Pet Habitat South Africa

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28 Jun 2014

Buying A Chinchilla Cage

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Pet Cages | Chinchillas | Pet Inn

Thinking about getting a chinchilla but you don’t know the first thing about chinchilla cages? Or maybe you just want to upgrade your chinchilla’s modest home into an upmarket chinchilla cage mansion? Either way, this article will tell you all that you need to know about chinchillas, from basic requirements to the best chinchilla cages available in South Africa.

What to Look for in Chinchilla Cages

Trying to figure out what features are necessary and important in a chinchilla cage can be a daunting task to the novice chinchilla keeper. Some of the cages in South Africa is not ideal for chinchillas for various reasons. Here are the basic things you should look for in an adequate chinchilla home.

The first thing we’ll talk about is the cage size. Chinchilla cages should be at least 100cm long by 50cm wide, and have a height of at least 60 cm, but more is better. Chinchillas really like to use vertical space in their homes. Having multiple levels is a necessity for a happy and healthy chinchilla.

Look for a cage that offers easy maintenance. Many of the cages on the market offer pull-out trays or removable trays for easy cleaning. Cleaning a cage with a pull-out tray is much more convenient than trying to clean one without it. It also puts less stress on your pet, as you don’t have to relocate them while you clean the cage. The one thing you want to stay away from is a cage with metal screen as the floor. As with most small animals, metal floors can quickly become a health and safety hazard to your pet’s feet.

The cage itself should be made of metal. Plastic cages will get chewed through rather quickly, so it is important to have a cage made of a durable material. Metal is the safest and most practical material for chinchilla cages.

Some other important cage components include levels and perches. Chinchillas love climbing and being elevated off the ground, so having a cage that offers usable space off the ground is very important.

Note: Many of the larger ferret cages on the market also work well with chinchillas.

Manufactured Chinchilla Cages

Some of the chinchilla cages in South Africa are much better for your pet than others. Here are some cages to keep an eye out for, as they are well suited to a chinchilla’s needs.

Pet Inn Alfi 1 Chinchilla Cage

Pet Inn is a highly reputable company in Poland that makes many quality cages. If you are looking for a durable and well-crafted chinchilla cage, you really can’t go wrong with this one. The Pet Inn Alfi 1 offers tons of usable space, multiple levels for a chinchillas to have fun and play, as well as space for eating and sleeping. The high quality paint finish on the metal is rather aesthetically pleasing as well.

The Alfi 1 cage is made of the highest-quality non-toxic materials which is safe for your chinchilla. It comes supplied with a corner house which saves space and, at the same time, provides your chinchilla with a feeling of absolute security. The cage also includes a dust bath, two platforms and wide ladders to ensure that most chinchillas can use them and enjoy the cage. Dimensions: Width 102cm x Depth 53 cm x Height 64.5cm

Pet Inn Cin Cin 2 Plus Chinchilla Cage

Pet Inn chinchilla cages are attractive and new to South Africa and are designed especially for modern home interiors. Chinchillas are fun and playful and need cages with props and platforms for playing as well as space for eating and sleeping.

The Pet Inn Cin Cin 2 Plus cage is extremely spacious, made of the highest-quality non-toxic materials for your chinchilla’s safety and the corner house saves space and, at the same time, provides the chinchilla a place to hide for security. Dimensions: Width 87cm x Depth 48cm x Height 77cm. This is probably our most recommended chinchilla cage because it is larger, more durable, and designed well to accommodate the needs of chinchillas and other small animals.

Where to Put the Cage

The cage should be placed in a quiet area of the home where human activities won't disturb (and stress) them during the day. The cage should also be located in a cool area (no drafts) and not exposed to direct sunlight which could cause overheating. Summertime temperatures must be monitored to make sure the ambient temperature is not much over (25 C). If you do not have air conditioning, placing a shallow pan of ice cubes in the cage may help, or drape a damp towel over part of the cage (the evaporation of water is cooling). Place the cage on a table or stand as this will help make the chinchilla feel secure (chinchillas can be intimidated if you must lean over the cage to interact with them).

Food Bowl & Hay Rack

A food bowl or feeder that will not spill is needed to prevent spillage and contamination of food. A hay rack is a great way to provide hay to your chinchilla. Hay racks keep the hay clean and dry.

Water Bottles

Glass water bottles are ideal because the chinchilla can't chew through them. If you use plastic, encasing it or creating a barrier to it with wire mesh should reduce the risk of damage (you can also get commercial chew guards).

Dust Bath

Chinchillas are very clean and have almost no body odour. They maintain their soft, plush fur by taking dust baths. Commercial dusting powders and bins are available for their baths. Place dusting powder in a bin and let your chinchilla take a dust bath at least twice a week. You can remove the bin after the bath and save it for next time.

Blue Cloud is the best chinchilla dust you can use. This ultra-fine aluminum silicate powder contains no limestone, glass, or sand and shakes completely out of fur. It is specifically made for chinchillas for this purpose. When the chinchillas roll in Blue Cloud dust, it penetrates their coat down to the skin and absorbs oil and dirt from the fur and removes odours. Other powders or sand may look or feel similar, but just won't work the same way –Blue Cloud chinchilla dust is made to mimic what they would have access to in their native habitat.

Not all dust are made the same, and it is important to buy only dust which is specifically labelled for Chinchillas. Most pet stores in South Africa sell chinchilla bath sand which is not the same thing as bath dust. Bath sand is not recommended because it can be rough on your chin's fur and is not fine enough to do a really good job.

Toys

Toys can be provided too such as blocks of wood and tree branches (free of pesticides) are good chew toys. Some of the wooden parrot toys make good toys as well, as do the willow balls and rings that you can find for rabbits. It is important to provide toys that do not have small or plastic parts that could be ingested. In addition, Burgess Excel gnaw sticks can be provided for chewing and this will aid in keeping the teeth trim.

Wheels

Wheels can provide excellent exercise, although you may find that unless the chinchilla is introduced to the idea at a fairly young age it may not take to running on a wheel. Look for a 38cm wheel (anything smaller will be too small for most adult chinchillas), with a solid running surface and an open side with no cross supports (wire wheels are dangerous to feet and tails).

Some people also find the use of running discs like the Flying Saucer a good option for chinchillas. The risks of overheating makes the use of plastic run-around balls unsuitable for chinchillas. Your chinchilla would much rather run around in a secure, chinchilla-proofed room.

Chinchilla Cage Monitoring

The chinchilla living areas must be checked everyday. Ensure that the cage doors are always closed, hay rack and water bottle are always full and surfaces are always clean. Make certain that the light, noise and temperature levels are adequate for the nocturnal animal. A major consideration is the provision of opportunities to rest and socialize and interact with the whole family. As a chinchilla owner you have to constantly monitor the pet`s health status. You can distinguish signs of disease when there are significant changes in your chinchilla's behavior, such as eating less hay.

Cage Bedding

Pelleted or paper bedding is a great choice for a substrate. It is safe if your pet nibbles on the bedding and absorbs liquids and odours well. Wood shavings bedding made from pine or cedar should be avoided. They can be sharp and painful to your pet’s feet and are sometimes dusty and may cause respiratory problems.

If you using a litter tray for your chinchilla, you should look at using Burgess Excel Bedding & Litter. This revolutionary new product is composed of 100% natural pressed straw. It is heat treated and dust extracted, which minimises spores and dust that can lead to respiratory problems. Pressed straw is also 10 times more absorbent than wood shavings, paper or whole straw; therefore less is needed for your chinchilla's cage and its rapid absorption stops odours and stays smelling fresh. The use of natural straw also reduces parasite breeding and reduces the risk of pododermatitis and ulcerative foot lesions.

While improving general hygiene of both your chinchilla and their cage, Burgess Excel Bedding & Litter also naturally locks in odours as the rapid absorbtion stops the breakdown of urea into ammonia, keeping your room smelling fresh and odour free. This is an all-purpose litter for hutches, runs, cages, litter trays and can be disposed of naturally as compost or by putting in your garden bin.

Outside Cage Playtime

As much as your chinchillas appreciate playtime outside of their cages, it is important to remember that the natural curiosity of chinchillas can get them into danger. To keep your chinchilla safe at playtime, you will likely find it easiest to designate one room in the house as the chinchilla playroom, and make sure that room is as safe as possible.

Cleaning

Chinchillas are very clean animals and do not like to be in a dirty cage. The bedding will most likely need to be changed at least once a week. Wash the water bottle, food bowl, as well as any items in the cage that may smell with soapy water. Make sure everything is dry before returning items to the cage.

Tags : Buying A Chinchilla Cage In South Africa , Choosing Your First Chinchilla Cage , Best Chinchilla Cages in South Africa