Question:
I am so mad. Poor Cub is suffering from dental abnormalities that are partially because she won't eat hay, but also influenced by inferior genetics causing malocclusion. Why do idiots have to keep breeding defective "pet quality" chins? It is not the chins' fault, it is the unscrupulous breeders who care more about churning out overpriced pet store kits than about the qulaity of life likely to be enjoyed by the poor chinchilla.
But I know that this will go on as long as there is a market for these chins...... As for me, I plan on buying direct from a breeder who actually knows something in future.


Answer:
Neuro,,where did you get Cub???


Answer:
She was given to me when I worked for Petstuff on the Go, by a woman who bought her @ a mall petstore.


Answer:
I'm sorry to hear about Cub's condition
My guess would be that smaller pets like chinchillas are harder to spay and neuter and the cost and risk of surgery might discourage people from getting petstore chins 'fixed'. Also, petstores do not screen potential buyers and you really can't tell what happens to the chins after they leave the store.


Answer:
I agree that chinchillas without a background should not be bred... however, I don't agree that all petstore chinchillas are "defective pet quality". Sometimes chinchillas who come from very reputable breeders end up in petstores, either through new owners who decide they don't want them, or for a variety of other reasons.
I have 2 beautiful chinchillas who came from a petstore - that petstore gave me the name of their breeder and I have been able to trace their backgrounds and know that they are not "defective".


Answer:
I personally would never consider breeding any animal that I didn't know their family history.
Carrot and I were in a mall petstore just last night and there was the most personable chin I've ever seen in a petstore there. He came running right over to the bars to get cuddles. I was very impressed that the chin had that disposition in the environment it was in. Of course, he could have some costly medical problems (like Cub) but that is a chance you take with every animal you purchase. The risk is just higher if you don't know the lineage.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Cinnamon
however, I don't agree that all petstore chinchillas are "defective pet quality". Sometimes chinchillas who come from very reputable breeders end up in petstores, either through new owners who decide they don't want them, or for a variety of other reasons.
I have a chinchilla that I bought from a petstore. When I saw him in there, it was quite obvious that he was more than pet quality, and well, he was gorgeous, so we went and got him. He lived alone for a long time, since the store was trying to track the previous owners. Well, they called and told me who he came from, and lo and behold, he came from a local breeder that I had been talking with via e-mail for a year. I took him out to see her, and sure enough, she recognized him right away. i got a pedigree with him, and then she said she contacted the people who bought him from her, because she had an agreement to buy him back if they didn't want him anymore. Well, their excuse was that they couldn't afford him anymore (they apparently live in a wealthy area), and said they needed more money than she would pay (she was willing to pay all that they paid back) UGH!! some people. But, he is here now, all 1068 grams of him, and he is happy here


Answer:
Thanks, Laurie - that is EXACTLY what I mean Cracker, for example, may not be "show quality", but she is a big girl, she gives me beautiful babies, and I feel comfortable breeding her because I know her background and know how to reach the breeder she came from.
Note, though, that I wouldn't breed a chin without a background, whether they came from a petstore or the breeder down the street.


Answer:
I am not putting down the occasional well-bred & healthy chillas that sometimes show up in pet stores. What I *am* putting down is this: selfish, stupid @#$%s who know nothing about chinchillas just throwing them together to get kits that can be sold for rip off prices like $150 for a standard with malocclusion, which is what Cub cost her last owner. I love Cub to death & I am grateful she's with me, but I think it's wrong to bring "pet quality" chins with no background info into petstores & have them wind up in the hands of people who may not realize that they may have to shell out hundreds in vet costs & may even lose the chinchilla. And what about the poor chinchillas? They are the ones that really bear the burden of this ongoing & prevalent practice. No offence to the people that have hit the jackpot by scoring awesome chins from pet stores, but trust me when I say that the petstore chins around here are *not* like that. They are usually small & ratty looking.


Answer:
Bringing this back up again because I have another related question. I'm sure that most of you have heard that most genetic defects (ie. malocclusion, heart problems, etc) usually show up by age 5 and if the animal doesn't malocclude by then, they probably never will (for genetic reasons that is). Does anyone have opinions on that? I know that I am skeptical but many reputable breeders have said this and it makes me wonder if there is validity to it.