Keeping Your Chinchilla Cool In Sunshinny Florida

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Living in Florida you can be sure of one thing; that there will heat! As a chinchilla owner living in the Sunshine State, you must recognize that your furry friends are at high risk of overheating. There are many precautions you can take to prevent your chinchilla(s) from becoming too hot in the Florida atmosphere. Here are some safe and easy measures that you can take to ensure that your chin is free from the dangers of heat exhaustion:
1) Locate your chinchilla's home (cage) away from direct sunlight. The heat from the sun's rays coming through a window or door can be outrageously hot if it comes in contact with a chinchilla. Now, I'm not saying that your chinchilla can not see or be in the sun, but for a chinchilla to be in direct sunlight over an extended amount of time ( I would say 15 min or more) can be extremely dangerous to its well-being.
2) Consider replacing blinds with room darkening shades. These shades will help reduce heat within the room along with blocking any unwanted sunshine that may affect the wellness of the chinchilla.
3) Keep the indoor temperatures that the chinchilla(s) is/are located no higher than 78 degrees Fahrenheit. I understand that times are tough now-a-days and that many people are cutting back by turning off the A/C while they are not home. But, you must take into consideration whom you are leaving behind when you leave the house. Chinchilla's originally come from the mountains of Chile and are typically used to cool temperatures. Keeping your home A/C set at a lower temperatures will ensure that you chin is comfortable.
4) Place a cooling block in the chinchilla's habitat. You can purchase these at your local pet store or, you can go to any hardware store (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and pickup slate or ceramic tile pieces. These will give your chin a place to rest on and cool off.
5) Be sure that your chin has plenty of fresh, clean water to ensure that it stays hydrated. (This should be part of your normal chinchilla "upkeep" routine, anyways.)
Knowing the natural habitat of any animal you have adopted is a really great way to know how to care for it. There are many great websites out there that will be able to help you with learning more about your chinchilla and its natural lifestyle.
Maintaining a healthy atmosphere for you chinchilla is the number one way to keep your chinchilla safe and happy.