The Chinchilla: An introduction
Thursday, November 27 2008
Becoming more and more popular as a pet, the chinchilla, with its timid and gentle nature, big black eyes and large round ears, the finest and densest fur of any animal in the world is one of the most unique domesticated members of the rodent family.
The chinchilla (whose name literally means "little Chincha") is named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who often wore its soft and dense fur. By the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become quite rare due to western demand for their luxurious fur. Thankfully the hunting of wild chinchillas is a thing of the past and they are now protected by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Animals.
Mathias F. Chapman, a mining engineer from California, was working in Chile in 1918 when he purchased a chinchilla as a pet and took an instant liking to it. He envisioned raising a whole herd of chinchillas and he applied to the Chilean government for permission to capture and transport several animals to the US. As chinchillas were already close to extinction from the fur trade, the Chilean government was reluctant to grant Chapman trapping permission. He persisted, and was eventually allowed to take 11 to America. It’s from these that almost all domestic chinchillas in the US are descended. They were first introduced into England in the late 1950s and went on to become popular as pets in the 1970s and 80s.
In their native habitat, chinchillas live in burrows or crevices in rocks and belong to the group of animals known as ‘rock hoppers’. They are agile jumpers and can jump very high, up to 5 ft (1.5 m). Predators in the wild include birds of prey, skunks, felines, snakes and wild dogs. Chinchillas have a variety of defence tactics including spraying urine and releasing fur if bitten. In the wild, chinchillas may eat plants, fruits, seeds, and small insects, although these may irritate the digestive system of a domestic chinchilla whose diet should be primarily hay-based.
Chinchillas live in social groups that resemble colonies, but are properly called herds, with females being significantly bigger than males. Chinchillas can breed any time of the year and have a very long pregnancy compared to other mammals. Because of this, chinchillas are born fully furred and with their eyes open. Litters are usually small in number, predominately twins. A domestic chinchilla lives on average between 10 to 12 years, with the documented record being 22 years.
Chinchillas are easy to tame, they are very clean, rarely bite, unless frightened, and with a little patience and effort can make ideal pets. Chinchillas are simple to care for provided a few basic rules are followed, the most important of which is correct diet. Chinchillas need a diet high in fibre and protein but low in moisture and fat. As with all rodents, chinchilla teeth grow continuously, so they need plenty of hard material to eat and chew on. As active animals, chinchillas need plenty of space. The minimum cage size for a pair is approximately 1m x 1.5m floor space, by 1.3m tall with shelves at different heights. They are prone to heatstroke so the cage should not be kept in sun, and also needs to be in draught free location. Your chinchillas should be allowed out for supervised exercise as much as possible (but at least once a day). In the wild, chinchillas use fine sand to keep their coats clean and in prime condition and you need to provide this for them in the form of a dust bath.
They are nocturnal by nature, dozing during the day, and becoming more active, feeding in the evenings. Being nocturnal makes them a good pet for someone who is out at school or work during the day as they relish the peace and quiet to doze and enjoy their exercise period in the evenings. They are not suitable as children's pets due to being easily stressed if inappropriately handled and will shed fur and spray urine if they feel threatened. They can however be quite active and noisy during the night, so may not be the ideal pet for the bedroom or small flat. Because they normally live in large groups they should ideally have company of their own kind and avoid being kept singly. If chinchillas are kept as mixed sex pairs, the males need to be neutered. Same sex adults are hard to introduce but it is possible with lots of time and care. The best option is keeping litter mates as a pair (although neutering is still necessary if not same sex).
You must be willing to take your chinchilla to the vets and pay the bills. Although a consultation is usually quite reasonable in the UK at about £10-£15, an emergency callout can cost around £100 or more. Teeth problems are quite common and very expensive and may require a specialist vet.
Unfortunately many chinchillas end up dumped and in rescue centres each year because people succumb to the impulse bought a cute furry animal on impulse but are unwilling or unable to give the animal the proper care and attention it needs. If you are in the market for a chinchilla, please consider a chinchilla rescue before purchasing one from a pet store. Many animal shelters have abandoned chinchillas available for adoption.
Basic Chinchilla care:
Fresh pellets (not a mix), hay and water need to be supplied daily.
A daily dustbath is essential to keep their fur in good condition.
Chinchillas are very intelligent and inquisitive; they get attached to their owners so you should be prepared to spend a little time with them every day.
They are very clean animals with little odour but their cages need to be cleaned out regularly.
Chinchillas are rodents with continuously growing teeth, it is in their nature to spend much of their time gnawing, a continuous supply of correct materials should be supplied for this purpose.
Treats and titbits should be fed sparingly, their digestive system has evolved to deal with a very basic diet, rich foods can cause problems.
Chinchillas enjoy raisins and if given in moderation, two or three a day, do not seem to cause any problems.
For more detailed information on caring for your chinchilla read our leaflet.
The National Chinchilla Society
Photo © Terri Oda