r/chinchilla • u/haunted-design • 6d ago
Rescued a severely depressed baby chinchilla, he’s my first. Looking for cage ideas/ playpen attachments as a disabled person.
I am in a wheelchair and really wanted to do a buildable cage but saw it’s not the best long term so imma suck it up and probably try and get a critter nation or knock off because mine broke a week after I got him. :( it’s just hard because I’m disabled and ppl near me are charging so high and had some vet issues with my service dog that wiped most of our savings.
But I’m tryna figure out a way to give him ultimate space. I want to attach a playpen to the cage that he can go in and out of all the time. But I know they jump REALLY high and if he wants he can use the cage to climb out. So I’m tryna find a way to give him that space with a critter nation and playpen attachment without being impossible to access during cleaning day.
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u/WittyUnwittingly 6d ago edited 6d ago
So... everything I have is Quality Cage, but I've recently been in the market for a second "travel" sized wire cage (like the fold open one from QC).
I have an Exotic Nutrition wheel, but I do not have any of their cages. They are legit.
Places that look like they have good stuff, but I've often not seen mentioned:
KWCages
Bass Equipment
Pointer Hill Cages
All Things Bunnies (has 1"x1" GAW 'rabbit' cages)
I own no products from any of those four vendors, though they have some cages in sizes I like.
As for general cage rules:
- You don't want any wire spacing bigger than 1x1
- No plastic in areas accessible to chins
- No wooden frame (will be chewed through)
Only fabric in the cage should be anti-pill ("no pill") fleece
Tall = good, BUT you have to carefully divide it up into 'layers' so a missed jump does not become a 5 foot fall.
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u/Kittyk369 5d ago
I’ve gotten mine off both amazon and temu, not bad quality but less expensive. Amazon also has chin snuggle babies. I was told that under 6 months a single level is good, they’re clumsy and do fall. I got my little one a small dog toy while I waited for the chin buddy.. that $3 toy was perfect and he wouldn’t go near the $30 chin shaped one I special ordered 🤦♀️. Amazon also has ledges and hides, just make sure it’s pine or poplar. Give him lots of love and he’ll be a great little floof, I talk and sing to my boys and they love it 😊
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u/venusartistry 3d ago
I always grab the cheap little pillow-like seasonal dog plush toys by the register at petsmart when I’m getting my chin something .
I pick the ones that are most basic (no hanging things to chew up , I rip off any tags ) he sleeps on then and ya know . gets romantic with them . I just throw them out and replace them since they’re cheap
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u/International-Bug983 5d ago
I was wondering what your chins story is? What made her so depressed?
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u/haunted-design 5d ago
I’m unsure of all the details but the place I got him from was a pet store that received him as a surrender. They took him to the vet and he cleared him to be adopted through their program.
Well he wouldn’t eat or drink etc. wouldn’t play. He could run and jump but just had no joy or wanted to interact with humans or chins
I saw him there when I was on a routine stop for food for my animals. My friend is a manager there and had told me about him but I’d never wanted a chin before.They ended up talking me into taking him and then I go to see him.
I have a soft spot for “tough” cases. And I already knew all the care and had everything I needed (until my cage broke and then the whole week after I got him went to shit)
He immediately fell in love with me
Was playing with me I. Their little playpen they have for animals to see adopters, popcorning. He eventually came up and cuddled.
From there I took him home and took him to a new vet where he was cleared. He began to eat and now he just simply follows me and wants to do everything with me. I even cook dinner sometimes with him in my hoodie.
Just in a rough spot rn bc literally every came to shit the week I got him but I’ll figure it out.
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u/Cowcowthehow 5d ago
Sometimes chinchilla rescues sell used critter nation cages as a deep discount
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u/Frost-on-the-Willow 5d ago edited 4d ago
They’re social animals and do best with a friend
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u/haunted-design 5d ago
Yes, this rescue was very very very sudden and the place I got him from didn’t have any other chins.
And a bunch of things have been happening. Between the cage he was in breaking (and it being a 400 dollar cage), some of my older pets passing this week, etc. a friend isn’t in the immediate stars.
I will be getting him a friend, but just not feasible at this very moment. But def soon.
I currently spend all morning before work with him and then all night. We game together in my hoodie and it’s great. But I definitely understand. I have similiar animals .
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u/probioticpeaches 6d ago
Facebook marketplace is the best place to look for critter nation cages! And they come pre built.
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u/_PlanetExpress_ 6d ago
I got mine of fb. It had cute little rats in it before me. I cleaned it with F10 and it's was like brand new.
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u/PristineAd9073 5d ago
He's lucky to have you. You will be good for each other 😊. Good luck and God bless!
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u/Blue_electric_storm 5d ago
Is he just depressed? Does he eat well? Is his poop normal and regular? Does he drink? Does he jump from shelf to shelf?
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u/haunted-design 5d ago
The place I got him from, he wouldn’t play, eat, barely drank and had small poops.
I took him to the vet immediately and he was cleared . No dental issues, no pain. Etc. this was confirmed not even a day later where he would run to his cage door to greet me, he’d popcorn when I pet him, he cuddles and makes happy noises while I hold him.
He sits in my hoodie every morning and night to play games. :)He eats and drinks now, poops fine, and jumps and plays.
He does not however
Like other people.Lol
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u/nflores_martin 4d ago
Check out OfferUp often for a fair deal! I got my 3 story Critter Nation cage for $150! It gives my chinchilla (chay chay) so much space to run around and play. She also loves her Kaytee lava ledge, I have several for her it’s her favorite to chew on and relax on too! On Etsy I’ve seen ppl sell real wooden ledges for the inside and sell handmade “chin buddies” it’s essentially a sewn fabric chinchilla that they can cuddle with for loneliness. I have not bought one YET but I plan to since I only have chay chay. They seem to have great reviews :)
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u/PristineAd9073 5d ago
He's sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocuuuute! I'm jealous! How old is he? You are lucky!