| How to Care for Chinchillas Posted: 20 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT Chinchillas are adorable, gentle animals that need attentive care in order to thrive. They make great pets but are sensitive, so they should be handled delicately and housed properly. To keep them happy and healthy, you also need to provide them with a proper diet, give them opportunities for exercise, and keep their cage clean. With planning and ongoing care, your chinchilla will be a wonderful and enjoyable pet for years to come. EditGetting the Right Cage - Provide a large, wire cage. Chinchillas should be kept in cages made of metal. Since they are extremely active animals, the larger the cage, the better. Your chinchilla's cage should be at minimum.[1]
- A tall and wide cage is the best, but tall is better than wide if you can't get both.
- Chinchillas love to jump, so multiple levels are great for them. Try to get a tall cage because they can jump up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) high.
- Glass cages are not good for chinchillas because the glass severely limits air flow.
- Make sure the cage has a solid bottom. A chinchilla can get its feet caught in wire floors, which can cause serious physical harm. A solid floor can be made of hard plastic or plywood and it is helpful if the bottom piece is removable so it can be cleaned thoroughly.[2]
- Ensure that the cage bars are close together. It's important that the chinchilla can't stick its head through the bars. If its head fits through the bars, its whole body will fit through and it can escape. These animals have a lot of fur and small bodies underneath.
- If you choose a wire cage, ensure that there are no bits of wire poking out that your chinchilla could cut itself on if it does try to squeeze through the bars.
- Provide a nesting box for your chinchilla. A nesting box will give your chinchilla somewhere to take refuge if it is scared or tired. This box should measure at least 20 in (50 cm) in length and 10 in (25 cm) width and height, and can be made out of a chew-proof material. The nesting box should be placed on the floor, not on any shelves, because the chinchilla might knock it down.[3]
- Proper nesting boxes can be purchased through pet supply retailers online and in some pet supply stores.
- Place the cage in a high, quiet area. It's important to keep their cage in an area where it is quiet during the day so their sleep cycle is not interrupted. Also, chinchillas do not like being looked down on. You should keep their cage on a counter top or somewhere relatively high up. If you look down on them, it can severely scare them.[4]
- Chins have different psychology from cats and dogs, which are predators. They are prey animals, so they are always fearful of being attacked and eaten.
- Do not put a chinchilla's cage in a spot where a dog, cat, or anything else can harm or injure it.
EditProviding the Proper Environment - Keep your chinchilla cool. Chinchillas overheat easily, so it's ideal to keep them in a room that is between and . They cannot survive temperatures over or below . Also, keep their cage in a room with lots of air flow and make sure their cage is not in a spot where the sunlight can directly land on them. Any amount of direct sunlight can cause them to become overheated very quickly.[5]
- Do not allow them to be in high humidity, either. If you have a humid home, put them near a dehumidifier.
- Provide healthy bedding. Try to use kiln-dried aspen on the floor of your chinchilla's cage. You can also use Carefresh or any other paper bedding, but be aware that, when ingested, the paper will expand in the animal's system, causing possible blockage in the digestive tract.[6]
- Some people use fleece fabric on the bottom of their chinchilla cages. If you do this, the fabric needs to washed weekly and you need to be careful to use only fleece and not other fabrics.[7]
- Also, never use cedar shavings as bedding, as the phenols in the cedar are very strong and cause serious respiratory, skin, coat and liver problems. They are also poisonous to chinchillas if they try to eat them.
- Remove soiled hay and bedding from the cage daily. It's important to keep the bottom of the cage clean so that the animal stays clean and disease doesn't spread. Pick up soiled bedding in areas where the chinchilla goes to the bathroom as soon as you see their waste and put new, clean bedding in its place right away.[8]
- Wash the cage with hot water weekly. It is generally suggested that you use no soap or chemicals on the inside of your chinchilla's cage. Instead, simply use hot water to clean the cage. Swish some water around the cage's plastic pan, then clean it thoroughly with hot water and let it air dry. This is a good way to kill most of the bacteria that can harm your chinchilla.[9]
- Don't ever use bleach or any other chemicals on the cage that could harm your chinchilla.
- If you are housing more than 1 chinchilla in a cage, that cage should be cleaned more than once a week.
EditFeeding a Chinchilla - Provide a constant supply of timothy hay. Your chinchilla should have a supply of good quality timothy hay available to them at all times. Provide it in a bowl or loose on the bottom of the chinchilla's cage.[10]
- You can provide timothy hay in racks and hay balls, but be aware that chinchillas are known for getting stuck in them.
- Providing hay gives your chinchilla necessary fiber. Chewing hay helps them avoid tooth overgrowth.
- Give your chinchilla pellets daily. Pellets provide your chinchilla with a variety of vitamins and nutrients. Choose a pellet that is designed for chinchilla nutrition needs and follow the instructions provided with it for portion sizing. Place the pellets in a food dish and make sure that dish is cleaned daily before the pellets are put in it.[11]
- Most adult chinchillas should eat around 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of pellets every day, depending on what type of pellets they are given.
- Feed chinchillas treats infrequently. Feeding them other snacks too frequently can cause digestive problems. Safe treats include raisins, carrots, apple, oats, dried blackberry leaves, rose petals from plants that have not been sprayed with poisons of any kind, unsweetened cheerios, unsweetened shredded wheat, dried rose hips, and safe wood chew sticks. However, these should be given in very small servings and should only be given once or twice a week.[12]
- Never give fruit, vegetables, nuts, or other treats that are not listed as safe.
- Replace the drinking water daily. Use either filtered water or chemical-free tap water and place it in a water bottle with a sipper tube on the end of it that is connected to the side of their cage. Make sure that they have water in that bottle at all times and put clean water in it every day, even if it still has water in it from the day before.[13]
- Remember to sterilize the water bottle when changing the water. The algae that grows in their water can cause liver problems or severe diarrhea, or even kill a chinchilla.[14]
- Chinchillas cannot handle some naturally occurring bacteria or parasites in water like humans, dogs, and cats can, so you need to be sure that the water you give them is clean.
EditHandling a Chinchilla - Begin handling a chinchilla weekly from an early age. If they are handled from birth, they will be tame and docile. If they have no positive physical contact with people until they are full-grown, they will likely not adjust well to being handled unless they are given extensive training.[15]
- Read a chinchilla's cues to determine if they want to be handled. Chinchillas are usually very friendly but shouldn't be over-handled. Make sure your chinchilla does not bark as you go to pick it up. If it does, don't pick it up. This is one of their ways of telling you to back off.[16]
- Chinchillas have other defenses as well, such as losing fur, biting, and spraying urine. If your chinchilla is doing any of these things, you may be handling it too much.
- Lift your chinchilla properly. Lift your pet like you would for a rabbit. Slide your hand under the chinchilla's belly and place your other hand on top of the chinchilla. Use the hand under the chinchilla to support its hind legs and bum so it feels secure. Don't hold the chinchilla too tightly, but do remember that they can be squirmy, so you need to hold them firmly.[17]
- It is very important that you don't squeeze, especially around the upper torso. Chinchillas have what is known as a "floating ribcage" and you can cause severe internal injuries to it by squeezing that area.
- Make sure to be gentle with them to avoid scaring them.
EditKeeping a Chinchilla Healthy - Give your chinchilla something to chew on for dental health. Chinchillas' teeth grow continuously and can grow up to a year. To avoid overgrowth, which can impact a chinchilla's ability to eat, purchase a special block of wood or pumice stone for your chinchilla to chew on. These are typically available at most pet supply stores.[18]
- Also provide your chinchilla with branches that can be climbed and gnawed on. Ensure that these branches are not cut from trees that have recently been sprayed with chemicals, or that are poisonous, such as yew, laburnum, and fresh pine.
- Recommended trees are sycamore and manzanita, as they provide straight wood that is quite resistant to the chinchilla's sharp teeth. Apple tree branches are another good alternative that can be found quite easily.
- Give your chinchilla dust to bathe in. Water can harm the chinchilla's fur, so you can't give it a bath with water. Instead, give them a dust bath. The "dust" bath is made with a mix of dusting powder made of volcanic ash or activated clay and is available from most pet supply businesses. Place the dust in a metal pan that is at least by and only allow the chinchilla access to it for about 10-15 minutes 2 to 3 times per week.[19]
- The dust baths help the chinchilla get rid of excess grease in their fur.
- Do not get chinchillas wet. Their fur does not dry out like a normal animal, causing it to get damaged and moldy.
- Letting your chinchilla have too much time in the dust bath will cause too much dryness on the animal's coat. However, too little dust bathing will cause their coats to build up oils, which can cause a disfiguring and deadly fungus to grow on their skin.
- Provide exercise opportunities. Chinchillas are very active animals and should have an opportunity to exercise every day. This exercise can be a combination of running around inside their cages and giving them time to run around outside of their cage. [20]
- If you do let your pet out of the cage for supervised play time, it should be in a small room and the room should be chinchilla-proof, which means there are no wires, furniture, or other things for them to chew on.
- Keep in mind that chinchillas can jump several feet (nearly 2 meters) in the air and can squeeze through tiny spaces when you let them out of their cage.
- Chinchillas are nocturnal animals, so exercise time outside of the cage is best in the evening in a big area where they can run around.
- Be wary of using an exercise wheel or ball. Do not provide a wire exercise wheel in their cage. Using wheels like this can cause them to injure their feet. If you want to give them a wheel, make sure it has a solid surface and is large in diameter, so they don't bend their backs too far and injure them.
- Also, never use the giant hamster balls pet stores try to sell you. Instead, let them out in a supervised air-conditioned room, and allow your chinchillas to run freely.
- Watch out for signs of illness. Keep an eye on the general health of your chinchilla so that you can catch health problems early and get them treated. Assess the animal's energy level and physical health daily, looking for changes in how it moves and how much it is eating and drinking. Also look over its coat, making sure there are not areas of fur loss. If you see any of these problems, consult with your veterinarian.[21]
- Look at the clarity of the chinchilla's eyes and for excess drainage from the nose, which can be signs of an infection.
- Also look at the state of the chinchilla's feces. If the consistency changes dramatically, it may have a digestive problem occurring.
- Don't try to hold or get up close with your chinchilla until you earn their trust, because they are shy animals and it can be stressful for them whenever they are cornered in an unfamiliar place.
- Check when you buy any item for a chinchilla from a pet store that it is made specifically for chinchillas and that it is safe.
- Never feed chinchillas human food.
- Keep flimsy plastic away from chinchilla cages. Ingesting plastic can cause sickness and/or death.
- Chinchillas are typically not good for children, because of their rather reserved nature and delicate bodies.
EditThings You'll Need - Large wire cage with a solid bottom
- Wooden or cardboard nesting box
- Bedding
- Food, including mostly timothy hay
- Water
- Water bottle and food dish
- Dust for dust bath
- Chew toys
- Wheel with a solid base to run on
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Change a Pool Light Posted: 19 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT Typically, backyard swimming pools are equipped with 1 or more underwater lights. Just like any light, the bulb can burn out and will need to be replaced. There is no need to lower the water level in your pool to replace the burned out bulb. Instead, you can remove the light housing from the side of the pool, pull the fixture up onto the side of the pool, and change the light bulb there. EditRemoving the Pool Light Fixture - Shut off all power to the pool lighting. You'll do this at your home's circuit breaker box. One of the breakers should be marked "pool." Switch this breaker into the "off" position to turn off all electricity to the pool.[1]
- Some swimming pools have been equipped with their own breaker boxes. If you don't see a "pool" breaker in your main electrical box, look around near your pool to see if there's a second box nearby.
- Check to make sure power is off by trying to turn on the pool lights. You don't want to risk possible electrocution, so flip the pool lights on and off to make sure the pool isn't receiving any electrical power.
- If you only have one pool light, try switching the pool pump on and off. If the power is truly off, the pump won't turn on.
- Remove the single screw at the top of the fixture. This screw, called the "screwlock," is the only thing holding the light fixture to the pool wall. In nearly all cases, this will be a large Phillips-head screw, so you will need a Phillips screwdriver to remove it. Roll up your sleeves, stick your arm beneath the surface of the water, and unscrew the screwlock.[2]
- If the light is low on the side of your pool, or if your arm is too short to reach, you'll have to get into the pool to unscrew the screw-lock and remove the fixture.
- Once you've unscrewed the screwlock, place it someplace where it won't roll away and get lost. A shirt pocket is a good option.
- Pry the light fixture out of the niche box with a flat-head screwdriver. Most light fixtures will have a tab at the bottom which allows you to pull the fixture away from the wall. Work this tab loose with the flat-head screwdriver. Also use the screwdriver to loosen the fixture in a few other locations.[3]
- Once it's loose enough, work your fingers in and pull the light fixture out of the wall.
- Pull the pool lighting fixture up onto the pool decking. There should be plenty of cord coiled up in the niche box to allow you to lift out the fixture and move it to the deck. Slowly draw the fixture and the cord behind it up onto the pool deck and set it on the concrete surface.[4]
- If the cord isn't unraveling, reach into the wall behind the light fixture and give the cord 2-3 sharp tugs.
EditReplacing the Light Bulb - Remove the cover and lens from the light fixture. The method will vary based on the age of your pool. Older pool models will have screws that need to be removed to allow you to pull out the lens. Newer pool lights will most likely have tabs that need to be pried loose. Remove the lens and set it aside in a safe place. Do the same with the rubber gasket that sits between the lens and the metal fixture.[5]
- Make sure that you don't splash any water into the fixture when you remove the lens and gasket.
- Purchase a replacement bulb identical to the bulb in the light. Consult your pool's handbook or user manual to find out the exact type of bulb the fixture requires. Then, pay a visit to a local pool-supply store and purchase the corresponding bulb. Make sure that the size, brand, and serial numbers of the 2 bulbs match.[6]
- If you can't find the exact bulb you need in a pool-supply store, purchase the bulb online. You can purchase replacement pool bulbs through major online retailers or through the pool manufacturer's website.
- If you're worried that the light fixture may be leaking, you can also purchase a new rubber gasket to seal the fixture and prevent water from getting in.
- Unscrew the old bulb and screw the new one into place with a towel. Once the lens and gasket are out of the way, you'll be able to reach in and grasp the bulb. Twist the bulb counterclockwise to unscrew it. Once you've removed it, hold onto the new bulb with a towel. Place the bulb in the center of the fixture and twist it clockwise.[7]
- Never directly touch the lightbulb. The oils on your fingers can damage a halogen bulb and cause it to burn out quickly.
- Dispose of the old bulb safely by throwing it in a trash can.
- Turn the power on for 2-3 seconds to test the light and see if it works. Go back to the circuit breaker or pool electrical box and flip the switch back to "on." See if the light turns on. If it does, immediately turn the switch back to "off." This will save you the hassle of installing the new bulb only to find out that it doesn't work.[8]
- If you leave the pool light on for longer than 5 seconds, the bulb may burn itself out. Halogen bulbs like those used in pool lights are extremely hot. If you turn the light on without cool water surrounding it, it will quickly overheat and burn out.[9]
EditReinstalling the Pool Light Fixture - Replace the lens and reassemble the fixture. Place the gasket and the lens back in place covering the bulb.[10] As you're putting the parts of the light fixture back together, use the edge of your towel to dry any water that's dripped into the fixture.
- Replace all screws and lock in all tabs to close the light fixture. You'll simply reverse the disassembling process to re-assemble the pool light fixture. If you removed small screws from the fixture while you were taking it apart, now's the time to screw those back into place. Tighten them so that the gasket is pressed flat between the lens and fixture cover.[11]
- If you're dealing with a newer model pool light fixture that doesn't have screws, make sure that the tabs are all firmly pushed into position so that the fixture is sealed shut.
- Place the fixture back into light niche and screw in the top screw. Hold the fixture in your hand and reach below the surface of the water. Insert the fixture back into the niche that you withdrew it from earlier. Take the screwlock screw and insert it back into the hole at the top of the fixture. Then, use your Phillips head screwdriver to tighten the screw into position.[12]
- You'll also need to feed the cable back into the wall if you had to tug it out. An easy way to do this is to wrap the cord 3-4 times around the base of the fixture before you insert it into the wall.
- Turn the power back on by switching the circuit breaker to "on." This will restore electricity to the pool light. Once the circuits are connected again, turn the light on to make sure it is working correctly.[13]
- If the light still isn't working correctly, you may be dealing with a more serious electrical problem. In this case, contact the pool's manufacturer and ask them to send a repair specialist to inspect the pool.
- Do not reattach the lens when you test the replacement bulb. Leaving the lens off will allow heat to dissipate so as not to crack the lens.
- Do not attempt to change the light until you are absolutely sure the pool lighting circuit is disconnected. If the circuit is still active, you could be seriously hurt by the electrical current.
- After you have replaced the bulb, make sure you don't bump or drop it. The filament in the bulb is fragile and might break.
- If your lens is equipped with tabs, take care not to damage the waterproof gasket when prying up the lens.
EditThings You'll Need - Replacement bulb
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Flat-headed screwdriver
- Towels
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Photograph the Night Sky Posted: 19 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT If you have a cell phone in your pocket or have access to a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR), you can easily take gorgeous photos of the night sky. To improve your astrophotography, avoid shooting in the automatic setting. If you're using a DSLR, program a wide aperture, keep the shutter open for a long exposure, and increase the ISO sensitivity. If you're using your cell phone, download a low-lighting app and consider photographing through a telescope. Once you've captured your pictures, edit them with software until you have the image you want. EditAdjusting the Settings on a DSLR - Mount the camera to a tripod and adjust the f-stop to f/2.8 or wider. Attach your DSLR to a sturdy tripod so it won't move or shake. Open the aperture (f-stop) of the camera to at least f/2.8 or wider so you let in a lot of light.[1]
- The aperture refers to the hole through which light enters the camera. To let more light into the camera, adjust the aperture to a wider f-stop like f/2 or f/1.4.
- Consider using a cable release to capture the image, especially if you're leaving the shutter open for more than 30 seconds. This will reduce the chance that you bump or shake the camera.
- Set the ISO high. Check your camera settings to determine its range of light sensitivity. By dialing up the ISO, your camera will pick up more details in the low light of the night sky. Try photographing with as high of an ISO as your camera has such as 1600 or 3200.[2]
- Keep in mind that shooting at a higher ISO can increase the noise (make the photo grainy), so you'll have to edit in post-production.
- If you're using a film camera, you'll need to load it with high ISO film.
- Turn the white balance to tungsten white. Because your eyes have a hard time seeing the true color of the night sky, it can difficult to set the color for your camera. Don't leave your white balance setting set to daylight or automatic, which will make the night images come out too warm. Instead, set the camera to tungsten white balance to get a more accurate color read.[3]
- To give you even more control over the white balance, shoot the images in RAW mode instead of JPG.
- Choose a manual or slow shutter speed. Since it's hard to get enough light for nighttime photographs, you'll need to leave your shutter open and manually close it or set it for a slow speed. Keep in mind that slow shutter speeds will blur any action taking place in the picture such as shooting stars.[4]
- The manual shutter speed might be bulb on your camera.
- For example, set the shutter speed to 1/30 or 1/15.
EditSetting Your Cell Phone for Astrophotography - Download a night photography app. Make space on your phone to download an updated night photography or long exposure app that works with your operating system. These photography apps are designed specifically for taking great low-light shots. Try one of these night photography apps:[5]
- NightCap Pro (for iPhone)
- Camera FVV-5 of Camera FV-5 Lite (for Android)
- Slow Shutter Cam (for iPhone)
- Average Camera Pro (for iPhone)
- Night Camera (for Android)
- Turn off the flash and high dynamic range (HDR) setting. If you leave the flash on, the image won't capture the brightness of the stars and you'll only see the black sky. It's also important to turn off the HDR because it will actually make the images blurry and dull.[6]
- Avoid using the zoom feature on your phone's camera because it will make the image look grainy and out of focus.
- Secure your cell phone to a tripod. To get high quality photographs of the night sky with your cell phone it's very important to reduce camera shake. Purchase a small tripod that has bendable legs and a base for attaching your cell phone. Once you attach the camera, bend the legs if necessary so the phone is pointed at the part of the sky you want.
- If you don't have a tripod handy, set your phone against any flat surface nearby such as a railing, wall, or pillar.
- Consider attaching your cell phone to a telescope. Some of the best photographs can be taken by photographing through the eyepiece of a telescope. Set up a telescope on a a tripod and look through the eyepiece to adjust the magnification. Once you're looking at the part of the sky you'd like to photograph, attach your phone so it's over the eyepiece.[7]
- To take the photo, just tap the shutter on your camera screen.
- Using the telescope will give you magnified and detailed images.
EditTaking Incredible Images - Compose each photograph with an interesting focal point. Decide if you'd like to capture the stars, moon, or unique clouds in the night sky. To photograph the stars, try to shoot on a moonless night so they appear brighter. For moon photos, check the calendar to determine which phase the moon will be in.[8]
- For example, if you'd like a full moon, you only have 1 to 2 nights each month when you shoot the full or almost full moon.
- To photograph stars, plan if you'd like them to be bright pinpricks of light or if you want a longer exposure that shows star trails.
- Adapt to your situation. Even if you adjust your composition and camera settings, you may have to deal with unexpected variables. Embrace the challenges and find ways to make them work in your photographs. Try different things since you never know what may work out.[9]
- For example, if the sky becomes cloudy or overcast, you might be able to photograph the moon surrounded with an unusual haze.
- Take lots of photographs using a variety of settings. Once you've chosen camera settings for a night sky situation, start taking pictures. Keep making adjustments to the shutter speed or aperture as you shoot to achieve a variety of effects.
- Play around with using your camera's timer to reduce the risk of shaky images.
- Edit your photos in post-processing to get the desired look. Most photos of the night sky have been heavily edited to get high-quality images. Use your favorite photo editing software to crop the image, adjust the balance, and play with the contrast.[10]
- For example, photos of the night sky often have tiny specks of color or grainy pixels that are a result of shooting in low light. Most photo editing software has tools to reduce this noise and make your images crisp.
- Stack the photos in processing to make the image you want. If you're still struggling to show the intensity of a constellation or the trail of a star, use editing software to stack several images. Since you control the layers in the image, you can include planets, stars, clouds, or the moon.[11]
- Some camera apps may allow you to photograph in a rapid fire mode. These images are great for stacking.
- Unfortunately, point and shoot cameras lack the capabilities to capture great shots of the night sky. Instead, use film or DSLR cameras to take shots of the night sky.
EditRelated wikiHows EditThings You'll Need EditUsing a DSLR Camera - Digital single-lens reflex camera
- Tripod
EditPhotographing with a Cell Phone - Cell phone
- Cell phone tripod
- Telescope, optional
EditTaking Incredible Images - Photo-editing software
- Images from your camera or phone
EditSources and Citations
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