Chinchilla

Chinchilla originated in South America, in the region of the Andes Mountains. At the beginning of the twentieth century, chinchilla became an extinct species due to excessive hunting.
American engineer Mathias Chapman is the world's first Chinchilla breeder.
Due to its hard work to save the species from extinction, chinchilla comes to be known worldwide, both as a farmed animal and as a pet.

Chinchilla Food

In general, the diet of Chinchillas is represented by special concentrates for them, which are found in petshops, they are made up, in a rather high proportion, of cereals. Concentrates that are able to provide Chinchillas with the necessary vitamins and minerals.
They are taken in the amount of about 25-30 g/day. Mixtures for other rodents are generally untolerated.
Fan or alfalfa should be provided at your discretion, and when this is not possible, it is good to be administered at least 2 times/week, as they contain an increased percentage of fiber and ensure tooth blunting.
In this direction, in the trade there are some special "stones" to ensure a regular chipping of the teeth. As you probably know, as with many rodents, Chinchillas also have permanent teeth growth. Caution that the fan or alfalfa should not be treated with insecticides, as they can produce serious poisoning, most often deadly.
Fresh vegetables and fruits can be dangerous because they ferment excessively in the digestive tract, causing diarrhea. From time to time, to diversify the diet, the Chinchilla can be given raisins, pieces of young carrot, half a walnut.
If you want to introduce something new into the diet, it is preferable that the transition occurs gradually so as not to give rise to the installation of any indigestion.
Tap water is not indicated, preferring to administer flat water rather. If this is not possible for various reasons, tap water should be boiled or left for about 12-24 hours to remove chlorine.
The water container must be sanitized every day and the water must be changed with the same frequency. If water is left in the container for more than 48 hours, bacteria that can develop on the walls of the vessel can cause damage to the animal's health.
It is preferable that the objects for feeding, water and play are not made of plastic, because they tend to gnaw them. Stainless steel ones are ideal.Chinchilla Behavior
Chinchilla is extremely sociable, affectionate, quickly becoming a member of the family.
Chinchillas quickly get to create landmarks of recognition of their owners, showing their joy in their presence. Due to their relatively independent character and generally nocturnal lifestyle, chinchillas are not recommended for families with young children.
They are extremely curious animals, so whenever they have the opportunity, they will not leave any uninspected places. Chinchillas tend not to accept other rodents, but if you socialize early, you have every chance of making them extremely friendly.
Housing of Chinchillas is done in cages. In breeding systems it is recommended that they be kept in wire cages (similar to those for birds), individual, with minimum dimensions of 40x40x50 cm. The cage should be spacious and possibly multi-level (base 80-50 cm, Height about 1 m).
The floor of the cage is necessarily covered with shavings or sawdust, made of softwood, which will have to be changed at least once a week.
On the floor of the cage, do not put newspapers in place of sawdust, as inks can be toxic and even deadly. Solid manure and food residues from the cage must be removed daily.
Also, inside the cage can be inserted a "box" in which the chinchilla can take refuge when scared, to feel safe.

Chinchilla Appearance

Chinchillas are adorable animals with two long ears, rounded at the tips, large glassy eyes and a bushy tail, similar to squirrels, being 1/3 of the body length. The skull is ovoid, with an elongated snout, surrounded by numerous whiskers.
The neck is very short, and the transition from head to body is made gradually, it has trapezoidal shape. The back and shoulders should be long and as wide as possible. The thorax should be long, wide and as deep as possible.
The abdomen is slightly protruding, being covered with a white fur, as narrow as possible. The hind legs are more developed, longer and muscular, serving chinchillas to run, climb and jump. The tail is long and bushy.
Chinchillas are found in various color variations, from dark gray, silver-gray, black, beige, white and associations of these colors. The body length is 22.5-38 cm, and the tail is 7.5-15 cm, depending on the breed. Body weight in an adult chinchilla can reach about 500-1000 grams.

Chinchilla Breeding

Reaching puberty is achieved at 4-5 weeks in the case of females and at about 9 months in the case of males, the breeds obtained by genetic mutations (Black Velvet, White, Beige) being more late and difficult to reproduce.
The gestation period is on average 110 days (108-115 days), the female giving birth to about 1-4 Cubs.
Puppies are born with their eyes open, compared to those of a cat or dog, and their bodies covered with hair.
Puppies can eat food from the 10th day of life, being weaned after 6-7 weeks. The female can face 2-3 times a year.
In general, chinchillas are robust, Hardy and healthy animals. They often get sick if they are not properly fed and cared for.
The most common conditions that can endanger the life of the Chinchilla are: diarrhea, constipation, spasms, dermatomycosis, eye diseases, colds, infections and abnormal growth of teeth.
The average lifespan is between 10-15 years, but some Chinchillas can reach up to 20 years of age.