Chinchilla at home: what to feed, choosing and arranging a cage, care, breeding, diseases

Chinchillas are popular pets from the rodent family with an attractive appearance and funny character. They are easy to care for, clean and do not require constant attention. But there are still some rules for keeping pet chinchillas that a novice owner should familiarize himself with in advance.

In the article we will tell you how to keep a chinchilla at home, what conditions need to be created, what is the life expectancy of the rodent, character traits and behavior, choice of cage and its arrangement, diet, how to tame and walk your pet, is it possible to bathe, breeding, what diseases do you have? chinchillas, advantages and disadvantages of keeping them.

Features of chinchillas

Chinchillas are medium-sized rodents with beautiful thick fur and a bushy tail. The coat color is gray with a white belly. There are also representatives of black, snow-white, white-pink and beige colors.

The maximum weight of an adult chinchilla is 800-900 g, and the height of the animal can reach 30-38 cm. The length of the tail is 12-17 cm.

Chinchillas have large, slightly rounded ears, by which you can always determine your pet’s mood. If he is scared, the ears lie on his back, in the same position they are when the animal sleeps. And if the chinchilla listens and shows interest, its ears rise high.

These exotic rodents have very beautiful shiny black eyes in which you can see your reflection. Chinchillas also have strong and massive hind legs, which allow them to easily push off the ground when running. They are longer than the front legs.

Character, behavior and habits of a rodent

Chinchillas are smart animals that adapt well to home conditions. They are very inquisitive, show interest in the world around them and do not ignore any changes in the cage or room. If guests appear in the house, they react very violently, trying to attract attention to their person. They also make interesting sounds, by which you can understand how the animal feels. For example, if a chinchilla is unhappy with something, it makes a cracking sound.

Other behavioral features, habits and character of the chinchilla:

very energetic, can jump vigorously in the cage, demanding release;
are nocturnal, sleeping most of the day;
quickly become attached to the owner, but do not like affection, prefer to be watched from the side;
They tolerate loneliness well.

A distinctive feature of chinchillas is also their cleanliness. They always keep their fur clean and never stink. The owner needs to support this habit of the animal and regularly clean the cage.

Is it possible to determine the age of a rodent?

It is very difficult to determine the exact age, but there are nuances that will help distinguish a cub from an adult. The puppy has a more rounded muzzle, teeth with white enamel (this is typical for young animals less than two months old). With age, teeth darken. It is believed that by seven months the reproductive apparatus is fully formed; this fact will help determine the age of a young chinchilla. Weight increases with age, the skin on the paws becomes rougher. An elderly chinchilla may have pigment spots on the ears and the activity of such an individual is sharply reduced.

It turns out that by following the basic rules for the care and maintenance of this cute animal, you can extend its life, and your pet will be able to please you for many years.

Rules for keeping chinchillas at home

Caring for chinchillas at home does not pose any particular difficulties, but it requires proper equipment of the cage where the exotic rodent will live and compliance with the temperature regime.

What kind of cage is needed and how to arrange it

The ideal home for a pet chinchilla would be a spacious cage measuring 60x50x100 cm. The fluffy rodent loves to jump around the cage, so the higher it is, the more comfortable the pet will feel.

After purchasing a suitable cage for a chinchilla, we move on to its proper arrangement.

Required equipment:

Feeder and drinker for food and water. It is advisable to purchase metal dishes so that your pet does not chew them. It is also necessary to securely fix the feeder, as rodents love to carry them in their teeth.
Chalk stone for grinding teeth (sold in pet stores).
Toys – wooden cubes, walnut shells.
Active rodents will love a running wheel, but a regular one will not work as it has too large distances between the bars. An alternative option would be a metal wheel. In place of the rods there is a mesh. During running activities, a chinchilla can injure its paw. For such rodents, special solid wooden wheels are provided, which are safe for active jogging.
You can also place large, non-sharp stones, tree branches, and ladders in the cage. In hot weather, the chinchilla will be able to cool off on the branches. This will help her avoid overheating, which is detrimental to her. It is very important to choose durable accessories and securely fasten them in the animal’s home so that during active movement they do not fall and injure the chinchilla.
For entertainment complexes, wooden bridges, tunnels and even hammocks made of thick fabric are installed in the cages.
Chinchillas love to take sand baths. At least once every 2-3 days, a bathing suit with clean volcanic sand, selected according to the size of the animal, is installed in the cage. Sand must be purchased at a pet store. You can leave the bathing suit inside the house for about 30 minutes, and then it’s better to remove it, since chinchillas can urinate on the sand. In this case, an unpleasant odor appears in the cage. Prolonged contact with sand is contraindicated; it dries out your pet's skin.

In pet supply stores you can buy everything you need to equip a cage with a pet chinchilla. The assortment includes a wide variety of toys for the inquisitive rodent. Products made from natural wood are considered the safest. Over time, the chinchilla can chew them off, but such toys bring a lot of joyful emotions to the animal and allow them to have fun without the attention of the owner.

Comfortable temperature for a chinchilla

A prerequisite for keeping a pet chinchilla is the creation of a favorable microclimate with maintenance of optimal air temperature. These animals feel comfortable at a temperature of +12+230C. Direct sunlight should not enter the cage, as it is harmful to the rodent. The optimal humidity level is no more than 60%.

When the air temperature is higher than the maximum recommended value, chinchillas feel unwell and become inactive. They experience similar discomfort at low temperatures. You can control the temperature in your pet chinchilla’s home using a regular room thermometer and a hygrometer, which determines the level of humidity in the room.

Natural enemies

Large predators are not found in chinchillas' habitats, but they still have plenty of enemies. First of all, these are foxes that set up ambushes near the burrows of furry rodents, and patiently wait for the prey to carelessly emerge from its hiding place. Snakes often sneak into the gorges favored by chinchillas, and owls and eagle owls lie in wait for them in the pre-dawn hours. Taira is also not averse to hunting them - a predator from the mustelid family, whose small size allows it to deftly penetrate into the chinchillas’ lair, grabbing the first animal it comes across.

Camouflage color helps chinchillas successfully hide from predators

But the most dangerous enemy for these amazing creatures was and remains man, who, because of their beautiful fur, almost completely exterminated chinchillas in their natural habitat.

Caring for a chinchilla at home

Chinchillas living at home need the owner's care and proper care.

Main responsibilities of the owner:

organizing proper and timely nutrition for the rodent;
hygienic care of animals;
cleaning the cage.

What and how many times a day to feed

Proper nutrition is the key to the health and long life of a rodent at home. 70-80% of a domestic chinchilla’s diet consists of ready-made food made from pressed grass pellets. This product is purchased at pet stores. When choosing food, study its composition. It should not contain additional additives, preservatives, yeast or salt.

The recommended daily portion of ready-made food for chinchillas is 2 tbsp. l. Uneaten remains are removed from the feeder, and the next time fresh food is given.

Additional bait to the chinchilla's main diet:

Cereals. Every day you can feed your chinchilla a cereal mixture of corn, rolled oats, buckwheat, lentils and flax seeds. The dosage of each ingredient is 1 tsp, and flax seeds - no more than 1/3 tsp.
The hay is clean, purchased, without any pungent odor, roots or soil. This product is given once every 3-4 days in small portions.
Treats (no more than 10% of the diet). You can pamper your pet with ready-made bait from stores, as well as dried berries, fruits and branches of healthy trees.

Chinchillas can be given twigs and leaves of viburnum, acacia, maple, cranberry, hawthorn, rowan, gooseberry, sea buckthorn, Jerusalem artichoke root, calendula and jasmine flowers, leaves of lemon balm, mallow, oregano, alfalfa and nettle.

Allowed products also include grape leaves, stems of chamomile, clover, mint, thyme, string, coltsfoot, apple inflorescences and fruits, willow buds, pumpkin seeds, parsley, sweet peppers, carrots, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, honeysuckle and lingonberries.

Allowed treats are given in small portions. It is advisable to treat your pet with a variety of baits so that his body receives all the necessary microelements.

Important rules:

herbs and twigs for feeding chinchillas are collected in ecologically clean areas far from highways;
be careful when choosing foods to feed your chinchilla and never give the animal spoiled or dirty food;
A chinchilla should not be overfed with sweets, since the liver of this rodent is not designed to process large amounts of glucose.

Remember: a harmful and unbalanced diet provokes various diseases and leads to the premature death of a pet.

Bathing and grooming chinchillas

Chinchillas are clean animals that take care of their luxurious fur on their own. The owner can only take a small part in caring for the pet, providing her with the opportunity to take pleasant and healthy sand baths by placing a container with sand in the cage.

It is not recommended to bathe your chinchilla in water. Water procedures can result in inflammatory diseases. These rodents are very vulnerable to hypothermia and catch cold quickly. If the fur is heavily soiled, you can moisten a soft cloth with water and gently wipe your pet’s fluffy coat.

Chinchillas do not need nail trimming or ear care. They cope with these hygiene procedures on their own. The owner only needs to monitor the oral health of the furry pet. A stone for sharpening teeth, as well as branches of useful plants, should be constantly available in the cage.

Cleaning the cage

Once every 3-4 days you need to clean the chinchilla’s cage. It is recommended to fill the bottom of the structure with special fillers. They absorb moisture and unpleasant odors well and are absolutely safe for rodents.

How to clean:

The bottom of the cage is cleared of debris and other contaminants. For convenience, it is recommended to use a small brush and dustpan.
The surfaces of the structure and accessories are cleaned of dust with a damp cloth.
Once a month it is recommended to disinfect the cage and internal elements. This procedure is carried out in order to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, which will eliminate the risk of illness for the pet.
Every day you need to change the water in the drinking bowl and keep the feeder clean.

Cleaning the cage will not take much time and will provide safe living conditions for your furry rodent at home.

Feeding

The quality of food will determine how many years a chinchilla will live in your home. The animal needs to be fed with special granulated food, with the addition of vitamins and treats that it will like.

The animal will happily eat dried fruits, rose hips, dried chamomile flowers, hibiscus, dandelion and cornflowers, and dried carrots.

Every day, a chinchilla should consume hay with various additives - nettle or rose hip flowers - these foods can be purchased at a pet store.

Taming and walking

Chinchillas are self-sufficient animals by nature, preferring solitude. They cannot be raised and tamed like dogs or cats, although there are exceptions. Some furry representatives show affection and happily sit in the arms of the owner.

How to tame a pet chinchilla:

During the first days of a week of living in a new home, the rodent needs to adapt. During this period it is better to leave him alone.
Starting from the 3rd week, you can begin taming: talk to your pet, try to open the cage and extend your hand to the chinchilla. This may interest her, she will begin to sniff the palm and quietly bite the fingers. Chinchilla bites are absolutely safe and painless.
When the chinchilla gets used to the owner's hand, it can jump onto the palm. The owner does not need to make sudden movements and try to pull the pet out of the cage. At first, such communication procedures are enough.
For any success in training, you can reward your chinchilla with a tasty treat.
When the rodent gets used to the person, you can try to lure him out of the cage and put him in your arms. Prepare a treat for your furry friend in advance. Gently stroke the fur on the neck, ears and chest, encouraging the animal with kind words. Try not to stroke your chinchilla's back or sides; he won't like it.
Communicate with the chinchilla, calling it by name, let it get used to its nickname.
Do not pick up your chinchilla against its will. She may get scared and bite or scratch in self-defense. Another fighting technique of this rodent is shooting urine at the enemy.

If a chinchilla finds contact with its owner unpleasant, it will make a dissatisfied noise. At such moments, it is better to leave the rodent alone and postpone all attempts to tame the pet to another time. Let her calm down and get used to attention from people.

Reproduction

Chinchillas reach sexual maturity at the age of 6-9 months, with females maturing earlier than males. Despite the fact that rodents live in colonies, mating occurs with one permanent partner.

The first rut begins in the spring. The gestation period lasts a little more than 3 months. During this time, the female noticeably gains weight, and just before giving birth, she practically stops moving. 2-3 cubs are born in one litter. The animals are born sighted, they have teeth and are covered with fur. The female feeds the babies with milk for up to two months, but already on the 2-3rd day they begin to try plant foods.

Females give birth 2-3 times a year. Re-coating by the male occurs almost immediately after birth. Despite the ability of chinchillas to produce offspring several times per season, reproduction of the species does not occur as intensively as in other rodents due to the small number of litters.

Animals reproduce well in captivity. Thanks to many years of breeding work, it was possible to obtain many varieties with different fur colors. Today on chinchilla farms you can find individuals with a standard gray color, as well as beige, silver, white, black, brown, and purple. The rarer and more difficult the color mutation to obtain, the higher the price of the chinchilla.

Possible diseases

For a number of reasons, your pet chinchilla can get sick. In such cases, the pet will require immediate medical attention. An experienced specialist will conduct a diagnosis and select a treatment course based on special medications intended for rodents.

What diseases can a chinchilla develop:

Hyperthermia is overheating of the body. This condition occurs if the recommended temperature regime is not observed. The deterioration of the pet’s condition begins already at an ambient temperature of +250C. If the air warms up to 300C, the chinchilla may die suddenly. The main symptoms of hyperthermia: immobility, redness of the tongue, stretching of the body while lying on its side, convulsions. First aid: the cage with the chinchilla needs to be moved to a cool place. To relieve her condition, it is recommended to moisten the outside of her ears and paw pads with cool water. To prevent dehydration, give your chinchilla water to drink.
Abnormal stools and liquid feces are a fairly common problem in domestic chinchillas that arise as a result of poor quality nutrition or after a change in food. The owner needs to disinfect the cage and review the chinchilla’s diet. To combat loose stools, special medications are used that can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy.
Colds - occur due to hypothermia of the animal. For example, if the cage is in a draft or the chinchilla has been in low temperatures for a long time. Main symptoms: runny nose, cough, sneezing, watery eyes, lethargy. Chinchilla colds can be treated with medications prescribed by a veterinarian.
Ringworm is manifested by hair loss in a certain area of the body. It develops as a result of stress or fear, as well as due to low immunity, unsanitary living conditions, or after contact with an infected pet. It is treated with special ointments as prescribed by a doctor.

In addition to the listed pathologies, the domestic chinchilla can develop diseases of the eyes, ears, digestive organs, reproductive system, and even have a stroke. Proper care and quality nutrition will reduce the risk of developing diseases.

Interesting Facts

Chinchillas are perhaps the only animals whose life expectancy is shorter in captivity than in their natural habitat.
To ensure that pets are properly cared for and fed properly, owners usually try to match the life stage of the pet to the life stage of the human. There is no single formula for determining the age of a chinchilla by human standards. It is generally accepted that 1 month of life in rodents is equivalent to 6 months in humans, 6 months is equivalent to 14-16 years, 10-12 years is equivalent to 40-45 years, 20 years is equivalent to 75 years.
The beauty of chinchilla fur has prompted breeders to develop new species of other animals with the same fur. This led to the British chinchilla rabbit breed and the British chinchilla cat breed.
Chinchillas do not shed in the usual sense of the word. Complete replacement of hair occurs in young animals once, after which the hair is renewed daily, losing some of the old hair.

Chinchilla as a pet: pros and cons

Keeping chinchillas at home has its pros and cons. Let's look at them.

Pros:

An independent and clean rodent that does not require constant attention, it is an excellent choice for busy people who do not have the opportunity to devote a lot of time to their pet.
A chinchilla does not produce an unpleasant odor, even if the animal’s cage has not been cleaned for several days. This is due to the absence of sweat and sebaceous glands in the rodent’s body.
Chinchilla fur does not harbor fleas and ticks.
Chinchilla fur is hypoallergenic.
These animals carry out hygienic care on their own, which reduces the list of responsibilities for the owner.
They have strong immunity and do not suffer from genetic diseases.
They eat little, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money on food and necessary accessories for your chinchilla.

Minuses:

are nocturnal;
afraid of loud sounds;
can't stand heat;
walks around the house can only be done under supervision, as a chinchilla can chew furniture and other interior items;
To keep a rodent, you need a spacious cage with good equipment so that the self-sufficient and active animal always has something to do.

Chinchillas are cute, fluffy animals with interesting behavior patterns that bring their owners a lot of positive emotions.

Healthy eating

If you provide your chinchilla with all the vitamins, minerals, fiber, etc., then it will not have health problems, which means the body will be strong.

A chinchilla's diet should include high-quality dry food, plenty of hay and clean drinking water. In the off-season seasons, it is necessary to add useful herbs to the main feed, which will strengthen the immune system and prevent the most common diseases.

Don't forget to feed your chinchilla treats to keep her happy and get healthy oils, acids and vitamins from them. But, under no circumstances give them a lot, otherwise the animal may suddenly gain weight and damage its liver.

Under no circumstances should you give food from the table to people or juicy foods; you should absolutely not give fried, salty, fatty or sweet foods. Only dry food and hay, which are selected specifically for chinchillas.

History of domestication

American Mathias F. Chapman was the first to breed chinchillas in captivity. In 1923, he brought to California 11 chinchillas (including three females) found in the mountains of Chile four years earlier. He successfully adapted animals to low-lying climates.

A new breed of fur-bearing animals was bred from them. In the 1950s, chinchilla farms were already operating in many developed countries. Breeders were engaged in breeding and especially in obtaining specimens with a color different from the original one.

The herbivorous rodent has become popular for home breeding due to its good health, charming appearance and unpretentiousness. However, wild species remain in the Red Book.