Safety - Page 2

RainKiss · 10-19-2007, 11:38 PM

yep got that too

okay so today i jsut went chinchilla stuff shopping, and most of the food i got was with the brand ¨living world¨ i'm wondering if it is a trust worthy brand? and wow! i cleaned out the whole room, dusted it, and wiped the whole room and floor and everything with vinegar, i hope its clean enough o.O

Kippo · 10-22-2007, 07:24 AM

lol! the WHOLE room with vinegar? wow that's awsome lol. I used living world too, but I decided it was better to go with a brand that didn't have treats in it it's pretty easy to find them without but it's ultimately up to you (it won't kill the chin to use the brand, assuming it's the one that has treats in it like dried bananas and stuff, now that you have it. I used that brand for quite a while before making the switch)

RainKiss · 10-22-2007, 12:20 PM

yea maybe i should stay with it for a while before switching too then

thanks for the help

Solarsis · 10-22-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kippo

lol! the WHOLE room with vinegar? wow that's awsome lol. I used living world too, but I decided it was better to go with a brand that didn't have treats in it it's pretty easy to find them without but it's ultimately up to you (it won't kill the chin to use the brand, assuming it's the one that has treats in it like dried bananas and stuff, now that you have it. I used that brand for quite a while before making the switch)

Actually the brands with treats in them WILL kill your chinchilla. Maybe not instantly, maybe not in a year but it will cause health problems and will drastically reduce the lifespan of your animal. It would be the equivalent of feeding a child potato chips for his/her whole life. Chinchillas are not equipped to digest sugar very well. By feeding them a brand with raisins, bananas, etc, you are getting on the road to serious health problems.

Brands like Mazuri, Oxbow, and American Pet Diner are much higher in nutrients and better for your pet. You can buy them in bulk and they will often come out to be much less expensive than the crappier brands like Living World.

In addition to pellets, you want to make sure you are also feeding a high quality hay.

RainKiss · 10-22-2007, 04:20 PM

wow o.O okay... i nva knew that... but wut if i pick out the treats? Is it true that the greener the pellets look, the better?
As for high quality hay.. how will i be able to find out?

Solarsis · 10-22-2007, 05:22 PM

The pellets in living world don't have a very good nutritional content even if you pick out the treats. Your chin will end up with nutritional deficiencies.

The colour of the pellet is less important than what is contained in them. You want high fibre, low protein and fat, and as little sugar is possible. Most importantly, you want the pellet to smell fresh when you purchase it. If it's stale, it will smell like nothing or moldy and can make your chinchilla sick. If you feed timothy hay (which is recommended), you are safe to go with an alfalfa based pellet.

As for hay, timothy hay is the one of choice because of it's favourable levels of fibre and lower levels of calcium and protein. It needs to be green and smell very fresh (almost like fresh cut grass). Yellow or moldy smelling hay is not good. Most chinchilla owners get their hay from local farms, oxbow, or a lady in Washington state.

You'll quickly see that pet stores sell a lot of products they claim are good for chinchillas, but aren't really that great. There are a ton of websites from which to order very high quality items though. And most of the time they are more affordable than the pet store items.

RainKiss · 10-22-2007, 11:14 PM

high fibre and low protein? omg>< i bought one with the highest protein about 18... because i read on one of the chinchilla sites taht said protien is most important n should be aroudn 17-18... wut should the fibre be around?
Yea i feed him timothy hay, so i'll need to feed him alfaalfa pellets? how do i know if it is alfa alfa pellets? will it say on the box? Hrm,,... i didn't really see a brand name oxbow when i went to buy chinchilla supplies...
I should check out the websites and start ordering for my new chin instead of buying from pet stores then XD

Solarsis · 10-23-2007, 12:23 AM

Most people I know get oxbow from their vet or online. It's rare for pet stores to carry it. Mazuri is a bit more common.

Which area do you live in? We may be able to recommend websites for businesses near you. You may be able to save on shipping or even pick up that way.

RainKiss · 10-23-2007, 12:32 AM

i live in toronto, Ontario (Canada)

Solarsis · 10-23-2007, 01:52 AM

you're in luck, the Ontario Chinchilla association is near you and you could pick up supplies from them. Here is the link to their store: http://www.ontariochinchillas.ca/store.php

They sell fresh hay and also a good quality pellet. It is not one of the brand I named for you, but it's equally as good (and very affordable...it's 50 cents per pound). It is milled by a local chinchilla rancher and very good. They also sell other suppliers like toy, dust, treats, etc. Well worth it to check them out.