About Jedediah Expertise I can answer questions about exotic rodents (among others jirds, mice species, chinchillas, degus): how to keep them, what to feed them, how to make toys ect.
I cannot answer questions on breeding or medical questions. If your animal appears to be sick, you need to see a rodent vet as soon as possible, don`t waste time asking me.
Experience I keep, have kept or am planning to keep a number of exotic rodents and I am constantly doing research on many species to keep informed.
Expert: Jedediah Date: 11/4/2006 Subject: my chinchilla
Question My sister is away at Iraq and im taking care of her chinchilla Christifir (yes thats how its spelled). and he has a cage 5 feet high and 3 feet wide. there are many ramps and shevles for him to jump on but i want him to have a toy or two and i cant seem to find one in stores anywhere. Can you help?
Answer Hi,
thank you for your question.
Chinchillas don't play that much, but they love to gnaw. If you have access to untreated trees, for example hazel, willow, apple, pear, beech or birch, then branches from those trees will make great toys. If there are any forks in the branches, mount them upside down to prevent the chinchillas from getting stuck (unless the forks are very wide). Cork bark and tunnels are good toys for them, too, although the tunnels should habe at least a diameter of 5 inches. You can buy clay tubes that are originally meant for storing wine bottles, many chinchillas like those. Cardboard tubes and boxes make good toys as long as the chinchilla doesn't eat the cardboard, but they rarely do that.
I hope I was of som help to you
Jennifer
