Chinchilla Questions

This document is subject to change without notice. Please email any questions to alison@alisonschinchillas.com.

The purpose of this questionnaire is to let me get to know you and how much you know about chins. Please answer all questions as thoroughly as possible. I may ask more questions based on your answers. The more information you give me, the more feedback I can give you. If you don't know an answer, just say so. I'm always willing to help others learn more about chins.

Questions 11-14 are particularly important. Take your time to answers these as completely as you can. Doing so will allow me to help you make the right decisions from the start and possibly save you money in the long run.

1. Where are you located?
   
   
2. Why do you want a chinchilla?
   
   
3. Are you under the age of 16? If yes, what role will your parents play in caring for a chinchilla? Are your parents willing to speak with me on the phone at an arranged time?
   
   
4. Who will be the primary caretaker of the chinchilla?
   
   
5. Do you have small children that live with you or visit frequently? If yes, will they be supervised when near the chinchilla?
   
   
6. Are you an experienced chinchilla owner? Do currently have chinchillas, or have you had chinchillas in the past? If yes, please give details (i.e. years owned, number of chins, reason for giving them up, etc).
   
   
7. Do you breed or plan on breeding chinchillas?
   
   
8. Do you have other pets? If so, what species they are and will they have access to the chinchilla?
   
   
9. How much time do you plan on spending with your chinchilla on a daily basis?
   
   
10. Are you prepared to provide care and love to a chinchilla for the next 10-20 years or more?
    
    
11. Have you found a vet who knows about chinchillas in your area?
    
    
12. Do you have a cage for your chinchilla? If yes, describe it. If no, what are your plans for obtaining one? (Pictures would be great.)
    
    
13. What does an appropriate diet for chinchillas consist of?
    
    
14. Please describe what type/brand of food, bedding, toys, etc. you plan on using. Where will you purchase these items? Your answer to this question is very important so be as specific as possible, particularly when describing the diet you intend to feed.
    
    
15. What temperatures should chinchillas live in?
    
    
16. What are some acceptable treats to give a chinchilla? How often and in what quantity should they be given?
    
    
17. How often should a chinchilla's water be changed?
    
    
18. How frequently should a chinchilla's cage be cleaned (minimum)?
    
    
19. How do chinchillas bathe? How often and for how long should they be given a bath?
    
    
20. Where do chinchillas originate? (People ask, so it's good to know.)
    
    

If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask. I'd be happy to answer them.