or Paws?

It's winter! And It's finally getting cold here! (Depending on where my readers are from it may have already been cold....But I'm in Texas. It's just now getting really cold.) So with the dropping temperature, we've all dug out our warm coats and thermal shirts, but wait....What about our hamsters?!

While it is true that hamsters coats may change a little bit to compensate for the colder air, their coats do not thicken up as much as a dog or cat's will. Winter White hamsters have fur that changes white in the winter to help camouflage them in the snow (Although this will not happen to indoor Winter Whites, as the temperatures in you house won't be cold enough and the use of unnatural light masks the flow of time for the furry little things.)

So how do they keep warm?
Hamsters are complicated little balls of fluff, and believe it or not they stay warm the same ways that we do! No they don't wear jackets! (Although that would be adorable!) They hide in their little houses, and they pack on the pounds!

How can I make sure my ham ham warm enough?
The same way you keep yourself warm!
When your cold you dig out extra blankets right? Well your hammie will do the same! Put extra bedding in your hamster's habitat. They will thank you for the extra nesting materials! Also, consider putting shredded toilet paper in there home as well. Paper insulates heat and is soft and comfey. If your hamster does not have a little house to hide in you should get one.

Turn on a heater! That's how you keep yourself warm isn't it? Just make sure you do not direct the heater too close to the hamster's cage, because he or she may get too hot. If possible just move them to a warmer room in the house. Heat lamps will also work well but your hammie might not like the constant light. Many people say to place a heating pad under the cage but I do NOT recommend doing this as the bottom of the cage can get much too hot for their little feet. (And in the case of cages with plastic bases they can melt!)

Let them pack on the pounds! Give them a little extra food. Fuller tummies help us all feel warmer!

Keep them away from windows, door and drafts. The wind can cause chills. You can cover part of the cage to prevent drafts.
*Wired/plastic cages: Make sure you do not do this with a towel or blanket, as your furry little friend will pull the material in through the bars and chew it. This is unsafe as they can get caught in the threads, choke on them, or die from trying to ingest them. For this type of cage, I recommend using pieces of cardboard (This is what I do for Sasha, aside from extra nesting materials and keeping her in a warmer room).
*Tanks: Preventing drafts for a small animal in a tank is much easier. Since only the top of the tank is exposed to drafts you can easily drape a blanket or towel over half of the cage, and presto! Your done! You can use a blanket or towel this time because the openings on the wire mesh screen for the tank will be too small to pull fabric through.

Keep them in doors at all times! This should go without saying because hamsters are not outside pets! If you have to transport them somewhere, like for a vet visit, make sure their carrier is well protected from the wind and give them plenty of bedding and shredded toiled paper to nest in.

Won't they hibernate?
No! Hamsters are not bears! Although if they get too cold, they will fall into a state called Torpor. Hamsters originated in climates that were typically warm in the day, and cold in the night, so their tiny bodies can compensate for some temperature fluctuations. But if the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they may fall into a temporary state of hibernation called Torpor. A hamster in Torpor will build a warm nest, eat as much as they can, and bed down and sleep to conserve energy and stay warm. In small animals this usually only lasts a few hours (Not longer than a day). Hamsters in this state may appear lifeless, but upon close observation will have shallow breathing and twitching whiskers. They will be rather unresponsive  but should be woken up immediately, but GENTLY. To wake a hamster in Torpor you should gently nuzzle them, and warm them. Once a hamster wakes from Torpor it may be groggy and grumpy, so move him or her to a warmer area, give them plenty of food and leave them alone for a bit. If they do not resume normal activities within a day or two, you should consult a vet.


In short keep your ham hams warm! :)) I hope everyone is having a wonderful winter and keeping both themselves and their pets warm.

-Tracy

Puzzle Paradise!

Super Pet has a neat little invention that's been out for quite some time now that just keeps getting better and better. It's called the Puzzle Playground.

What is it?
The Puzzle Playground is just what it sounds like: a playground made of puzzle pieces. These amazing playgrounds are expandable and connectable jungle gyms for hamsters, gerbils and mice! You can make your own configurations and they will always snap into place with each other. The sets generally include square hard-plastic pieces and triangular ones. They also come with round openings that are more resistant to chewing but can also be connected to any Super Pet tubes. Certain sets also come with tubes and ramps.

New VS Old:
The older sets were different colors although they are the same thing. The older sets were red, dark green, yellow, and purple with clear windows and red ramps. As far as I know, none of these sets came with tubes. The newer sets are neon green, blue, yellow, and purple, with colored transparent windows, and purple ramps. The tubes that come with these sets are green and blue.

Sets:
Super Pet currently only has two of these Puzzle Playground sets on their website, but there are more than just two!
+20 Piece Puzzle Playground
+42 Piece Puzzle Playground
+60 Piece Puzzle Playground
+38 Piece Puzzle See Saw
+20 Piece Puzzle Ferris Wheel

42 Pc. Puzzle Playground
The most common set

Why I love them:
Could you imagine living your life in a box with the same furniture and toys over and over? I can't! And no one wants their small pet to have to live such a miserable fate. So you switch out their toys and houses every once in awhile, but eventually they get bored of the same thing. So you go to buy new things but (1) that gets expensive and (2) where do you store all that stuff?!

This is where the genius of the Puzzle Playground comes in! You can buy one or two sets and your good to go! You set up a simple design and your furry friend plays in it awhile and then when it's time to switch out furniture, you can just redesign the house! You save money and storage space and both you and your furry little friend have something fun to do!

Ever buy something for your pet that they didn't like? With Puzzle Playgrounds, if they don't like it you can just rebuild it until you find a way they do like it! Ever buy a house that was too big or too small? Rebuild! Ever scour the globe for the perfect home for your pet to no avail? Build it!

Oh, well you and your friend are tired of the Puzzle Playground and you decide your gonna take a break from it. Oh no! Now where are you gonna put it?! Pop the pieces apart and throw them in a box. Simple!

Where can I buy these?
Usually pet stores sell them. Petco and Petsmart do. You can also find them online. I know for sure ebay.com and amazon.com sell them. The Puzzle playgrounds are usually easy to come by, but the hard ones to get are the Ferris wheel and see saw.

Bad Reviews:
I always hear and see a lot of bad reviews from people. I personally haven't had a problem with them and I've been using them since my first two hamsters. And I was in middle school then!

They don't stay together: This is probably the biggest complaint from everyone. But the thing is you have to make sure the pieces are locking into place right. If they don't then of course there not going to stay together. Personally I've never had this problem. I've been using them for years. I still have the same set from when I was in middle school and they still work fine.

There only good for dwarf hamsters: Not true! Sasha is my first dwarf hamster. Before her I had Syrian ham hams and they all fit in the playgrounds just fine! But that is part of the playground: build it the way your hamster (or gerbil or mouse) will like it.

My gerbils ate them: Well that's gerbils for ya! Small animals have teeth that are continuously growing and they need to chew to keep them from getting over grown-gerbils especially. While it's true that these aren't completely chew proof, they are somewhat resistant, and as long as you provide your pets with other chewing materials they should last a while.

They get dirty: Everything in an animal's cage gets dirty! And in my opinion these are super easy to clean because you can completely demolish them!


So there! I LOVE the puzzle playgrounds! (I'm sorry I know I sound like I'm trying to sell this to you but I'm not. I just really like this product.) Currently I have an old set and the 60 Piece Puzzle Playground. (I've also got the 42 Piece Puzzle Playground in the mail, but that's part of Sasha's Christmas present.)

I'm going to start a segment where I post photos and videos of puzzle playgrounds that I have built or that have been sent to me from ham fans! It will be called Puzzle Paradise! Feel free to email your designs to me at winryyuzu@yahoo.com! Happy Building!

-Tracy