Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

I really want a chinchilla. Don't know if they available in Korea. Has anyone ever seen them in a pet store? Has anyone owned a chinchilla?Can anyone suggest a pet store, especially one specializing in cute, furry rodents? I heard there's on ein Bundang, but I don't remember where...

[ilovebdt]

I am so jealous. I'd love a Chincilla too.

[kermo]

I took care of one for a while. Based on what I know:

They need a lot of space. If you're willing to build a hutch for them you can provide decent quarters for them, but you won't find anything in stores to properly accommodate them, and you probably don't want them running loose in your apartment.

They're a bit like squirrels in the sense that they are nervous and expert climbers, and of course, they share other rodent-like tendencies. They're champion chewers, for example.

I knew I wouldn't be able to catch it, so I just kept it in its hutch for the duration and fed it. It seemed pretty happy, but if I owned one I would want it to get more exercise and stimulation.

[krats1976]

Have you looked at the pet market at Chungmuro? I haven't seen them there specifically, but that would be the first place I'd look.

[periwinkle]

I've been there, but all I saw were dogs and a very few cats. The large building with all the stores were closed, though (not sure if that's part of the pet market area, though- I remember seeing jewellery stores in the large building...).

Kermo- were you chinchilla sitting for someone and that's why you only briefly took care of it?

I'm thinking there aren't any chinchillas in Korea. Maybe I should start importing them and selling them... Wonder how I'd get chinchillas into the country, though...

[RACETRAITOR]

You can try the pet section in Dongdaemoon, where they tend to have the more exotic animals, but I feel bad for all animals living there.

[kendy]

I owned a chinchilla for over 4 years so I can give you a lot of information on them. One of the biggest issues with having a chinchilla is the size of cage that they need. They are really quite big and they need to get their excercise. You would need a large cage (about 2 ft X 3ft X 4ft) with at least 2 levels for them to move around. It makes it them really hard to transport around. I would also recommend to put a large wheel in the cage so they could run around. I let mine out of the cage for 1-2 hours a day but it has to be done with supervision. They will chew anything including baseboards, electrical cords, furniture...They also need to be played with as they are very social. And be prepared for a mess. They poop whenever they want (they have no control). If you let them out for a few hours you have to clean up hundreds of little poops everywhere. Just thought I'd give you the facts

They are quite social animals that, and with A LOT of attention can be trained to do things. I had mine trained to jump through a hoop, sit on my shoulder and sit in my hand. This was done though using a large quantity of raisins (they love raisins) and it took a long time. They also eat special little pellets (I doubt you would be able to find them here) as well as a unlimited supply of timothy hay. They also need to have a bath-house. This is a little house that you give to them daily filled with volcanic dust. They go inside and roll around in it which cleans their fur. Its really cute to watch them do this but it also makes everything in the room coated in dust all the time. Their life span is usually from 6-10 years. Mine died after 4 years. He got sick and withing 12 hours he had died. It is also hard to find a vet for them. In Canada, there were quite a few...but here...I'd say there would be very very few, if any.

I really would not recommend getting one if you are planning on moving around a lot. They are really sensitive and doubt it would survive a plane trip across the ocean. When they get stressed or get water on their fur, it falls out. Mine really didn't like change. If I moved him from one room in my house to another he was really agitated. I took him on a plane for 4 hours once across Canada. He was so angry at me that he wouldn't come near me (even for raisins) for a week. You can only leave them for a few days alone, otherwise they will need someone to let them out and feed them.

I really doubt that you would be able to buy on in Korea. I took a picture of mine to school and the students were shocked by the look of it and thought it was a "monster". They really didn't like the look of him.

A chinchilla is a real commitment. You can't expect an animal that will let you pet it a lot or cuddle. I could only pet mine under his chin and behind his ears. If he got a little spooked he would run away. You can't pick them up and they will only go back in their cage when they want to. I would let mine out with the intention of him staying out an hour, but it could be up to 3 or 4. Their is no way to catch them and put them back in without them getting really stressed. I really loved having mine...he had such a personality and I really loved him. However, if you plan on getting one don't do it because they look cute. Do a lot of reasearch and decide if you can commit to owning one.

Hope this helps!

[RACETRAITOR]

Believe me, they have far more monstrous animals in Dongdaemoon.