Chipmunks - great pets for adults and teenagers (Chipmunks)

Member Name: adeleclark747

Product:	Chipmunks
Date:	18/10/08 (986 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly creatures and cute to boot

Disadvantages: More expensive than keep a hamster

Chipmunks make great pets for teenagers or adults. They take a little looking after so I wouldn't recommend them for small children.

I kept two chipmunks in an outside cage for about five years. My dad built the cage which was attached to our shed so that they could have a nest box inside for when it was too cold for them to sleep outside. This worked well because they like to hibernate for part of the winter. This means you shouldn't worry if your chipmunks haven't surfaced for a while. I always found mine snuggled up together in their nest box when the ground was frosty outside.

The cage also contained lots of rope bridges, ladders and tubes to keep them occupied. Chipmunks are very quick and it is important to give them the chance to stay active.

Both of my chipmunks were male which meant I didn't have to worry about them breeding. However when I bought them I had asked for a male and a female so be warned that some shops aren't very good at identifying their sex. I would definately recommend buying more than one chipmunk though because they are very sociable animals.

Chipmunks will eat a variety of foods including fruit, vegetables and dog biscuits. I think mine actually ate better than the rest of the family because they used to be treated to strawberries and cherries all summer. Sweetcorn was also another favourite which use to disappear as soon as it was put in the cage.

It is also important to clean the cage and bowls regularly. One year I noticed my chipmunks were itching and after a visit to the vets it was discovered they had flees. The treatment was easy though so simple ailments can be cured easily. The hardest part was catching them to take them to the vets.

Keeping chipmunks as pets is very enjoyable because they are friendly animals. If you have a cage large enough to stand in you will find that they will run over you. Be warned that they like to bury themselves amongst clothes. They are not the type of animal you would sit down with and stoke. The chipmunks I kept weren't interested in staying still that long. However their fur is lovely and soft if you get the chance to stroke them.

All in all a rewarding pet as long as you have the time to feed and play with them daily, especially in the summer. They are not the cheapest pet to buy so it is important to be sure that you want to keep them before jumping in.

Summary: A great pet if you have the time to play with them.