Is it safe for rats and chinchillas to live or play together?

Chinchillas are sociable creatures. They will not do well if they do not have plenty of stimulation and interaction. The best is always company of their own kind as we cannot really play and act and "talk" like a chinchilla. So it may be best to get it a friend, ie keep two chinchillas rather than one alone. Chinchillas love company and love to play, sleep and cuddle up together. If you intend to keep one chinchilla on its own,you will need to give him plenty of attention and stimulation providing suitable chinchilla toys.

The transport of animals on an airplane is subject to many different rules and regulations, and ultimately depends on the airline that you choose. Some airlines are more lenient than others. I would speak to the airline you would like to take and also to the TSA to find out any special regulations in terms of what will be needed for transport. In terms of your animal's health, depending on where you are traveling you will likely need a certificate of health stating that Chachi is in good health and free of any contagious diseases. Chinchillas are also very high stress animals in new situations. It would probably be beneficial to offer some sort of sedative during this type of journey in order to keep the anxiety level to a minimum. Speak to your veterinarian about this so that he can come up with an appropriate drug and dose. For very small animals, sometimes these drugs will have to be specially made at a compounding pharmacy.

Chinchillas can be entertaining pets but if they are not handled when young they can be flighty/jumpy and difficult to catch, so keep that in mind, in particular with children of younger age (also, some young children may injure a chinchilla by grabbing roughly). Because of this, younger children should always be monitored closely around a small pet like this. Some chinchillas can be potty trained if started at a young age, but usually only for urine, not for bowel movements. Most chinchillas will choose a corner of their cage to use the bathroom and you can place a litterpan in this area along with some soiled litter to encourage use of the litterbox.

A toilet paper roll (without the toilet paper on it) is a fine toy for a chinchilla. Unless your chinchilla for some reason decided to eat it all in one sitting, it shouldn't be an issue. When I worked as a zookeeper we used to put treats inside a toilet paper roll and put hay or paper towels in each end so they had to work to find their treat!

Hello! Great questions you have about your chinchilla! Thanks for asking! As for food, you should provide both pellets and hay. There are many different commercial pellets available for chinchillas that you can buy at most pet stores. The pellets are designed so your pet can easily eat them and include the correct amounts of protein, fat, and roughage. About 2 tablespoons of food a day is recommended. Of course, some eat more or less than others. My favorite brand of food for chinchillas is made by Mazuri. http://www.mazuri.com/MazuriChinchillaDiet.aspx Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of his daily diet. It also helps keep their teeth healthy. Hay should be available at all times. Timothy hay is a good choice. I would avoid alfalfa hay as a daily part of the diet but you can use it sparingly for a treat. I like Oxbow brand hay: http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/products/type/detail?object=1530 Your chinchilla should always have a source of fresh water. A stoppered water bottle is a great way to supply water as it prevents water from being spilled and helps keep the bedding dry. Chinchillas generally drink between 15 and 30ml of water per day. Bottled water or distilled water is recommended. Regarding dust baths, I recommend you place the dusting powder in a bin separate from the cage and let your chinchilla take a dust bath in there at least twice a week. I hope I answered all your questions. I wish you all the best with your new friend!

Based on what you are describing it sounds as if your chinchilla is very ill. Because these animals are so small, anorexia for even a few days can be very dangerous. I would recommend taking him in to be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. He may need a special Critical Care diet and fluids to get back to normal.

Anytime a rodent such as a chinchilla stops eating and drinking for any significant length of time it is a definite problem. I would recommend taking Chilly in to the vet for a physical exam and some preliminary blood work. They will also be able to provide you with some Critical Care, which is a powdered formulation for syringe feeding of rodents and rabbits.