Mary Allen
The chinchillas are small, cute rodents, which are enjoying ever-growing popularity. No wonder, because the little plush rodents wrap everyone around their fingers with their big brown beady eyes. While they were almost extinct back then because of the beautiful rock, they are now kept as pets in Europe. But are these animals suitable as pets at all and what should you pay attention to when keeping them in a species-appropriate manner? You will find out in this article.
The origin of the chinchilla
Chinchillas originally come from South America, more specifically from Chile. But this is exactly where the hunt for the fur of the poor animals began. After hunting became increasingly difficult and the animals were almost exterminated, controlled chinchilla breeding began in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. This was used for fur production, which unfortunately continues to this day. The cute rodents have only been kept as pets for about 30 years.
The appearance of the chinchillas
As already mentioned, chinchillas inspire with their plush fur and their special character. There are two main species into which chinchillas are divided. There is the short-tailed chinchilla and the long-tailed chinchilla. However, both species share some common features, which include the brown beady eyes and rural clocks. At that time, the cozy fur was made up of different shades of gray, although there are now seven different colors that are selectively bred. Starting with black against the colors to beige to white. However, the underside of the animals is always light, even with the dark chinchillas.
Buying a chinchilla
As with other animals, the purchase of a chinchilla should be well thought out. The small rodents are very social and should therefore never be kept alone. Chinchillas in the wild even live together in groups of up to 100 animals. Experts therefore advise keeping at least two animals, although three or four would be even better. Siblings usually get along particularly well and have known each other from the start, so buying from a pair of siblings would work particularly well. It is also advised to always keep animals of the same sex so that there is no unintentional reproduction. Two females generally get along very well, so keeping him is recommended for beginners. But the males can also get along well, although of course there should never be a female in sight. If you want to keep pairs, the males should of course be castrated, otherwise there will be offspring. Incidentally, chinchillas can live up to 20 years and are therefore among the rodents with a relatively old age. You can buy chinchillas in pet shops, from breeders, from animal welfare organizations or from private individuals, although of course there are a few things to consider.
Chinchillas from the pet store
Chinchillas are now also available in numerous pet shops and can be bought alongside rabbits, hamsters, mice and the like. Unfortunately, most of the animals are not kept in a species-appropriate manner in some shops and the staff is often unable to provide any expert information about this particular species of animal and how it is kept. However, if you want to buy your chinchilla in a pet shop, you should consider a few things:
- Does the shop appear clean and hygienic?
- Are the animal cages clean? Above all, the litter should look fresh and there should be no contamination. Of course, rotten food residues or unclean drinking facilities should not be found under any circumstances.
- Under no circumstances should too many chinchillas live together in one cage. It should be noted that the cages are large enough and leave a spacious impression. The cages should be set up appropriately for the species and provide sufficient opportunities for retreat and drinking.
- The sexes should also be separated in the pet shop, otherwise, it can quickly happen that you buy a pregnant female and eventually have a surprise at home.
- Of course, the animals themselves should also make a very healthy impression. However, it should be noted that they make a rather sleepy impression during the day, because these are nocturnal rodents. For this reason, it makes sense to stop by in the evening hours. The coat should be shiny and nice and thick, while the eyes, nose, mouth, and anus must be clean.
- The pet store salespeople should be able to answer some detailed and knowledgeable questions about the chinchillas.
Buy chinchillas from breeders
As with any other animal, buying from a breeder is the best way. Breeders know the animals much better and can therefore give you some important and helpful tips and tricks for keeping the animals. In addition, of course, you have the opportunity to ask questions to most breeders after the purchase. Furthermore, a good breeder will of course have no problem if you first get to know the animals and thus come by once or twice and only then buy a chinchilla. But unfortunately, there are also some black sheep among the breeders. Therefore, it should be noted that not too many animals are present, otherwise, it can only be a so-called multiplier who does not have time to take care of the individual animals intensively. Of course, the points listed above, which we discuss when buying in a pet shop, should also be taken into account.
Chinchillas from animal welfare
Luckily, many people choose to give rescued animals a new home. Unfortunately, the animal shelters are also overcrowded with small rodents, including chinchillas from time to time. This is mostly a thoughtless purchase, an unwanted multiplication, or other private reasons. The little chinchillas from the shelter are usually well-cared for and medically cared for animals that are already used to people. Since chinchillas reach a good age, you can of course also take older animals and give them to a new beautiful home.
Buy chinchillas from private individuals
Unfortunately, unwanted pregnancies also occur with chinchillas in private households from time to time. Still, other owners find it nice to have babies from time to time, although the offspring are then often offered for sale on the Internet because there is not enough space to keep them all. These offspring are often cheaper than buying them from a pet store or breeder. Of course, the individual points mentioned should also be taken into account here. If you are already familiar with the attitude, this purchase is of course also an option.
The chinchilla attitude
Above all, chinchillas need space and the company of other conspecifics. The cage must therefore be large enough to accommodate enough resting places, small caves, play facilities and climbing facilities. With two animals, the cage should have a minimum size of 150 cm x 80 cm x 150 cm. Of course, the larger the cage, the better it is for the animals. An aviary that is divided into several floors and equipped with poles, branches and the like would be best. Of course, there must also be space for a drinking bottle that is always filled with fresh water, a feeding corner and bedding. It is always important not to use plastic under any circumstances. The chinchilla is a rodent, so they like to nibble on their houses, which of course also applies to the rest of the cage furnishings.
Chinchilla diet
Chinchillas are among the most demanding rodents, both in terms of cage design and diet. However, there is special chinchilla food that almost completely covers the animals’ needs. Furthermore, it is of course always possible to give small treats and snacks in between. Here, however, care should be taken that there are not too many delicacies, as the animals naturally quickly become too fat. On top of that, there are many natural alternatives, such as hay, which should not be missing. You can also incorporate branches, herbs, and other natural products from the area, although you must of course ensure that the animals cannot injure themselves and that the individual branches, leaves, and the like are not poisonous. What exactly you can give the animals as food, you will learn in a separate article on “The diet of chinchillas”.
Conclusion: Are chinchillas suitable as pets?
Whether the chinchilla fits into your family cannot be answered exactly by us either. In any case, it can be said that it is not a pet for children. Chinchillas need rest during the day and want to play at night. Of course, children can learn how to handle animals, but there are better alternatives. Chinchillas are particularly interesting to watch and some animals can also be nicely tamed. However, you have to be aware that they are particularly demanding animals when it comes to keeping and feeding them. Even if that doesn’t appear to be the case, chinchillas are by no means cuddly toys that people like to hold. However, they are quite suitable for working people who work during the day and like to watch the animals in the evening. In this way, the animals can sleep undisturbed during the day and become active again punctually in the evening. Since the rodents live to be 20 years or older, you should definitely think twice about buying them, because giving them back later should never be an option.