A chinchilla has become a more common pet inthis past decade. Find out how to take care of your new pet and what you need to keep your chinchilla happy and healthy.
The first time you ever heard of a chinchilla, you may have thought about a chinchilla coat. It seems that chinchillas have been bred not only for their fur but also as pets. The chinchilla has one of the softest and thickest coats and unfortunately has been the target by humans as a fur coat. For the most part the need and desire for a chinchilla fur coat has diminished. However, the chinchilla still exists but more commonly as a common household pet.
A chinchilla is a rodent and the rat is its cousin. For the most part a chinchilla resembles a giant gerbil, a cousin of the chinchilla. They are small in size, large than a hamster but not much bigger than a small rabbit. They have large round ears, a busy squirrel-like tail and whiskers. They are most commonly found gray in color but there is also an albino variation as well as a beige variation.
They are native to the Andes Mountains and have evolved to survive in an environment where the land is dry and water is scarce. They perhaps develop their luxurious fur coat in order to survive the frigid temperatures in the mountains. The large ears are adept for their acute sense of hearing. They also have large eyes and this is because they are nocturnal and their eyesight navigates them in the dark. The fur coat is remarkable in that it can fall easily away from the roots protecting it from predatory birds. When a bird swoops down to grab at the chinchilla it will be surprised to come up only with a tuft of fur.
Chinchillas can be found in pet stores but get ready to pay some high prices. A price for a chinchilla usually runs anywhere from $75 to $150 and this is just for the purchase of the chinchilla. This hasn't even factored in the cost of the cage, food, or toys for the chinchilla. You will pay higher prices for the colors that deviate from the common gray color. A beige chinchilla may run you about $200 or slightly less. You can also purchase a chinchilla via a chinchilla breeder. Be cautious in doing so. Check out the breeder and make sure the chinchilla appears healthy and well adjusted before taking it home. It is safe for a chinchilla to leave its mother around the age of six to eight weeks. It is important to get a chinchilla young so it can bond more easily to you.
A chinchilla must be housed in a space where the temperature never gets too warm. A maximum of 68 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. So it is important not to put the chinchilla in the warmest part of the house. A chinchilla doesn't carry many odors, they spend a lot of time grooming their fur. Chinchillas do shed. They usually shed and regrow their coats once a year.
A chinchilla is a very social animal. You must be ready to make a time commitment to this kind of animal. They are nocturnal animals so most of the time spent with you will be in the early evening and nighttime hours. Despite their quiet nature they can be demanding animals. A chinchilla will do much better in a home where there is lot of activity and time spent outside its cage. For this reason many owners end up getting more than one chinchilla so they can keep each other company. This is important especially if you don't have all that much time to spend day in and day out with the animal. It is usually wise to house the animals separately but put their cages next to eachother. Especially if you have a male and female because they are often sneaky breeders. However, if you have two chinchillas purchased from the same litter and are the same sex sometimes it is OK to house them together. You should keep an eye out for any disagreements between the animals before placing them together.
Housing a chinchilla is pretty basic. The requirements for a cage are that it needs to be roomy and clean. It also has to be gnaw-proof and rust-proof. Two-story vertical cages work out best. Inside the cage the chinchilla needs separate areas for separate functions. The animal should have a nest box or a hiding box. This is the retreat for the animals and the sleeping quarters for the animal during the day. This can be a small cardboard box. This will be gnawed on by the chinchilla that is why cardboard works well so that you can replace it rather easily.
Chinchillas should have a play area. Chinchillas will run on an exercise wheel and they like tunnels which can be created out of PVC piping. There also should be an eating area within the cage. Within this area there should be a heavy ceramic dish and a hay rack. A water bottle designed for rodents with a metal spout should be attached to the side of the cage.
The cage should also have a dust bath. This ritual is unique to the chinchilla. Chinchillas take a dust bath to cleanse themselves and remove excess oils from the coat. The dust bath container should be a smooth-edged box or bowl made of plastic, wood, or metal. The box should be heavy to prevent toppling over when the chinchilla rolls around in it. You can buy the dust material at any pet store. There are commercial brands of dust baths. You should replace the dust bath material two to three times a week.
The floor of the cage should be solid because it is easier on the animal's feet. You can cover the floor with shavings. Avoid cedar and pine shavings. These have oils which can cause respiratory distress in these animals. Use aspen shavings or newspaper-based products. You can train a chinchilla to use a litter box but you have to have patience. You should remove soiled bedding from the chinchilla's cage daily to prevent dampness and bacteria growth. You should remove the entire bedding and disinfect the cage weekly or as needed. You should place the cage in a quiet atmosphere, chinchillas might get stressed if you put them in a high traffic area of your house. The major reason for this is because they are nocturnal and are trying to sleep as you move about with your daily activities. You also should not place the cage in direct sunlight and chinchillas have a strong aversion to humidity. Don't be surprised if during the warm weather months your air conditioning bills increase. This is a necessity for the chinchilla because they cannot tolerate the heat.
Feeding chinchillas is a very simple process. A high quality chinchilla feed formulated especially for the chinchilla should be fed. You can find such a chinchilla diet at a pet store. This should constitute the bulk of the diet. In the absence of chinchilla pellets, you can feed rabbit food but do this in moderation. You should supplement your chinchilla with timothy hay or alfalfa hay. The chinchilla should be fed at regular times each day. Feed the chinchilla once in the morning and once in the evening. A meal should consist of a tablespoon of pellets and a handful of hay per chinchilla. Some favorite chinchilla treats are raisins, oatmeal flakes and apple slices. Treats are important in desensitizing the chinchilla to you and training it to accept you.
Start out slow with the chinchilla, put your hand in its cage and let it get used to your scent. If a chinchilla nibbles on you it may be showing affection and you should take it as a complement. You can handle a chinchilla by gently grasping the animal by the base of the tail with one hand, and lifting the back side of its body slightly off the surface. You should support the chinchilla's body at all times.
Finding a veterinarian that takes care of chinchillas has become easier because chinchillas have become more common as pets. It is important to find a veterinarian that is familiar with these animals and the diseases they might have. It is important in order to keep you pet healthy to disinfect the chinchilla's habitat regularly. Remove uneaten food and soiled bedding regularly.
Chinchillas are fun and amusing animals. With any animal you should learn as much as possible before deciding if you want to have this animal as a pet. Ask yourself the question : Do I have enough time to devote to this creature?
