By Angela Botzer
Named by the Spaniards, chinchilla means “little Chincha,” after the Chincha people in Peru. The Chincha were the earliest people to breed chinchillas for their meat and fur. The chinchilla’s early origin is traced to Chile, Bolivia and Peru.
They are native to cool, dry climates as they are found at up to 14,000 feet in the Andes. Oklahoma is, well, a bit warm, especially during the summer, so chinchillas need to be keptindoors in cool, controlled temperatures. They lack the ability to sweat, so any temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit can cause problems for them. Keep the air conditioner on for these rodents. Many pet stores only offer chinchillas for sale during the winter months, since summeris too hot, and they are temperature sensitive.
“We recommend to purchase chinchillas directly from breeders. This way, it can also be researched if there are family/hereditary problems such as dental malocclusion. Because they are so stress-sensitive, they are not commonly displayed in pet stores,” said Cornelia J. Ketz-Riley, DVM, of Oklahoma City.
Chinchilla fur is the densest of all land mammals, which keeps them protected against the harsh mountain winds in the Andes, resulting in super-soft fur. Historically, chinchillas were long sought after for their fur, which led one species almost to the brink of extinction in South America.
Chinchilla eyes have pupils that close to a small, slit-like opening which protects them in their natural environment against the sun’s radiation at high altitudes. They have excellent sight at dusk and nighttime. Are you a “night person”? They are wonderful companions for “night people,” since chinchillas mostly sleep during the day and are most active at night.
Instead of claws, chinchilla paws have nails, similar to human fingernails, which can handle and manipulate their food, bringing it to their mouths.
As with many other types of exotics, buying them in pairs for companionship is always recommended. “Chinchillas are very social animals and do better in the company of other chinchillas. A pair of two females or two males (if no females are nearby), one mature male and two to three females can be kept together. But they need a lot of space, also for retreat from each other,” Ketz-Riley explained.
Neutering and spaying can be a bit tricky with chinchillas. When in the wild, chinchillas live in so-called herds, oftentimes consisting of a mature male and a few females. The females with young can be territorial at times and not accept other chinchillas from the herd. Males can also be territorial against other herds.
If pairs are kept together, but no breeding is desired, it is recommended to neuter the males.
“As long as males kept together do not have contact to a female while together, they may not need to be neutered. If adult males are introduced to another adult male, neutering them may be recommended to reduce potential social stress and aggression,” said Ketz-Riley.
“Females usually are only spayed for medical reasons, i.e., infections of the reproductive tract,” she added.
There is only one species of chinchilla that are kept as pets, the Chinchilla laniger, or long-tailed chinchilla. Ketz-Riley explains the abundance of Chinchilla laniger. “There is another species found in the wild, but that one is on the verge of extinction due to the hunting for fur. The Chinchilla laniger survived in larger numbers up to now because they have been bred in captivity on farms for fur production. The chinchillas kept as pets derive originally from those previously captive bred animals for the fur production.”
Vet Visits
If pet chinchillas are successfully handled often, it is easier to transport them in a carrier and take them for annual vet checkups. Vets will check teeth, eyes and ears and conduct a fecal exam. Dental and reproductive diseases can be detected earlier with regular annual checkups. On the other hand, if a chinchilla is not accustomed to being handled, a trip to the vet with strange noises and smells could verge on the traumatic.
Elimination
Litter box training can be slightly problematic yet successfully done. “Chinchillas often develop latrines, where they deposit their urine and fecal matter. But they also use urine and feces to mark their territory. In an environment where they feel very comfortable and not challenged fortheirterritory, they can be trained to use a litter box by placing multiple bins in areas where they mark the most. After a while the bins can be reduced in numbers, and they often use the remaining box for their litter. But it happens that they will mark their cage on occasion, especially when they are taken out or there are changes in their environment,” said Ketz-Riley.
Feeding, Nutrition & Gut Health
Dinnertime for chinchillas is easy; the dietary requirements have some similarities with rabbits. Fresh hay is always the main course and helps support the balance of healthy intestinal flora. Hay also keeps their ever-growing incisors and molars wearing down sufficiently and keeps potential blockage of fur balls in their digestive track. Pellets are next up, fortified with vitamins and minerals; it is adorable watching a chinchilla eat the larger sized pellets with their paws! Two to three times a week, chinchillas should have some fresh vegetables such as carrots, parsley, dandelion leaves and herbs such as lemon balm, chamomile leaves and raspberry leaves.
The most common medical problems seen in chinchillas are dental disease, digestive disease and trauma.
“We see diet-related disease if they do not get enough coarse fiber to grind their teeth with, so we have to trim overgrown teeth with sharp points. Tooth root abscesses caused by injuries to the gums or mucosal tissue in the mouth by sharp objects (fiber or from chewing on toys, cage furniture) are also common,” described Ketz-Riley.
The balance of bacterial flora in the chinchillas’ delicate intestinal system is important to help them digest a high fiber diet; they need a special bacterial population. “If they are fed a diet high in carbs (such as carrots, corn, fruits), the bacterial flora will change; the ‘good’ fiber-digesting bacteria will die, and other bacteria will overgrow due to lack of competition—those ‘bad’ bacteria often cause gas-production, diarrhea, poor nutrient absorption; also carbs can cause fermentation and additional gas production and change in nutrient absorption,” Ketz-Riley explained.
Because chinchillas love to run, climb and jump, sometimes trauma can occur if they run into each other or run into obstacles. This can result in eye injuries orleg fractures. And since chinchillas are not fond of being held, improper handling can result in injury as well.
Forgo the Bubble Bath
Bathtime for chinchillas is water-less. They clean their fur by taking dust baths. If a chinchilla’s fur ever gets wet, dry it immediately; they could develop a fungus in theirfur. Daily access to a bowl or bin with volcanic ash for their bath is a crucial comfort for chinchillas. It is their“happy space”time, comforting and stress reducing. Note: do not use sand, as it is too abrasive, and can cause injury to their fur, skin and eyes.
Making Their Cage a Home
Splurge and purchase the largest cage, if possible. When not running around the house or apartment, chinchillas still need their space, so a roomy cage is vital. Fun gym props in their cage are key, which should include an exercise course with ramps, suspension bridges and an exercise wheel. Additional gym equipment could include wooden blocks and willow balls for rolling.
Chinchillas are inquisitive, very active animals but are also stress-sensitive since they are potential prey animals. Ketz-Riley adds, “They make good pets in hands of experienced people. They need lots of care and spacious cages.” …And lots of affection!
