Chinchillas almost resemble a mixture of other animals. They appear to be a small rabbit without such long ears and with a squirrel's tail. Except for around their ears, they have thick fur, which was the reason they were hunted for many years almost to the point of extinction by the early 1900s. Wild varieties of chinchilla are larger than the domesticated versions. Pet chinchillas are very affectionate, if familiar with being handled from a young age, but attention needs to be paid to several aspects of chinchilla care.
Chinchilla Colours
Colours can be largely grouped into pale, beige and darker colour varieties. Darker varieties always have black eyes, while some of the paler variants have pink or red eyes. Fur on their underside is usually pure white, though it can be coloured in some of the darker varieties. The underlying fur is light in colour, the various colours being on the outer coat and darkest at its tips.
Chinchilla Behavior
Chinchillas have excellent hearing, it being their prime sense of activity around them. They are active from twilight and during the night when they can be very active. Pet chinchillas tend to develop a routine pattern to their activity. If allowed out of their cage, they will often return of their own accord after some exploration. The room needs to be secure and they must be watched to prevent them chewing furniture or anything else with their very sharp teeth. At their most active, they like to run and jump at speed and are difficult to catch. Chinchillas will chirp and if angry they make a series of loud clicks.
Chinchilla Cages
A chinchilla cage should be large, as chinchillas like climbing. Thick tree branches can be used but a novice chinchilla keeper should purchase them from a pet shop to avoid any risks of disease, sycamore being a very good choice as it is a strong wood. Chinchillas gnaw a lot with their sharp teeth on almost anything that is available, so equipment will often need replacing at intervals. The mesh of the chinchilla cage, in addition to being narrowly-spaced, needs to be of a thicker gauge than many cage types as the chinchillas will chew at it. Wood shavings are best for the cage floor but only those specificallly sold for the purpose in pet cages.
Pet chinchilla cages should also contain:
- Nest boxes, a key aspect to the pet chinchilla's sense of security
- A water bottle of the tube feeder or syringe type, with a mesh surround to prevent it being chewed
- Food bowls, preferably attached to the side of the cage
- Toys, which might include small wooden blocks for the chinchilla to chew on, chinchilla wheels and large tubes of plastic or cardboard though the chinchilla will chew these as well as playing in them
A dust box is also required for chinchillas but this is not usually left permanently in the cage.
Chinchilla Care
An advantage of pet chinchillas is that they keep themselves very clean, though their cage should be cleaned weekly to avoid any risk of infection. Chinchillas require a special diet, mainly chinchilla pellets. They should also be fed on hay or alfalfa as sources of fibre. Small pieces of apple and raisins will serve as treats. Diarrhoea can be fatal to chinchillas, so any dietary changes, no matter how slight, should only be made gradually.
Handled from young, chinchillas will enjoy it if familiar with being picked up. They need to be held gently yet firmly and securely. If they feel insecure they will wriggle free and may injure themselves and will also bite on occasion if stressed.
The chinchilla's coat needs to be maintained. A chinchilla comb is normally used. Chinchillas should be allowed access to the dust bath every two days or so. The dust is a specific formula often called chinchilla sand, which dries the fur of excess grease and moisture. Each chinchilla should be placed in it for a few minutes then the bath removed. Signs of a chinchilla chewing its fur signifies stress, which often means that it needs a nest box, or is subject to overcrowding and sometimes possible bullying by another chinchilla. Chinchillas are also scared by pet cats and dogs, so buying a pet chinchilla is unwise in this circumstance.
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