Chinchillas are affectionate, intelligent, playful animals that bond quickly to
their owners. They rarely bite and, in general, like to be cuddled and carried.
Chinchillas are basically nocturnal but may play during the day. Some chinchillas
can be litter trained, but this takes a lot of patience and persistence. Chinchillas are
essentially odor-free and are easy to keep clean. Silver-gray is the most
common haircoat coloration, but black, beige, charcoal, and white varieties
are also seen.

Healthy chinchilla's should be bright eyed, active and inquisitive with
ears erect. The chinchilla is nocturnal which means it is more active at night.
Chinchillas need spacious enclosures to accommodate plenty of activity
and acrobatic behavior.

The chinchilla's gestation period (length of pregnancy) of 105-155 days
is substantially longer than the dog's or cat's in contrast to that of many
other members of the rodent family (e.g., rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils)
that typically have 21- to 28-day gestation periods. This longer period
results in well-developed (precocial) offspring that have open eyes and
full hair coats when born and eat solid food within several days. The
average litter size is 2 but can be as high as 5.

The chinchilla's gestation period is 105-155 days which is substantially longer
than the dog or cat. This longer period results in well-developed offspring that have
open eyes and full hair coats when born and eat solid food within several days.
The average litter size is 2 but can be as high as 5.

Chinchillas need spacious enclosures to accommodate plenty of activity
and acrobatic behavior. Caging should be tall enough to allow them to jump.
Chinchillas love to be up high and may even climb to the top of their food
dishes for extra height. Enough space should be provided inside the cage
to accommodate a dust box and a wooden nest box. You can also
purchase a solid surface exercise wheel appropriately sized for chinchillas.
Avoid wire wheels, because a chinchilla's feet can get caught between
the wires. Regardless of the cage size, chinchillas will also appreciate a
chance to run outside of the cage as often as possible.

Dust baths are necessary to counterbalance the chinchilla's naturally oily
skin and to maintain beautiful soft fur. If baths are not offered, your chinchilla's
fur may start to look unkempt. Commercial chinchilla dust is available at pet
stores and is so fine that there is no appropriate substitute. Dust should be 2-3
inches deep in a plastic dishpan or other suitable container with a minimum
size of 5” x 6” x 9”. Dust baths should be offered for 15-30 minutes at least
4-6 times per week. Just place your chinchilla in the dust box, and let your
pet take care of the rest. Chinchillas love their baths!

Bedding can be shredded paper (avoid shiny ads that can contain toxic
substances), certain hardwood shavings, or composite recycled newspaper
pellets. Cedar and pine shavings are not recommended, because they
contain resins that can be irritating to your pet's skin, eyes, and mucous
membranes. Hay and aspen shavings are other bedding options for the chinchilla.

Recycled paper bedding such as Yesterdays News™ or Carefresh™, are bio-degradeable and tend to be non-irritating to the chinchilla's skin or respiratory tract. They are therefore suitable choices for chinchilla bedding.

Water is the number one nutritional requirement for all animals, and fresh,
clean water is a must for your chinchilla. A water bottle with a sipper tube
works better than a water bowl, which can be tipped over or contaminated
with waste and bedding. Hanging the water bottle on the outside of the cage
so just the tip of the spout is inside discourages chewing of the sipper tube.
Water needs to be changed daily, and the sipper tube should be cleaned weekly.

Seeds have a high fat content and poor nutritional balance and so are not
recommended for your chinchilla. Oxbow's Chinchilla Deluxe provides a
balance of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals and is
the pellet diet of choice for your pet chinchilla. Conversion from a seed/pellet
mixture to this highly palatable diet is usually simple, but a gradual conversion
(1-2 weeks) is recommended to avoid digestive upset. Pellets can be fed in a
sturdy crock bowl. Dishes should be cleaned daily, and any leftover food
should be discarded.

Free-choice grass hay is also an essential part of your chinchilla's diet.
Hay provides essential fiber, which helps maintain intestinal and dental
health. Pet Care Veterinary Hospital recommends you feed your chinchilla
unlimited quantities of grass hay such as timothy, brome, orchard, or oat.
Hay also prevents boredom by satisfying the chinchilla's innate desire to
chew, which is an important means of dental health maintenance.

The Drs. at Pet Care Veterinary Hospital recommend feeding the
adult chinchilla 1/8-1/4 cup of Oxbow Pet Product's Chinchilla Deluxe
pellets along with unlimited quantities of a mixture of alfalfa and timothy hay.
See the accompanying article “Feeding The Pet Chinchilla” on our website for
more detailed information on chinchilla nutrition.

Many owners want to offer treats to their pet chinchillas. A treat should be
enjoyable to eat and should provide interaction between you and your pet.
When fed in limited quantities, herbs (fresh or dried) and vegetables can be
offered as treats. Herb choices include mint, basil, oregano, and thyme. Fresh greens might include romaine, butter crunch, or red leaf lettuces or cilantro, carrot tops, and dandelion greens. In order to prevent digestive upset, feed the same treats consistently, and avoid gas-forming vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower.

Chinchillas are prone to serious dental problems such as malocclusion, molar
root overgrowth, and molar spurs. Improper wear of teeth secondary to a dietlow in fiber and a lack of suitable chewing material can result in sharp points on the upper and/or lower molars, which can be painful to the cheek and tongue. Chinchillas with dental problems often have a depressed appetite, and you may observe food dropping from their mouths as they attempt to chew. Irritation from the molar spurs may also cause increased salivation, which results in a wet matted chin (slobbers). A visit to the vet is in order if you see these abnormal signs. Provide plenty of hay and blocks of wood for chewing to help prevent this painful condition.

This open mouth view of an anesthetized chinchilla with dental problems shows what overgrown lower right molars (arrow) look like. They have disrupted the natural movement of the tongue and are causing mouth discomfort. Chinchilla's with dental problems will decrease the quantity of food they ingest and eventually become sick. Other signs to look for include wet fur on the chin as a result of increased salivation and picking up and dropping food in awkward attempts to eat.

Chinchillas may cut their own hair! This is called “barbering,” and they do it when they are stressed from crowding or improper housing, when they are malnourished, or if they are not receiving proper dust baths. A barbered coat will appear uneven and ragged. Some chinchillas may even appear to be balding, because the hair might be chewed off at the base. Changes in your chinchilla's fur warrant a visit to your veterinarian, because lice, mites, or ringworm can also cause hair loss.

Feeding Recommendations at a Glance

Growing Chinchilla

Unlimited amounts of Chinchilla Deluxe along with unlimited quantities of grass hay

Mature Chinchilla

1/8-1/4 cup Chinchilla Deluxe with unlimited quantities of grass hay

Gestating or Lactating Chinchilla

Unlimited amounts of Chinchilla Deluxe along with unlimited quantities of grass hay

Chinchilla Facts

•  Chinchillas are cousins to the guinea pig and originated in South America .

•  A group of chinchillas is called a colony.

•  “Chin” is a nickname for chinchilla.

Average l ife span..................................................…………. 10 yrs

Maximum reported l ife span..............................…………… 20 yrs

Average adult male weight ...........................…………….... 400-500 g (0.9-1.1 lb)

Average adult female weight .......................………………. 400-800 g (0.9-1.3 lb)

Gestation period.....................................................………… 105-118 days

Pups per litter......................................................….……….. 2 avg. (up to 5)

Optimal weaning age....................................…….......…….. 3-6 wks

Sexual maturity…………………………………………..… 7-10 mos

References:

•  Lightfoot TL: Clinical examination of chinchillas, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, and sugar gliders. The Veterinary Clinics of North America , Exotic Animal Practice 2(2):447-469, 1999.

•  Johnson-Delaney C: Special rodents: chinchillas. Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook, Lake Worth , FL , Zoological Education Network, 1996.

•  Hillyer EV, Quesenberry KE, Donnelly TM: Biology, husbandry, and clinical techniques [guinea pigs and chinchillas]. In : Quesenberry K, Hillyer E, eds: Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia , PA , WB Saunders, 1997, pp 243-259.