(no subject)

[apocalypsos]

There's this TV show on Saturday mornings where this dorky guy in a room swarming with all kinds of pets gives pet advice. And I just realized after watching a few minutes of it that I could easily host this show with a modicum of research on the animals I've never had as pets. Meaning, hardly any of them. Hee.

Also, he just talked about chinchillas. I want a chinchilla. *whimper*

*squeaks* Pygmy possum! *dies of cute*

Comments

[ladyshadowphyre.livejournal.com]

Also, he just talked about chinchillas. I want a chinchilla. *whimper*

~cringes~ Nuh-uh. My old music teacher used to have a chinchilla. They're cute and fluffy, sure, but they're expensive as hell and a bitch to take care of.

Would you like a young rabbit instead? I just so happen to have one up for adoption....

-Lady Shadowphyre

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Alas, I can't have any pets in this place. I can just sit around and pine for a new one. (I'm hoping that when I can finally move back to PA, I can convince my parents to give me a Siamese kitten as a housewarming present.)

[malhablada.livejournal.com]

Are you referring to Petkeeping with Marc Morrone?

::cough-guiltypleasure-cough::

omg i lurve him, he's so doofy!

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's the one. He had a squealing baby ferret on there today. And a Siamese kitten! Awwwwwwwww. Needless to say, that was a good wakeup. :)

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

I like it when Martha Stewart shows up, because she looks really annoyed to be surrounded by this shitload of different animals in a really small space.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

Martha Stewart annoyed is fun in a scary way. You can tell she's just itching to stab someone.

[wtfbrain.livejournal.com]

You mean Raoul's Wild Kingdom is really on TV? Is he teaching poodles to fly yet? Or showing kids that turtles are nature's suction cups?

Why, yes, I did just watch UHF yesterday...

[pescivendolo.livejournal.com]

I love that show. *sigh*

The best part is watching the animals crawl all over the place and try to eat the other animals.

[digitalmeowmix2.livejournal.com]

hee!

[wyldkyss.livejournal.com]

Hah! I know the show you speak of. I've found myself bored and awake too early to see that before. The animals are always so darling!

[dragonsinger.livejournal.com]

Chinchillas are cute, but they poop everywhere. A girl who lived a couple of apartments down from me in college had one.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Heh. I used to volunteer at the zoo, and the only animal that ever bit me and drew blood? The chinchilla.

Snakes are better. Rodents are snake food...

[lots42.livejournal.com]

I had a Japanese Chin growl at me. For those not in the know, it's like a four year old growling at a biker.

[agonystar.livejournal.com]

That guy freaks me out.

[kkglinka.livejournal.com]

Dude, I've seen that guy. Sometimes the birds try to peck at him.

Chinchilla-owner here...

[ardath_rekha]

Expensive? Maybe a little. Depending on where you are, a standard-color chin can cost as little as $50-$60, or a bit more. Yeah, that's an expensive outlay if you're comparing to say, a rabbit or a gerbil or something. Part of why is because chins breed so slowly... gestation is 111 days and they generally only give birth to between 1 and 3 babies per litter.

But they're very low-maintenance pets, in truth. They just want their sandbaths and a weekly cage cleaning and chew toys, and they'll be comfy and happy. If you have a pair or more, they'll entertain themselves when you're not around. As for the pooping everywhere, well, as with any rodent, that's one of the things they do... but they also have the cleanest and most manageable feces I've ever dealt with. You can sweep them up with no trouble at all.

A well-raised chinchilla will nibble but won't bite hard. Now, I have been bitten. I took in a completely neurotic chin at one point -- he'd been abused by his prior owner -- and he'd bite me if he thought he had provocation (which could mean I looked at him wrong) and those teeth are little chisels, so yes, they will draw blood if that happens. But a well-raised chinchilla is a very calm, easygoing animal who likes to snuggle. They're very social and love to puppy-pile up with each other when it's time to sleep... and those social habits transfer easily to their humans.

Honestly, I could sing their praises forever. They are some of the most remarkable creatures I've ever had and I love them intensely.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

You DO want a chinchilla (don't listen to the naysayers). I have two, and they are Uber-Cute (http://www.livejournal.com/users/foresthouse/172937.html#cutid1).

Also, while they may be a bit expensive to set up, once you do set them up the costs are about the same as for most other caged pets. And they live for 12-15 years, so clearly the investment is stretched out over time :)

P.S. I met your friend ladybug218 today. She is nice!

[norabombay.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think the best part is that he only has the show because he was a friend of Martha Stewarts, and she got him the deal.

I mean, obviously he's entertaining, but that he's the sole link to humanity with Martha? That's weird.

And personally, I'll put my vote in for a dachshund. Sort of the same size as a chinchilla or a Japanese Chin, but more resiliant.