LA
Careful when he's by your neck. Those whiskers will tickle you to
death.
Origins: Chinchillas
originally came from the cool, dry areas in the Andes
mountains of South America. They prefer cooler
temperatures with a low humidity. An
air conditioned home works great.
Natural Environment: Volcanic
dust and dry vegetation are an important part of their natural environment
and diet. You must provide
both if you intend to keep chinchillas.
LA
Pic
Act friendly to your chinchilla and he'll be friendly to you.
LA
Pic
New chinchillas squirm a lot when you first pick them up. They adapt
to you quickly.
Temperament: Some
reference books insist chinchillas are not friendly.
Perhaps today’s chinchillas have been kept in captivity long
enough that they’re friendlier these days.
We find them inquisitive and quite friendly – especially if you
give them a treat once in a while -- a lot like your kids. Just
go slowly and gently with your new chinchilla.
Give him or her a chance to get to know you. If you give him
a raisin every so often, he’ll cozy right up to you. Will they
bite? They might, if you stick your finger in their mouth. We always
wonder why people stick their fingers in any animal’s mouth.
LA
Pic
Chinchillas need a dust bath twice a week.
LA
We don't see very many white chinchillas.
LA
Nosy little guys always looking around -- even at bath time.
Activity Level. Chinchillas
love to bounce around like a beach ball.
If they have room, some can easily jump three feet high.
They prefer to jump rather than climb.
They also can balance on the thinnest ledge – even the edge of a
standing sheet of plywood. They
really enjoy getting outside their cage and interacting with you daily.
LA
Chinchilla balls let them zip around your house without fear of losing or
stepping on them.
Size: Adults chinchillas
weigh about a pound.
LA
Most chins like chucked under the chin.
Foods: Standard
chinchilla food contains every nutrient they need except water.
In a pinch, rabbit or guinea pig foods will work if you run out of
the right food. But you’re
asking for trouble for your chinchilla if you feed either of these for more than a brief
period.
LA
Everything comes to a standstill when you give your chinchillas timothy.
LA
Chinchillas like it. They love it. They want some more of it.
Supplements: You need no
added vitamins or mineral supplements.
They do like occasional snacks of dried alfalfa or timothy.
In fact, chinchillas love these dried hays. Feed fresh greens sparingly.
LA
Chinchillas like to nap during the day.
Special Lighting? Since
chinchillas work the night shift, their lighting probably makes little
difference.
LA
Just lazin' out. Young chinchillas waiting for the party to start.
Water: Water bottles
always stay cleaner than water bowls.
Since chinchillas love to chew, protect their water bottle from
their always gnawing teeth. (Chinchillas
will also chew on electric wires if you let them.)
LA
Pic
This guy rolled too fast to catch on camera
LA
Another nosy chinchilla.
LA
Lighter chinchilla on right already took his "bath."
LA
Both chinchillas now freshly bathed.
LA
Neat looking new dust bath containers for chinchillas (and degus).
Dust Bath:
Chinchillas need a dust bath on a regular basis.
If yours gets a matted or “greasy” look, give him a dust bath.
If you give him a dust bath only occasionally (instead of all the
time), he cavorts in the dust like a spawning carp.
A flat fish bowl makes a great dust bowl for your chinchilla.
Or a cat box with a rim.
LA
Pic
Incorrect grab on left. Correct handling on right.
LA
Six-week-old mosaic at Iowa Aquaria grabbed for a photo op.
LA
Better hold here (by the tail).
Handling: Scoop chinchillas up from below rather than grabbing them from
above. Handle them carefully,
and they quickly learn to sit calmly on your hand.
They like to sit on your shoulder.
That fluffy tail makes an excellent handle if your chinchilla
refuses to cooperate with you at first. LA.
©
1997,
© 2003,
© 2004,
© 2005,
© 2006
LA Productions
LA
Outtake photo for fun.
LA
Chins do like their timothy.
LA
Pondering diving into the dust bath.
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