Chinchilla Information in the Chinchilla Webshop

The Chinchilla

Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) are cute, gentle animals that need attention. They belong to the guinea pig-like rodent family and originate from the Andes Mountains in South America. They are active at dusk and dusk, and prefer to sleep during the day.

Their soft, thick fur, with its hair follicle containing over 50 hairs, makes them look like teddy bears, but nothing could be further from the truth. While chinchillas may look cuddly, most chins are not. They make wonderful pets, but they are sensitive animals, so they must be handled gently and housed appropriately. To keep them happy and healthy, they require a special diet tailored to the chinchilla's dietary needs. They also need plenty of room to run and jump.

• Systematics: Chinchilla lanigera, Family Chinchillidae, Order Rodentia
• Head-body length: up to 26 cm
• Body weight: 400 g to 600 g (females are slightly heavier than males)
• Life expectancy : up to 20 years

CHINCHILLA ANATOMY

Weakly muscled stomach: By ingesting several small portions per day, the food pulp is pushed to the rear of the intestines. Lifelong growth of the incisors and molars: Tooth wear occurs during eating because the teeth rub against each other. The duration of food intake is extended by eating coarse fibers, which are intensively ground. Relatively large cecum: Conversion of fine, crude fibers by the positive intestinal flora into protein-rich and vitamin B-containing cecal pellets. These are eaten directly from the anus and undergo a second passage through the intestines.

Unlimited feeding is possible with ChinchillaDroom BASIC because it meets the energy needs of young animals during their growth process as well as the needs of adult animals.

• I . Crude fibers promote tooth wear.
• I I. Fine particles (< 0.3 mm) enter the cecum and are metabolized by the positive intestinal flora.
• I II. Particles > 0.3 mm stimulate intestinal movement. Sudden changes in feed should be avoided.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE CHINCHILLA

• originally from Chile between Altamira and Talca, mainly in the coastal Cordillera area
• Currently only 2 small populations remain in north-central Chile
• seriously endangered

ChinchillaDroom BASIC contains plants from their native region, such as amaranth, maca and topinam burdock.

Natural habitat of the chinchilla

• mainly on dry, sparsely vegetated northern slopes with loose vegetation of cacti, bromeliads and a few smaller shrubs
• mainly on fields full of crushed stone
• holes in rock crevices

CHINCHILLA BEHAVIOR

• mainly active during twilight and at night
• social, according to family ties
• possibly with territorial behavior

Chinchillas should be kept by adults, as they do not like being held or petted and are active at both dusk and night.

CHINCHILLA REPRODUCTION

• Sexually mature : females after 4-6 months, males after 4-6 months
• Breeding ready : females after 9-12 months, males after 9-10 months
• Litter size : 1-6 (Ø 2) young ones per litter
• Gestation period : 105-118 (Ø 110) days
• Birth weight : 50-70 g,
• Weaning period: fledglings from week 8-10

To prevent uncontrolled breeding, we recommend neutering the boar. Early neutering makes it possible to keep a pair from the start. Young animals exhibit social behavior more readily than adults.

The cycle length is 4-5 weeks. At the end of the cycle, females are fertile for a maximum of 48 hours.

Sex differences: In males, the distance between the genital opening and the anus is greater than in females.

CHINCHILLA FOOD

Foliar herbivore: A variety of green plants supplemented with roots and vegetables. Provide plenty of good-quality hay and fresh drinking water daily. Provide branches to nibble on.

Balanced long-life recipe: ChinchillaDroom BASIC - supplemented with Juniors Extra Chinchilla & Degu during the growth phase - covers the nutritional needs of chinchillas.

Hay from protected meadows and FreshGras Hay are characterized by a variety of green plants and herbs (biodiversity). The long, crisp stems ensure optimal wear.

Good composition of chinchilla food

• Crude protein (Rp): 13-15%
• Crude fat (RVe): 2-4 %
• Crude fiber (CFP): 18-21%
• Crude fiber to starch ratio: at least 3:1
  An optimal crude fiber-to-starch ratio meets the energy needs of adult animals. This protects the animal from becoming overweight.
• Calcium (Ca): Adult animals: 0.6-0.8 % Young animals: 0.9 - 1.0 % for bone formation during the growth phase
• Phosphorus (F): 0.4-0.7% (Ca-F ratio: 1.5-2:1)

Mono-component feed (TriMello®) contains the necessary nutrients. Vegetables and blossoms increase the variety of food intake. Apple wood stimulates gnawing. The sensitive caecal flora can gradually adapt thanks to a gradual change in food.
Excess calcium is primarily excreted through the intestines. Chinchillas are therefore less susceptible to bladder grit/stones.

HANDLING THE CHINCHILLA

• During the first few days, chinchillas need a lot of rest to get used to things.
• Chinchillas are mainly active in the early morning and evening and don't like being petted. Therefore, it's best for children to simply watch them.
• Lift the animals with one hand around the shoulder and chest and support their hind legs with the other hand.
• Never pick up chinchillas by their sensitive tail.
• bunnyINTERACTIVE stimulates chinchillas both mentally and physically, strengthens the bond between owner and animal, and improves trust.

The Enjoy Nature range offers a variety of natural products suitable for building a bond of trust during the adjustment period and as an incentive for play and exploration behaviour.

Check the animal's health daily, regularly checking the incisors, anogenital area, and coat. Weight should be checked weekly.

INDICATIONS OF DISEASE

Weight loss, reduced food and water intake, changes in defecation and urination behaviour, and a rough coat are some of the signs of illness.

To determine the cause and treatment, a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible. If the chinchilla's tooth wear is not progressing properly, treatments should be performed by a veterinarian under anesthesia.

HOUSING THE CHINCHILLA

Chinchillas are social animals that live in family groups in the wild. In captivity, they must therefore be kept together. It's wonderful to watch how the animals interact, cuddle, and sleep together.

For two chinchillas, you'll need a spacious cage with at least one square meter of floor space. Bigger is always better.

• don't just keep
• at least a few
• recommended: 1 neutered male and 1 female
• In same-sex groups, animals may bite each other after reaching sexual maturity

Chinchillas should not be kept together with guinea pigs or other rodents.

CHINCHILLA CAGE PLACEMENT

• draft-free
• no direct sunlight
• relative humidity 30-50%
• optimal ambient temperature 15 to 18° C, not permanently above 25° C

Chinchillas originate from cool, dry high mountain areas. They don't tolerate heat and humidity well.

Chinchilla cage size

• at least a volume of 3 m3, at least 50 cm wide and 150 cm high for two animals
• at least 0.5 m3 extra must be provided for each additional adult animal
• also offer the opportunity for supervised outdoor play every day

A large, well-structured aviary allows for intensive exercise during the active phase. Supervised free-range access should be available during active hours in the early morning or evening to encourage natural behaviors such as exploring, playing, and jumping.

Ground cover for the Chinchilla

• highly absorbent
• odor-binding, especially ammonia-binding
• dust-free
• soft
• replace regularly

CHINCHILLA CAGE SETUP

• 1 house per animal (at least 30 x 30 x 20 cm) with two openings
• platforms at different heights
• climbing branch
• gnawing wood eg. Back to the ROOTS
• always provide the option of bathing in the sand
• feed in sturdy clay or ceramic bowls (clean the bowls daily)
• drinking water in bottles or bowls (change the water daily)

Chinchillas have dense, fine fur. The hairs are gathered in tufts. Each topcoat has approximately 50-75 downy hairs. For proper coat cleaning, it's important to use special chinchilla sand to prevent greasy hair and swelling. Besides grooming the fur, the sand bath also helps reduce stress.

KEEPING CHINCHILLAS OUTDOORS?

• only possible during the summer months, but we do not recommend it
• provide protection from predators, rain, direct sunlight

High temperatures and humidity are poorly tolerated.

CHINCHILLA FOOD

Chinchillas are small, folivorous/herbivorous (plant-eating) mammals belonging to the rodent order. They are primarily active at dusk and at night, highly social, and in the wild live in family groups, consisting of a pair and their female offspring. Even when kept as pets, they should not be kept alone. They thrive in pairs or in a group (a neutered male and one or more females). A chinchilla can live up to 20 years, reaching a body length of approximately 26 cm and a weight of 400 to 600 g.

Chinchillas originate from South America, where they live on rocky mountain slopes near the coast. Their survival is highly threatened, and only two small remnant populations remain in north-central Chile.

The vegetation in their native habitat varies and often has a desert-like character. They prefer dry, sparsely vegetated slopes with loose vegetation consisting of cacti, bromeliads, and small shrubs. They build their burrows in rock crevices.

Chinchillas feed on plant foods and are able to process them optimally.

Chinchillas have very unique nutritional needs.

The digestive system is important for a healthy and vital life.

Teeth
There are two incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws, which, like the molars, continue to grow throughout life. A coarse fiber structure in the diet is essential for tooth wear.

Stomach
The stomach has only moderate muscle mass and therefore cannot independently transport the food pulp to the next section of the intestine. Subsequent food portions take over this task.

appendix
The voluminous cecum receives fine dietary fibers, which are converted by specialized bacteria into proteins, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin K. This is why the cecum is also known as the fermentation chamber. The resulting cecal pellets are reabsorbed by chinchillas.

RATIO OF CRUDE FIBER AND STARCH

Crude fiber: Crude fiber is very important for health. It supports digestion, the appendix, and, with its rough fiber structure, tooth wear.

Starch: Starch is mainly an energy supplier and should be present in limited quantities in the feed.

A shift in the crude fiber-to-starch ratio can lead to long-term health damage:

• Too little crude fibre leads to intestinal sluggishness, changes in intestinal flora and disturbed functioning of the appendix.
• Too much starch leads to eating pauses, changes in intestinal flora, swelling, diarrhea, fermentation, and obesity.

Therefore, veterinarians recommend a minimum crude fiber to starch ratio of 3:1.

How do I actually know how much starch my food contains?
The composition is very useful: whole grains (with starchy endosperm), field beans, potatoes or peas are an indication that a higher starch content should be taken into account.

For extensive information on rodent care, see LICG