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Chinchilla Care Information & Tips

The rodent family is considered as the umbrella of the chinchilla. The Andes Mountains in South America is considered to be the origin of chinchillas. The size of chinchillas may closely resemble the size of rabbits, approximately 9 inches. Their thick and soft coats of fur serve as one of their distinguishing marks. The lifespan of chinchillas ranges from 10 to 15 years. These creatures are highly active and energetic during nighttime because of their nocturnal nature.

Several pet owners would certainly fall into the lure of chinchillas. Their description as adorable companions and pets can be attributed to the density of the fur and to the absence of unpleasant odor. They also possess natural socialization skills, thus, any chinchilla owner would not have any problems in handling and playing with his or her pets.

The cages serve as an artificial and man-made habitat for the chinchillas. You should keep your chinchillas in a wire cage. The cages should also have ledges and shelves because chinchillas would naturally love to jump and climb. It is also advisable to use hardwood shavings for the flooring of the chinchilla cage. However, cedar is an exception, because of its toxicity and potential harmful effects on the pet. Chinchillas should also be provided regularly with chewing toys. However, plastic versions should be avoided to avoid getting chewed on by the chinchilla.

A drinking bottle should be found at the side of the chinchilla cage. Providing fresh and clean drinking water is one of the major responsibilities of a chinchilla owner. Avoid using plastic bottles. Everyday, chinchillas should also be fed with pellets and hay. Some pellets are also designed for rabbits and guinea pigs so you have to make sure that you are feeding your pet chinchillas with the appropriate kind of pellets. Chinchillas would also crave for treats and supplements. Cubes of Timothy or Alfalfa can be bought directly from pet stores. Make sure that you consistently feed your pet with the same brand of supplements. Their digestive system tends to get easily irritated with sudden changes.

You can see various breeds and crossbreeds of chinchillas. Gray chinchillas are the most commonly sold in pet stores. Breeders are also working on producing other mutation colors. In setting your budget in buying a chinchilla, you should also consider the breed and the color. Some colors and breeds may be more expensive than the others.

Female chinchillas remain pregnant for 111 days. A maximum of 8 chinchillas can be born at the same time from the same pregnant or mother chinchilla. A sense of sight and a coat of fur can already be noticed in chinchillas right after they are born. For seven weeks or more, baby chinchillas should not be separated from their mother. If you intend to train them to be more accepting of human touch, you can have the chinchillas handled by humans occasionally.

Regular handling is often warmly appreciated by chinchillas. They also learn to become more socialized and more responsive to human touch through regular handling. However, you must bear in mind that the ribcage of chinchillas are very fragile and you need to be cautious and careful when you are handling them. Continue Reading about chinchilla care information