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Post by ntg on Apr 21, 2018 20:31:46 GMT
I'll be visiting (and hopefully bringing home) Gizmo and Benji tomorrow! I've spent today getting everything ready for them, spent a small fortune on huts and cage accessories and sent an email to tic tac about 16 inch cake tins for making a couple of wheels. This is the cage so far minus any bedding, water bottles and obviously wheels. Top Bottom Can anyone think of anything I've missed out or see anything I should change? Tried to avoid the use of the ladders that came with the cage and I'll be getting some materials in for making various ledges and whatnot in the near-future. The giant cotton ropes are one of Sherlock's favourite perches so it'll be interesting to see what chins make of it! I've bought a huge pyrex casserole dish for their in-cage sandbath and some science selective food on Em's recommendation to go with the various forage mixes and grain-free versele laga pellets I feed the degus.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2018 22:35:09 GMT
Definitely cork! My two both love it!
Not sure if I saw a feeding bowl or two? Mine enjoy eating their nuggets out of bowls.
You also might wanna consider a litter tray? They do train.. makes life easier in terms of not needing to change soiled substrate so often! I use a baking tray with a different substrate in to what they’re on.
They also love the wooden £9 branches from zooplus to perch on and bounce off. You could attach them with wire and make them hang too, I did when I had the aventuras! Works wonderfully.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2018 22:36:38 GMT
The branches and cork then with the wheel I think you’re all set! 😁
Can’t wait to see what they make of the wheel.. Alfie wouldn’t cope without his lol!
They also like lava ledges.
Thinking as I type here lol!
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Post by ntg on Apr 21, 2018 22:51:02 GMT
Yep, I have food bowls (and a larger one I can use for forage if I feel the need)! Poor little Venk's stuff is all being repurposed!
I do have a cork tunnel lying around, I'd need to steep it to check it's definitely debugged though as I stuck it in a sealed plastic bag and forgot about it.
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Post by darthchinchi on Apr 22, 2018 10:39:03 GMT
Not entirely sure what the large rope is doing in there? A few hammocks or some more shelves for them to sit on and/or gnaw on (but you mentioned that already) Something for them to get cold in the heat, preferably something they can go into. You might end up having to remove a lot of the huts and loose items in there, as chinchillas often like to do the interior themselves and move everything around (can be quite a hazard when they see something high up they get hellbent on turning upside down or throwing to the bottom of the cage). Most of mine prefer hammocks as hideouts, so if they start chewing away on the hideouts this might be something for you to consider in the future, as it's a lot cheaper to cut up a pair of old pants and make a tunnel-type hammock than buying the expensive huts
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2018 14:03:45 GMT
Not entirely sure what the large rope is doing in there? A few hammocks or some more shelves for them to sit on and/or gnaw on (but you mentioned that already) Something for them to get cold in the heat, preferably something they can go into. You might end up having to remove a lot of the huts and loose items in there, as chinchillas often like to do the interior themselves and move everything around (can be quite a hazard when they see something high up they get hellbent on turning upside down or throwing to the bottom of the cage). Most of mine prefer hammocks as hideouts, so if they start chewing away on the hideouts this might be something for you to consider in the future, as it's a lot cheaper to cut up a pair of old pants and make a tunnel-type hammock than buying the expensive huts Yeah more hoppy ledges and runs build onto the sides would be good but obviously it’s a work in progress. I think they’ll use the rope, they’ll run across it. My guys definitely would. I use a square terracotta tunnel for mine to cool down, but if you can’t get hold of one, I freeze a square tile too. They’re no different to degus in that aspect.. I’m not sure I’d remove the loose items.. they’ll have fun and rearrange like the degus do! They basically treat their home the same as your degus would. Mine do like hammocks.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 22, 2018 17:52:21 GMT
I'm so excited for you, NTG!! Love what you are doing!
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Post by Emziedee on Apr 22, 2018 17:53:47 GMT
I'm so excited for you, NTG!! Love what you are doing! Ditto! They’re two very lucky Chins and they’re going to have such a fun fulfilled life with you 😊
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Post by ntg on Apr 22, 2018 19:18:39 GMT
Ahhh I love them! Benji (the black velvet (?)) has already sat in my hands and Gizmo is really friendly too. It's been a complete 180 to how they were at the shelter showing defensive behaviours through the cage but that could be with the stress of them being kept in a tiny cage in the same room as cats, ferrets and birds. Gizmo is loving the rope to jump and perch on so it seems like it's a hit so far with both critters. Definitely going to make a lot of ledges and things in the future but don't want to add too much to the cage until it's in its permanent position downstairs. I'll have to keep an eye out for another aventura/explorer for sale to put together though as they make the single one look tiny! Since the goobers have their extra level they're fine in the single, even if I would prefer to upgrade them to a huge homemade cage one day (if space ever allowed it).
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Post by Emziedee on Apr 22, 2018 19:30:15 GMT
Ok.. I need Chins now
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Post by ntg on Apr 22, 2018 20:58:48 GMT
I think we all need chins (and degus)! There's one thing they definitely have in common and that's no shame - caught Gizmo cleaning his erm... self this evening
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Post by savvy on Apr 22, 2018 21:08:47 GMT
I think we all need chins (and degus)! There's one thing they definitely have in common and that's no shame - caught Gizmo cleaning his erm... self this evening He's settled in then, lol.
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Post by ntg on Apr 22, 2018 21:22:32 GMT
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2018 15:42:32 GMT
So exciting - they are beautiful!
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Post by darthchinchi on Apr 23, 2018 16:35:17 GMT
Yep, that's definately a black velvet, and quite a handsome one. 2. is hetero pink white Such pretty animals
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Post by ntg on Apr 23, 2018 21:35:32 GMT
Yep, that's definately a black velvet, and quite a handsome one. 2. is hetero pink white Such pretty animals ooo I was wondering about Gizmo as at first he seemed like his eyes were black but then in certain lights they show as red. Are the heteros all white or can they have patches of colour? As he has grey around the base of his tail and his face is lightly flecked with grey too. Really need to sort out some form of playpen for them as they're eager to get out but I have no idea how tall it would have to be to keep these monsters in! I've seen some people with pens 120 cm tall but that still seems small to me knowing that goos can clear 60 cm if they want to. I've ordered two 16" tins from tic tac for making their wheels, just need to figure out the bearing size that we'll need to support Gizmo's fat-ass.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 8:19:46 GMT
Yep, that's definately a black velvet, and quite a handsome one. 2. is hetero pink white Such pretty animals ooo I was wondering about Gizmo as at first he seemed like his eyes were black but then in certain lights they show as red. Are the heteros all white or can they have patches of colour? As he has grey around the base of his tail and his face is lightly flecked with grey too. Really need to sort out some form of playpen for them as they're eager to get out but I have no idea how tall it would have to be to keep these monsters in! I've seen some people with pens 120 cm tall but that still seems small to me knowing that goos can clear 60 cm if they want to. I've ordered two 16" tins from tic tac for making their wheels, just need to figure out the bearing size that we'll need to support Gizmo's fat-ass. Mine scale anything, they bounce of opposite walls literally like free runners lol! Maybe find a chin safe room rather than a playpen? A playpen would never contain mine 😂 I can show you the bearing size of my 16 inch wheel if that helps?
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Post by randomname on Apr 24, 2018 13:05:13 GMT
Late to the party as always! Such gorgeous little fellas, super handsome Great 'photos. My guys love the wood branches you bought over, wicker tunnels from zooplus & @cloudarcade 's shelves (you can get them on amazon or via their shop) I don't use any fleece or fabrics, mine don't have hammocks, they prefer huts. They also nibble the edges which is great for their front teeth. I don't like rope stuff for any animals either. Maggie does have a littlepetwarehouse igloo as that's what she came with & I wanted to keep things the same due to her blindness. She prefers emily! & Cal's hut though (after 6 months of ignoring it) What you do is up to you obviously, your set up looks great. You can find 'hand toys' in parrot supplies - mine love the little wreaths & wooden blocks, they chuck them around. You can also try the metal lids from food jars too (my degus loooove them) for a freebie toy On playpens - pointless! lol. If you're letting them out, they'll want to jump around higher than any playpen - they can get up to 6ft! An aviary would work, but space & money probably prevents that option. I'd agree with Em, chin proof a room & just let them pakour Mine do that too No other advice except - ENJOY! Chins are awesome
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Post by Emziedee on Apr 24, 2018 18:55:04 GMT
Why do goos love metal lids so much? Lol Tibbs and Sandy keep relocating my lids
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 24, 2018 20:20:02 GMT
OOOO!! SHINY!!! They're just like crows, and love anything shiny. Our boys would snatch anything metal in a wink!
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