My house isn’t animal conducive. :o I have a 4-year old brother, and both of my parents work and wouldn’t have the time to care for a large animal, like a cat or dog*.
That said, I’ve become interested in adopting or purchasing a chinchilla. They can be very social, and are downright adorable. Most importantly, I think I could maintain one without much energy on the parents’ part. However, I’d like to know what I’m in for before committing myself to owning one.
So, my question. Could anyone offer their own chinchilla experiences**? Any downsides I should be aware of?
*Well, we could care for a cat, but I think it’d be unfair to the creature if we couldn’t give it the attention every animal deserves.
**LIVE chinchillas. I know how you smart-alecks think.
Thanks! 
Well, they’re a little expensive. They have to be fed chinchilla food (not hamster or rabbit food–they’ll get sick over time) and need hay like a rabbit. Plus there’s the dust bath. I get the sneezes from my chinchilla’s dust bath, so I guess that’s a downside too. But overall I love my chinchilla, and I think I’ve enjoyed him a lot more than I would a larger pet. They’re also very long-lived for such a small animal, so keep that in mind.
Oh, and while my chinchilla’s never done it, I understand some chinchillas pee when they get nervous or angry.
I’ve had my chinchilla for almost 5 years now.
I really recomend rats as the best small pets that are relatively easy to care for. They are extremely intelligent and very affectionate. You should have more than one so they don’t get lonely. They are very clean by nature but you’d have to clean the cage often so they don’t get respiratory problems (every two days). They need playtime with you every day. They need to be fed fresh fruits and vegetables so they don’t get overweight. The biggest downside to rats is their short life span, 2-3 years on average although there are 5 year olds and some die before they reach one year. Be prepared to spend money on vet bills as they get older and need tumors removed or antibiotics.
For chinchilla owners: How intelligent and affectionate are chinchillas? I’m thinking about getting one.
I don’t have a chinchilla, but I lived with one for awhile. If you get one, you have to safety proof your home before-hand. They are very hard to catch once they are out of the cage, and can fit into very tiny spaces. The one that I lived with caused some damage by gnawing on the furniture, and digging through the undersides of mattresses and the couch. For housing, you’ll need a large cage with lots of levels, but you should also let it out at night in a chinchilla-proof room for a couple of hours.
As for intelligence, my roomate’s pet learned to come out of hiding when she heard the treat bag crinkle, and she eventually learned to sit on a hand or shoulder for a little while. A downside is that some chinchillas make a barking sound at night if they want attention.
Isn’t someone around here a chinchilla farmer?