What Things Would I Need to Know If I Got a Chinchilla?

Properly treated chinchillas can live 15 to 20 years. Mistreated and improperly care for chinchillas will have a short life. Chinchillas thrive on love, quiet, food adapted to their needs, good water, fresh air, moderate temperatures and light Is a chinchilla the right pet for you? chinchillas are cute, odorless, playful and low maintenance, but they are not usually cuddly and would rather run around and play than be held. Some other things to think about are * Can you afford to buy and maintain a chinchilla * Is there a good breeder nearby? * What color and sex would you want? * Are there vets in your area that treat chinchillas? * Do you have pets that could hurt chinchillas? If so are you sure you will be able to keep them separated at all times? A chinchilla bought from a good reputable breeder is almost always a great pet, they have been handled from birth and are usually healthy and well adjusted. Also breeders are more likely to have mutation colors. It is always a good idea to see a chinchilla in person before buying it - The nose of the chinchilla should be dry not runny - The eyes should be bright and free from discharge - Teeth should be yellow and meet in a straight line - The area beneath the tail should not be wet or stained - Animals should be curious when you stick you hand in the cage A very important factor too keep in mind is heat. Temperature is vital to a chinchillas survival. Chinchillas can tolerate very cold temperatures, even freezing temperatures, but they cannot tolerate heat. If the temperature rises above 80 degrees then the chinchilla can overheat and die. During the hot months a chinchilla must be kept in an air conditioned environment or a cool area like the basement. Handling your Chinchilla chinchillas are easily hand tamed. Although chinchillas do need to be handled with care you should not be afraid to handle your chinchilla. If you need to pick up your chinchilla suddenly, do so by grasping the base of their tail. You should never squeeze a chinchilla around the ribs. Chinchillas dislike being petted like a cat or dog. However, They do enjoy being rubbed or scratched around their ears, chin, chest, and face. If they do not like what you are doing, they will push you away or bark at you. Before attempting to hold your chinchilla give them a chance to get to know you, and do not forget to ask your breeder to demonstrate the best ways to hold a chinchilla Before Bringing your new chinchilla home You will need a cage which must be large enough for a few shelves and have room for the chinchilla to run and jump. The bigger the better, but it should not be any smaller than 2'X2'X2' per chinchilla. The cage can be built or bought but it is best to avoid plastic as a chinchilla will chew through plastic quickly. Do not use fish tanks as they do not have enough air circulation and are too small. Safe materials to use are wood, metal, stainless steel and wire. Wire should be no larger that 1"X1" for the sides and 1/2" X 1/2" for the bottom. It is best to use pine or aspen shavings in the bottom. DO NOT USE CEDAR. Cedar has fumes that are toxic to small animals. Chinchilla cages should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. You can buy a hidey house for your chinchilla. It can be made of wood, cardboard or fleece. Keep in mind anything that is placed in the cage may be chewed on and will need to be replaced periodically. Salt blocks are not necessary and too much salt in a chinchilla's diet will cause seizures. Dust baths are used to get the oils out of the fur. Too many can cause dry itchy skin. They should be given 2-3 times a week for 15 minutes during dry weather. During the Humid times of the year you may want to increase the number of baths your chinchilla receives. To give a dust bath you will need a container. There are containers made for this at most pet stores, but anything that is large enough for a chinchilla to roll around in and easy to clean will work. Other items frequently used are large fish bowls, ceramic bowls, and large pickle jars. Feed dishes and water bottles should be dishwasher safe. Glass water bottles are great because the chinchillas cannot chew through them. Feed dishes should be sturdy, large enough to hold the days food and easy to clean, avoid plastic. It is best for food dishes to have a broad base and low center of gravity so they cannot be dumped out by the chinchilla. Ceramic bowls work great. Toys are necessary to wear down their constantly growing teeth. Suitable toys include apple branches (pesticide free), pumice stones, cardboard, hanging bird toys and wood replacement blocks. Avoid toys with plastic, rope or nuts. A good wheel is a great investment, but do no

1. microwaving pesto in plastic?

No, I would not assume that a thin plastic container like that was microwavable. If it has already made you sick, would not be good to eat it again. Due to people talking about the evils of reheated plastic in the staff room at work, I've cut back on using it. When my old plastic containers developed too many scratches, I started using Pyrex or Corning instead or one of the pieces of dishware that we have at work. Sometimes I use cheap paper plates that are largely cotton blend with paper & no coating on them. I do use plastic when it's a packaged frozen entree with microwave instructions or if it's from our neighborhood deli (pasta, casseroles, grilled veggies, potatoes, etc.), which they spoon into black plastic containers. All of these seem to be fine.

2. are you allowed to do high school wrestling while wearing an ACL brace?

The rules prohibit using a plastic one. You need something that's fabric. They make neoprene knee pads/braces that have metal on the inside that are legal because they are covered, but it wo not give you the same support as a real ACL brace. I suggest you have it taped before wrestling, and then wear a knee brace over it. ALSO: make sure that whichever one you get does not have any plastic on the outside of it at all. Some braces use plastic near the velcro straps. Those are also illegal.

3. Plastic Is Fantastic

In Paris, Karl Lagerfeld went plasticus extremis at Chanel, sending several gleaming head-to-toe looks down the runway. One entirely plastic ensemble-a peach-hued pantsuit and green booties-had a distinctly shuffleboard-in-Boca-Raton flair. There was also a shorts and clear vinyl jacket look intended for the beach. Balenciaga's Nicolas Ghesquire has conjured up glamorous dresses and skirts that, at first glance, appear to be fringed in feathers. "They feature a unique celluloid material which was created specifically for Balenciaga-each sheet of celluloid has been finely cut to create the delicate fringe," said Mr. Ghesquire, who found inspiration in a single fringed dress he discovered in the house's archives from Cristbal Balenciaga's winter 1966 collection. At the Maison Martin Margiela show, models trotted down the runway encased in large dry-cleaner-esque plastic covers. Marc Jacobs opted for polyurethane skirts and plastic cowboy boots and flapper dresses for his spring collection. Mr. Jacobs told reporters after the show that he "did not want it to feel real."