Hailing from the treacherous slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America, Chinchillas were highly sought after because of their fur.
Sadly, they were hunted down for it, which almost led to their extinction. Today, Chinchillas are considered endangered in the wild. Fortunately, there are now several organisations supporting its conservation.
Are you planning to rear such a prized pet? Read along to learn more about Chinchilla care and find out if you are ready to take on these responsibilities:
What Are Chinchillas Like as Pets?
The Chinchilla has two species classification, Chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed) and Chinchilla brevicaudata (short-tailed). For a well-tended Chinchilla, it can live up to 12–20 years. Let us decipher whether its behaviour can fit well into your lifestyle.
1. Chinchillas Are Crepuscular Creatures.
The active hours of these rodents occur between dawn and dusk. They can be raucously loud during this time since they enjoy running, bouncing, and jumping on their cages. For this reason, they are not the best choice for children.
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The ideal pet parents of Chinchillas are people who are night owls or those who are not easily disturbed by nighttime noise.
2. Chinchillas Are Social Animals, But They Can Be Reserved.
During your first interaction, this little fluff may not be as friendly and sociable as with the other rodents. Such behaviour can be corrected by proper training.
A Chinchilla can be loving and loyal, but not an ideal lap pet. Remember that this rodent has remarkable agility, especially at night; thus, it does not like to stay still for long periods.
On the other hand, Chinchillas become more social when reared with other chinchillas. This is unsurprising considering that in the wild, they thrive in colonies with more than 100 individuals.
In general, a Chinchilla’s behaviour depends on its personality. Some prefer to be the only “Chin” in the family, whilst others like to have a pair or more.
3. A Chinchilla Can Be Trained.
Chinchillas are said to have similar hearing skills to humans. They are capable of responding to particular commands such as “roll” and “sit.” However, training takes a lot of patience as these animals can be stubborn at times.
Furthermore, compared to other small pets, the Chinchilla cannot be toilet-trained. There is no specific area where they will withdraw their dirt. As such, the ideal cage should have a pull-out tray.
Chinchilla Care Basics
1. Food
This herbivorous animal thrives in the wild by eating grasses, leaves, stems, roots, and twigs. As such, keeping it as a pet should be provided with a high-fibre and low-sugar diet.
Chinchilla pellets and premium-quality hay such as orchard grass and Timothy are staples in this animal’s diet. When buying food from the pet store, be sure to check its nutritional content and choose the ones particularly made for the animal.
Chinchillas must also be provided with unlimited amounts of water at all times. So their water bottles must be filled and replaced with fresh water daily.
2. Treats
Any food aside from pellets, hay should be given occasionally as treats. Chinchillas have a sensitive digestive system that cannot deal well with foods that are high in sugar. With this in mind, these types of meals should be given sparingly and in small amounts.
3. Baths
A Chinchilla’s method of bath time, dust bathing, is one of its notable quirks. This is vital for maintaining its fur in excellent condition. This rodent typically takes dust baths, which last for about 20 minutes. It happens at least twice or thrice a week.
Never use ordinary sandpit or sand from the builders as this could damage its fur and skin. Give the Chinchilla dust or sand specifically made for it. Fill its bath container with approximately 10 centimetres of dust so it can roll around without any risk of injuries.
4. Socialising
Chins get lonely if they are living alone. Thus, it is best to provide them with other Chinchilla companions. However, if this is not feasible, pet owners must spare some of their time to interact and play with them.
Doing so strengthens their bond with their furry friend and helps Chinchillas feel more secure in their cage.
5. Toys
As mentioned earlier, Chinchillas are full of energy and quick on their feet. Thus, ensuring their cage contains sufficient amounts of toys is integral in keeping them active and healthy.
Some good options are chew toys, exercise wheels, and cardboard tubes or boxes.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Chinchilla Cage
Create an interesting and exciting environment for your adventurous Chinchilla. Keeping it happy and satisfied is important to prevent it from catching boredom, which contributes to the development of health issues.
1. Size
First, consider the size of the cage. Choose an adequate size where a Chinchilla has ample space to roam around.
A minimum-size cage for one Chinchilla should be at least 16 inches in length, 18 inches in width, and 16 inches in height. If you cannot provide bigger sizes, consider buying a tall cage rather than a wider one, as this animal enjoys jumping.
2. Material
As a rodent, Chinchillas like to gnaw on anything reachable, including rubber, wood, and plastic. As such, the right cage should be made of metal, which animals cannot easily chew.
3. Spacing Between Bars
Chinchillas give the illusion of having bulky bodies due to their thick coat. However, they can easily squeeze between the slats of the cage bars.
For this reason, pick the right cage that should not be more than an inch apart for adult Chinchillas and not more than 0.5 inches apart for young Chinchillas.
4. Temperature
The dense coat of Chinchillas makes them prone to overheating. Ideally, they should be kept in a cool place with temperatures ranging between 61 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and should not exceed 25 degrees Celsius. Do not place its cage where it is exposed to direct sunlight.
5. Bedding
The suitable bedding for a Chinchilla requires a layer of wood shavings on its cage floor. Know that this rodent can be sensitive to chemicals and strong odours. As such, avoid pine or cedar wood shavings that can be a risk to its health.
FAQs About Chinchilla Care
1. How Do Chinchillas Keep Clean?
Chinchillas keep clean by giving themselves dust baths. It involves rolling around fine dust to remove dirt and debris from their coat. This technique also helps evenly distribute their natural oils, which keeps their skin and fur healthy and soft.
2. Why Can’t You Get a Chinchilla Wet?
You can’t get a Chinchilla wet because it could get sick. The fur of this animal can hold moisture for a long amount of time. This means drying them completely is difficult.
If some dampness remains in their coat, it becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, which can result in health issues like skin infections. For this reason, Chinchillas require dust baths only.
3. Are Chinchillas Destructive?
Chinchillas can be destructive if they are not given proper outlets to unleash their energy on. Thus, different varieties of toys must be placed inside their cage to keep them busy and entertained.
4. How Long Can You Leave a Chinchilla Alone?
It is not recommended to leave a Chinchilla alone for more than a day. Someone should keep it in company to keep it from feeling lonely.
Supervision is also another important reason why Chins should not be left for long periods. Their rowdiness might result in dangerous accidents, which need immediate attention.
Conclusion
Chinchillas make good pets, but contrary to popular belief, they are not low maintenance. Whilst they might be small-size creatures, they have a long list of needs and care requirements.
Moreover, these rodents have a lifespan that nearly rivals that of cats and dogs. Thus, prospective Chinchilla owners need to consider these factors before making their decision.