Customer Reviews

Chinchillas (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since chinchillas are not nearly as neurotic as the author would have us believe, and not nearly so easily stressed, I cannot rate this book more than 3 stars. While his animals may be easily upset, most chinchillas are curious, friendly and much more adaptable than this author gives them credit for. Also, some of the author's assertions i.e., on page 6: "Is a Chinchilla for you?" are patently false. The auther says that chins are expensive to acquire and care for. In fact, chinchillas are widely available for around $50 from pet breeders, and cost less than most pets to care for. The author also states that chinchilla dander is a strong allergen. In fact, most people who are allergic to other animals have no allergic reaction at all to chinchillas. In addition, the author makes much ado about the difficulties of caring for chins, claims that other pets will stress it, and on and on. A quick scan of the web will provide you with many more relaxed views on caring for this wonderful pet. Chinchillas, like all other pets, thrive when provided with a specific (short) list of basic food and housing requirements. When the basics are in place, relax and enjoy your little Chinchilla furball. Don't take the alarmist advice in this book too seriously. --CAO, Alexandria, VA

This book gives a brief overview of chinchillas. It contains great photographs and reviews the basics about these unique creatures. After finishing the book I still had many question about having a chinchilla as a pet. The author seemed to have a bitter view of these pets that is a bit unfair.

This book caught my eye at the pet store I work at. Having kept Chinchillas myself, I was very impressed with how thorough yet short the book is. The book is extremely accurate and detailed with regard to husbandry and makes potential keepers examine their ablities to keep such a beast. I have noticed that many people believe the book to be pessimistic, but in reality that makes the chin keeping experience more magical. The author, unlike many, puts all of the cards on the table and leaves the chinchilla owner with very few suprises. In animal keeping, suprises are not always great. Chinchillas can be difficult pets to keep, but the author, in the spirit of all honesty shows both the good and bad of chin keeping. In the many, many years that I have kept exotic animals and chinchillas this is by far the best book that I have found. I truly wish that this book had been available to me the day I first brought my little boy Cheech home, it would have definately made our life together less hectic and allowed me better to understand his needs and strange, strange habits. This is a must have for anyone who is considering a chinchilla as a companion, already keeps one or who just wants to know a little more about the crazy creatures.

This book provides some info. on chins but after reading I was disappointed with how some parts of the book were so false. Chinchillas are not nearly as neurotic as what the author states. They arn't as alarmed by other household animals either. I currently have six chinchillas, four of which were bred recently. My chins live right next to my canary's and their singing doesn't disturb the chins sleeping habit at all! Yes, chins are semidemosticated but they are not nearly as untame as what the author states. I know this for a fact because after several months of training on a rodent harness my Chile can travel anywhere with me. Of course you can't walk him like a dog but every time I put the harness on him he dosen't figit at all, and after awhile of getting use to being outside he has come to enjoy our little outings. If anyone is thinking of buying this book, you should probably do a bit more shopping, you should also talk to pet store owners, vets, or any one with a chin. to get a first hand telling of what life with a chin. is really like, which for me has been a wonderful experience!

Well, I bought this book from a book store, because I thought it look like it had good info even though it was small. Leter, I regretted not reading betweeen the lines. I was appalled by the negative veiw point of chinchillas by the author. She explained that they had a tendency to be neurotic, and untamed. She ealso explained that 'if your planning on breding for a profit, think again. There are far too many chinchillas already, and you will probably end up giving them away.' I bought his book when it was fairly new, and now, almost a year later, I have two wonderful chinchillas, and my girl, phoebe is pregnant, and I already have five people lined up that would like to purchase a baby. I'm afraid I'll have to dissapoint a few by telling them to wait until the next littter! Of course, it may have a certain effect on 'us Americans'(laugh) because the author is German and it was published there first.

I shuddered when I saw the back cover with the picture of the chinchilla eating corn. According to the breeder from whom I bought our chinchilla, CORN CAN CAUSE FATAL BLOATING IN CHINCHILLAS. I even saw the painful effects of corn on a female chinchilla (she had to be euthenized). Most of the information in the book is solid, but the book lost credibility with me on this issue.

this is a good book to get to know more about what the chinchillas life style and what they eay. I would recommend this book if you are thinking about getting a chinchilla.