Info. on Chinchillas, Rats, Ferrets & Degus

Chinchillas

• The chinchilla originated in Peru and can be found in the wild from southern Peru and Bolivia, to southern Chile.
• The chinchilla possess the thickest fur coats of all mammals, which is considered to be highly prized.
• Due to the value of their coats, chinchillas were hunted in South America almost to extinction.
• The chinchilla is now a protected species in many countries and though controversial, this is partly due to the establishment of fur farms whcih have helped save these animals from extinction.

Chinchillas as pets

• Chinchillas have existed in the wild, on ranches and in zoos for many years, however, it is only recently that chinchillas have been considered as pets.
• These animals are nocturnal and become very active, jumping and climbing during the night.
• Chinchillas need to be handled correctly so that they feel secure and safe.
• When it becomes accustomed to you, the chinchilla should enjoy being stroked and held.
• However, these animals are not normally suitable pets for young children.
• We have a variety of quality chinchilla cages on our site which would suit the needs of your chinchilla.

Choosing a chinchilla cage

• Make sure that the cage is large enough for your chinchilla.
• As a guide, one chinchilla can be kept in a cage approximately  61cmW x 46cm D x 90cmH.
• Cages should remain indoors unless kept in a purpose built, secure outer building.
• Your chinchilla should also have a run outside the confines of  the cage for approximately one hour each day.
• Chinchillas like quiet, so the cage should be placed in a quiet environment that is well ventilated but not draughty.
• On hot days, ensure that the cage is shaded from bright sunlight and that there is a constant flow of cool air.
• Chinchillas do not like to be too hot and can suffer from heat stroke
• Remember, temperatures above 75º F can be fatal to chinchillas.

 
Cleaning the Cage

• Chinchillas do not smell,  but their cage should be cleaned out thoroughly at least once a week.
• Clean any shelves and boxes every day as cleanliness and hygiene is important for all animals.
• Any left over food, mouldy hay, droppings in food or stale water can cause bacteria to form which can be very harmful to your chinchilla.
• Most cages will have a removeable tray in the base which can be pulled out to place in sawdust, paper etc.
• You could also use a wood based cat litter. 

Play & Chewing

• Place a wooden box in the cage so that your chinchillas can hide or sleep in it.
• Chinchillas need to keep their teeth trimmed and so will try to chew almost anything, so do not let you chinchilla run around the house unsupervised as he may get trodden on and seriously hurt or he may try and chew things like wires,  which would have serious consequences. 
• Avoid toys or shelves made from plastic as plastic, paint, stained wood etc are poisonous to chinchillas.  
• There are a variety of wooden items on sale which are safe to chew and a good pet shop will advise you which to purchase.
• A chinchillas will play for hours in a cardboard tube but he should be supervised so that he does not eat the tube as well !! 
• Chinchillas also like Pumice and cuttlefish and Cuttlefish is a very good source of calcium.

Feeding

• Always purchase a good quality food for your chinchilla and make sure that it is high in fibre to keep their delicate digestive systems healthy.

Rats

• Rats belong to a group of mouse-like rodents that includes over one thousand species.
• Their history can be traced back thousands of years to Southeast and Central Asia, China and India, where they are thought to have originated.
• The black rat arrived in Europe in the 12th century as the shipping trade began to flourish. Its cousin, the brown rat, arrived in the early 18th century.
• These early rats conjure up images of disease carrying rodents. The domestic varieties have been bred for many years to be quiet, affectionate, intelligent and safe.

Rats as pets

• Rats make excellent pets.  They are highly intelligent, social animals, and although they enjoy the companionship of humans, they thrive in - and need - the company of other rats.  They will usually survive alone, but your rat would have a happier and more interesting life if he is kept with other rats. Ideally, two or more of the same sex are a good mix and they will enjoy grooming each other and curling up together for a nap.  They will establish a pecking order as all animals do when living together, so expect the odd "scrap" but remember that this is normal animal behaviour and once the pecking order has been established this behaviour should stop.  Another thing to consider is that a rat's most active time is in the middle if the night when most rat owners are asleep, so the company of other rats at this time will prevent him from becoming bored and lonely.  

Housing

• Unlike rabbits and guinea pigs, domesticated rats are not hardy in cold weather. They must live indoors and need an adequate cage and ideally the temperature should not rise beyond approx. 75 Degrees F/ 24 Degrees C.  Place the cage in a room where the rats can watch humans passing by as they are naturally inquisitve and will enjoy being a part of family life.  If part of the cage is at eye-level you will find that you interact with your rats more.
• Rats do spend most of their lives in their cage, so because they are such intelligent, active animals, it is a shame to keep them in a small cage.  Purchase the largest cage you can afford, as there is never a cage too big. As a bare minimum, the floor-space should be at least 24" L x 12" W, but  ideally, the cage should be much bigger and a few inches of space can make a lot of difference to animals as small as rats.  Wire cages are by far the best type of housing for rats. They provide good ventilation and are a ready-made climbing-frame. They also allow you to interact easily with your rats as you can feed and stroke them through the bars. Rats have keen senses of hearing and smell and a cage provides extra stimulation for your rats as they can pick up new smells and sounds which they find interesting. Just make sure that they have access to a  warm sheltered nest box to sleep in and protect them from any draughts. 

Play

• Being natural scavengers and gnawers, your rats will chew and eat virtually anything so if your rat is out of his cage please make sure he is well supervised so that he does not eat through cables or anything that can cause him harm.

Ferrets

• Ferrets are members of the Mustelidae family, which includes badgers, skunks, otters, minks and weasels.
• They are thought to descend from the European Polecat, and were first domesticated by the ancient Egyptians.
•  Over 300 years ago, ferrets were introduced as working animals used by farmers to chase rodents from the land.
• Later, ferrets were used in the scientific research of the common cold, something they catch as easily as humans.

Ferrets as pets 

Handling

• Ferrets today exist mainly as pets and are currently enjoying widespread popularity but like all pets, they do need attentive care. When holding and handling your ferret it is important to make your ferret feel secure and comfortable.  It is wise to hold him under his front legs.  Your hand should be under the front of the ferret, your thumb under one leg towards the ferrets’ spine and your index finger should be coming round the neck on the other side of the ferrets body with your middle finger and the rest of your hand under the other leg.  Your fingertips should now be towards the back of the ferret in the vicinity of the ferrets shoulder blades. 
• They are playful, curious, fun-loving and affectionate creatures and will readily play with animals and people providing hours of entertainment and enjoyment. A ferret will use almost any thing as a toy.  A polythene bag, ping pong ball etc.  Avoid anything made from foam rubber and take care that the toy does not break up easily when chewed by your ferret as this could cause an internal blockage if swallowed with possible fatal results.

Housing 

• We have an excellent selection of ferret cages which would suit your pet ferret
• Minimum size should be about 48"W x 24"D x 24"H  but the larger the better.  It is essential to clean out the soiled saw dust daily and totally clean out the cage at least weekly. Water bottles should be refilled daily with clean, fresh water and feeding dishes washed after every feed. 

A Degu is a little brown rodent.

• They look and behave like squirrels. If you have ever seen a Gerbil, just imagine him a little bigger, and you will have a picture of a Degu.
• Degus originate from the lowland areas of Chile where they live in large groups making their homes in rocks or hedges.
• They are considered an agricultural pest.
• Nests and storage for food are usually dug under the rocks.
• Degus in the wild can live up to 15 years, but in captivity they rarely become 10 years old.
• If a Degu has cataracts, he will not grow older than 6-7 years.

Degus as pets

• Degus need a large cage, because they need to run and climb a lot.
• The best thing to do in the cage is to build several floors, so the living space will be larger and the Degus can climb up and down and stay fit.
• Degus love a wheel.  An 11 inch wheel is ideal.
• A Degu's tail can get stuck in a wire wheel, so buy a solid one.
• Degus that are always on wire floors develop "bumblefoot", which is very painful for them - place newspaper on top of wire floors or untreated pine panelling can be cut into lengths to cover the mesh floors. Straw mats can also be used to cover the mesh floor.
• They like running in the living room too, but be aware of cables, wooden furniture and cats and dogs.
• After a while they often go back in their cage by themselves.
• You can 'surprise' your Degus with a dust bath: if you put some sand in a cup, your Degus will take a bath in it. They really like this!

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