A friend of mine is moving and unable to take Mortimer, an 8 month old chinchilla. She contacted me and now Mortimer is coming to my home. I've been really excited and after hours of research and care videos I am even more excited. I am 19 years old and have a heart problem that enables me from working. However I have a fantastic boyfriend of a year and a half that supports any crazy obsession I come up with. I will always be home to care for Mortimer and try and become close with him. He comes with a six level cage and everything I need with him. But there is one thing I have to ask. I have an extra room in my house that is 8x10 ft. the room is hardwood flooring and has no exposed wires. Would it be best to set him up in my bedroom or in the spare room? All that is in the room is a bed of solid wood that he couldn't get under. And if I set him up in there should I leave his cage shut except exercise time or would it be fine to leave it open for him to run around as he pleases? Also I have a small Chihuahua I know it says monitor them together but should it be fine for them to be around each other?
Amanda ...so cool you have joined us
seems Mortimer is gonna have a great new friend and life
Your questions are good ones
First...if you put the chinchilla in your bedroom
expect one of two things to happen
you will be awake for the next 20 years
or like me...you will actually sleep better with all the noise that Mortimer will make.
I have 2 bedrooms and actually sleep more soundly with the noise...the wheel, the cage shaking
I love to have my 3 chinchillas jump on my head while Im asleep
and eat my eyebrows and much more...but its not for everyone!
Also since you say you have a heart problem
you may want to think about him in your room
you know the dust they bathe in can get up your nose, in your hair, and is certainly not good for you to breathe ...day in , and day out.
The hardwood room sounds lovely
though Mortimer wont hurt the floor...remember he will eat the baseboards, walls, window sills, door jambs ...
be ready to repair these things if you want the room to look as it is
also as I tell EVERYONE
its very very very easy to have a chinchilla in their own space, their own room, an animal room
and many people figure...well they are happy ...they have their own place
the most important and coolest thing about a chinchilla and many other animals ..IS THEY NEED US, THE LOVE US< THEY BOND WITH US, need interaction
so if you are gonna have Mortimer in his own chinnie room
make sure ,,,please that you are with him at least 1 hour or way more each day.
Chinchillas will find their cage , to be a place of security, a place to sleep and to eat
its my opinion that its fine in a chin-safe room to have the cage open
My chinchillas have never been closed in
I am very against making prisoners of my animals...even for their own good ...(not sure the chinchillas would agree about whats good for them)
Lastly ....do NOT let that dog near the chinchilla unless you are right there
and even then..................... you need to know that Chihuahua's personality 100 percent. I know of many chinchillas who have been dragged to their death by cats and dogs
its better to NOT have them together.,....and in most cases...
its imperative NOT to have them together.
Welcome to the world of chinchillas, and our forum
cant wait to see pics of Mortimer
My best
Jamie
