If someone had said to me I would have ten Chinchillas,  I would have laughed. I had no concept of what it was like to own  Chinchillas.  It all started from seeing pictures of Chinchillas on the Internet. Being a softy at heart I knew I just had to have one. What follows are my experiences both good and bad. Hopefully others can benefit from my story.

I decided it would be best to get my first Chinchilla from a reputable breeder with plenty of experience. My searches led me to Kingdom Chinchillas. Imagine my surprise when i called the owner only to discover she was based in Scotland. Now i don't mind travelling a reasonable distance but somehow this seemed a little excessive. I was given the name of a breeder here in Kent which proved to be more fruitful.

The next day I telephoned enquiring about the availability of any Chinchillas. As luck would have it there was one left. She described him and mentioned that he had slightly chewed fur. I really didn’t care about minor issues so long as he was healthy. Years spent assisting my Dad in his shop made my desire for a Chinchilla even stronger. I would even have considered an amputee. Giving a Chinchilla a good home in a loving environment is something very important to me. So not long after I was the proud owner of my first Chinchilla – Gizmo. Since then I have never looked back and Gizmo is as healthy and happy as a Chinchilla could hope to be. Fingers crossed he will be a father soon.

My next Chinchilla was acquired because he needed a new home. I don’t know his history but I was glad to be able to take him on. Sadly our time together was all too brief. Chas was not well and my lack of experience prevented me from noticing anything unusual until it was too late. Chinchillas are notorious for hiding symptoms of illness until it has progressed to a more serious state. The first I knew Chas was unwell was when I saw him breathing very heavily. I rushed Chas to the Vets immediately. The diagnosis was one of constipation and despite an injection to try and assist Chas his condition continued to deteriorate rapidly. Chas was put to sleep to relieve any further suffering. It seems the constipation had product a high level of toxins which had entered his blood stream and effectively poisoned him. I bitterly regret the loss of Chas and my inexperience but this has made me more determined to ensure that my Chinchillas are all healthy. I make sure that I read as much as I can about them and I always ask experienced peoples advice if I have any doubts. I will never forget Chas and always cherish his memory.

Next came Jinx – a Hetero Beige with bags of attitude.  I needed a companion for Gizmo and he became available at the right time. The next few months saw Jinx & Gizmo happily chasing each other round and round the cage in playful ignorance. Jinx had a tendency to bark and even try and nip me occasionally. Fatherhood has mellowed his attitude somewhat. However I distinctly remember the expression on his face after china gave birth to triplets. I not sure whether its the panic or amazement but in true keeping with his character he ran off to hide in his bed

China is a Standard Grey female whom I acquired from the same breeder as Jinx. I intended to pair Jinx & China when Jinx was suitable age. The day I collected China I saw Star who was only a few months old. I knew instantly that I wanted Star and made sure the breeder kept hold of her for me. I figured Star would be an ideal mate for Gizmo and so far I think I have been proved right. Star is an exceptional Chinchilla and everyone who sees her wants to take her home with them.

One day I got a call asking me to rescue a pair of Chinchillas, whom I renamed Crystal & Spike. Their owner was now bored keeping them and wanted to get rid of them. The cage they were kept in is probably one of the dirtiest I have ever come across and their diet was totally unsuitable. Needless to say they now have much cleaner living conditions and a far healthier diet. Spike has now gone to a very good friend of mind and is now a father. He retains his cheeky and aggressive character and is not averse to chasing the cat round the living room given the chance. Crystal is progressing well and is soon to be paired with Olly who has been neutered.

One day I was offered a lovely Black Velvet kit who I named Smudge. The acquisition of Smudge was the main reason for letting Spike go. I was not in a position to cater for another Chinchilla at the time and was torn between the two. However the knowledge that Spike was going to a very good home made the final decision a lot easier and proved to be the right one since he is now the father of twins, a boy and a girl.

China gave birth to a lovely set of triplets. Two Standard Grey Females and one male beige They are all very doing well to date. Bailey the male Hetero Beige is a lovely cheeky chap. He put on weight very quickly and no doubt will be a big Chinchilla. Blossom one of the female greys has since moved on to a close friend of mind and continues to make good progress. I continue to take a keen interest in the welfare of my Chinchillas even after they have moved on. Finally Pickle the other grey and the last of the litter has made excellent progress. Initially I was concerned by her and had to supplement her feeding until I was satisfied that she was gaining weight. In fact I’m convinced she has caught up with if not overtaken Bailey.

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