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Greetings Fellow Chinchilla Enthusiasts

Posted by Amanda S on Tue, Jul 22, 2008 @ 02:20 PM
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We're new to the Chinchilla Place family and wanted to introduce ourselves.  I'm Amanda and my chinchilla is a 2-yr-old, standard gray male named Tango (see photos on the "Chinchilla Pictures" page).  We recently relocated from southeastern Michigan to northeastern Tennessee and we're both adjusting to our new home!  I adopted Tango from a local Chinchilla rescue and re-homing organization in Michigan when he was 6 months old, and I've been in love with the little guy ever since!  He loves sleeping in his hidey house during the day, but has boundless energy at nightfall.  He's always been a faithful Chin Spin runner, but his new Flying Saucer is proving to be a challenge.  His favorite treats include rose hips (one daily for vitamin C), timothy hay cubes, and baked apple tree twigs.  While he enjoys a good scratch behind the ear from his human companions, Tango has always been the independent sort.  If he's to cuddle with us, it has to be on his terms!  I'm looking forward to sharing my knowledge on these unique animals and answering your questions.  Thanks Jennifer, for allowing me to contribute. 

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Hello! What a gorgeous boy Tango is. My Max is a bit aloof, but show him a raisin and he's cuddling in no time. 
 
 
 
Does Tango or any of your other chins sometimes stop sleeping in their boxes? Max has taken to sleeping beside and sometimes under his wheel. His box is oh-so comfy, but he seems to have lost interest in it. 
 
 
 
I appreciate any insight you might have. -Kelly

posted @ Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:15 AM by Kelly


Hi Kelly, thanks for your post! Food sure is the way to their hearts, which is why it's so hard for me to say no when Tango's met his treat quota :P 
 
 
 
That's a good question. My first inclination about why Max wouldn't want to sleep in his box would be that he's probably becoming overheated in there. Some days that fleece is a nice retreat for the little guy, but when his temp starts to rise, he's just as comfortable on an open shelf nearby. I would imagine that chins sleep under the wheel when they are feeling vulnerable for one reason or another. They are closer to their "scent" in the bedding below and may feel safer beneath that big metal wheel. The airflow in this location is also probably better here than the box on warm days. 
 
 
 
I would first suggest cleaning out his box of any droppings and hay or food debris, if you haven't done so already, and if there is a fleece pillow or lining of sort, give that a thorough cleaning as well. If he's still uninterested in his box, try trading out the fleece/pillow for a granite or marble square so he can still enjoy the privacy of the box, but stay cool at the same time.  
 
 
 
Finally, I've found two other great chinchilla accessories that Tango really enjoys when he's not feeling like being in his hidey house. One is a chinchilla hammock, which I buy here: http://www.geocities.com/forchinatechins/chincessories.htm and the other is a Chilla Pilla which I buy here: http://www.freewebs.com/simplychintastic/ . These are comfortable alternatives if Max seems to be thinking outside the box :) Let us know how it goes! 
 
 
 
Amanda

posted @ Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:14 AM by Amanda


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