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Chinchillas |
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Chinchillas belong to the rodent family and originally came from South America. Their numbers became much diminished towards the end of the 19th century as they were hunted for their lovely dense, velvet-like fur. It is now illegal to hunt wild Chinchillas for their fur, but there are commercial farms in operation.
In the wild Chinchillas are social animals and live in groups called herds. They inhabit crevices and burrows high in the mountains. They can breed at any time of the year and their pregnancy lasts for 111 days. Unlike most other rodents their young are born fully furred and with their eyes open. They live for an average of ten years but some individuals can live into their 20s! They make great pets - although there are some important things to know. They love, and require, regular dust baths to keep their coats in good condition. The dust absorbs oil and dirt and keeps their coats in top condition. They can’t be bathed in water like other domestic species, as their coat is so thick it is difficult to dry properly and so they can become predisposed to skin infections. Their teeth grow continuously and so needs to be worn down regularly with an appropriate diet and wooden sticks or toys. A diet that consists of a high quality grass hay based pellet, and a constant supply of loose hay should meet a Chinchillas dietary requirements. They do not tolerate heat very well – and they use their large ears to help regulate their body temperature. If their ears are always red it might be due to an excessively warm environment. Due to the environment in which they evolved – Chinchillas are great jumpers and require a lot of exercise. Therefore, cages should provide enough space to allow play and movement - a multi-leveled house is ideal.
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