About Chins

An increasing number of people are discovering chinchillas make great family pets. Originally found only in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger) are rodents that grow to a size between a hamster and a rabbit, but live longer than either--usually around 15 years. These South American rodents can be bred when they are nine to eleven months old. Females come into heat every 30-40 days and will frequently breed within hours after giving birth. Adults typically consume 3/4 oz. each day.

Raised by breeders in the United States for their fur for more than 70 years, they are endangered in the wild, and have recently become wildly popular as pets for discerning exotic animal lovers.

Chinchillas are, by nature, nocturnal and spend most of the day napping. However if an owner establishes a regular play time during the day, the pet will be ready to go at the appointed hour. Chinchillas love to run on wheels, but require a special, larger size. They are very social and can be tamed to play and cuddle. Best of all, they rarely bite, cannot scratch, have hardly any smell and make very little noise.

Smarter than the average rabbit, chinchillas are shy and hate changes. Be sure to give your pet plenty of time to adjust to his or her new surroundings. If you frighten your chinchilla, it will remember for a long time . Which is why you need to be especially careful before letting your pet out of its cage.

Your chinchillas must feel comfortable around you and not run away from you because if you have to chase it to get it back to its cage you'll frighten it. Use treats to gentle it while still inside the cage and gradually entice it out over a period of days...or weeks.

Chinchillas should be kept in a well-ventilated area, dry and free of drafts. Their heavy fur coats and nocturnal activity makes them prefer cooler temperatures, preferably about 70 degrees F.

To make your chinchilla feel at home, be sure to provide a hide-away house for security, along with plenty of things to chew on to keep those rodent teeth ground down. Chinchillas also should be provided with a dust bath every other day...a three-minute fluff fest they love that requires no water.

Chinchillas should be fed pellets designed specifically for them, in a ceramic bowl. Feed only as much as your pet will consume and replace pellets daily. Since chinchillas are nocturnal, feeding in the evening is best for these adorable vegetarians.

Good gnawing material keeps chinchilla teeth worn down. Wood makes good chewing material, as well as alfalfa or hay.

Chinchillas also love dried fruit like raisins, papaya, apple and cranberries, and even vegetables--but only in small quantities since too many treats can upset their sensitive digestive systems. They are susceptible to many water-borne intestinal diseases which makes bottled or filtered water a good choice.

Cinzia's Chinchilla Ranch