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Hello and welcome to Critter Care!Cute and Cuddly ChinchillasBy Elizabeth HendersonChinchillas, commonly called "chins," are cute, furry rodents hailing from the Andes Mountains in South America. They make excellent, out-of-the-ordinary pets. Now I know what you're probably thinking, "it's a rodent; rodents are pests, not pets!" This is simply not true. Despite the common image of rodents as pest animals, they are a diverse group and many make excellent furry friends. In their native habitat, chinchillas live high up in the mountains - usually found in elevations from 5,000 – 12,000 feet - and seek shelter in burrows or rocky crevices. They are social animals and live in groups called herds. They are proficient jumpers and can jump as high as five feet. They forage for food and eat a variety of plant materials, including seeds and fruits. Full grown chinchillas are approximately twelve inches in length and weigh upwards of one pound, but generally not more than a pound and a half. Female chinchillas are usually larger than males. The most common coat color is grey, but they range in color from black to white and can be found in shades of brown as well. In the wild they are hunted by snakes, birds of prey, felines, and canines. chinchillas release fur and spray urine to deter these predators, though their main defense is to hide. Unfortunately chinchillas are not only thought of as pets. They have long been killed for their pelts of dense, soft fur. In fact, when Mathias F. Chapman contacted the Chilean government about capturing a few wild chinchillas for domestication in the early 1900's, he was initially turned down because the animals had been hunted to the brink of extinction already. He persisted and was eventually granted permission. It took him three years to capture eleven animals due to their rarity. It is from this group that most domestic chinchillas are descended. Chinchillas are social, intelligent, sensitive, adaptable, and playful animals. They are most active during twilight, but are often also active at night, preferring to rest during daylight hours. If you are consistent about the time of day that you play with your chinchilla, they will usually adjust to being active at that time as well. Skittish by nature, chinchillas, with time and patience, become tame and enjoy being held by people that they know and trust. It is best to obtain your new pet at a young age and from a reputable breeder. They are easiest to tame when young, and a good breeder will have healthy animals that have already been handled correctly, as well as being able to provide good advice on care, handling and any questions you may have. Because they can be skittish, it is important to make sure that any children handling them are very gentle and careful. Young children should be supervised while handling any animal, chinchillas included. Chinchillas can be very vocal and make noises ranging from affectionate chirps and squeaks to barks used to ward off predators. Feeding Your ChinchillaThough chinchillas love tasty snacks like dried and fresh fruit, it is best to only give one or two treats per day and feed them a diet primarily of hay and pellets. A small salt block and fresh water should always be available. Chinchillas have incisors that grow continually and they need things to chew on to keep their teeth short. Wood is a good choice - apple and manzanita are favorites. Avoid woods like fir and redwood. Because of their natural need to chew, anything in their cage will likely be chewed, so be sure that everything is safe. Chinchillas like to bathe often, not in water, but in dust; a product called Blue Cloud is often recommended. This is important because their coats are so dense that water baths would encourage fungal and other skin infections. Housing Your ChinchillaCages or enclosures for chinchillas should be a minimum of 3 feet on a side and have levels for climbing and playing. Both wire mesh and solid bottom cages can be used, the important thing is to keep them clean. If you are using wood shavings for bedding, avoid cedar or undried pine as the aromatic oils can damage your chin's respiratory tract. Exercise is as important as good food, and it is important to provide your chinchilla with activity. One good way to do this is by providing a large, multi-level enclosure for your chin. Another way is with an exercise wheel. It is important to make sure that the wheel is solid, and has no rungs or gaps as their tails can become entangled. Fifteen-inch wheels are usually large enough, but get the largest one you can find,. You can also allow your chin to roam your house, but only once they are tame. Keep in mind that while roaming they will likely chew from time to time, so many people ‘chinchilla proof' (no hanging wires, poisons, or furniture you don't want tasted, etc) one room and only allow them to roam there for a while everyday. Chinchillas commonly live for 15 years and a few individuals have been reported to live longer than 25 years. If you're looking for a small, cute, and unusual new friend, look no further than a chinchilla. Chinchillas even make great apartment pets because they do not smell, are relatively quiet, and don't need a large yard to exercise in. |
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