Chinchilla pet
Chinchilla pet |
Are you thinking of buying a pet? Well, everybody loves to
keep a pet. Well, a pet can be that one thing you can turn to when everything
is going the other way. Pets will always keep you happy and want more in life.
They can make you happy even when you are down and think that nothing is going
great in life. Yet, most of us want to keep a pet dog or pet cat.
How many of us have actually thought of keeping something
different as a pet? Well, we are not talking about keeping snakes as a pet but
something different.
Today, getting exotic pets is no more a difficult task.
Knowing to take proper care of these pets is important. The Chinchillas of
South America is known for its being cute and boisterous. People like to
keep these little rodents as pets. However, one must know and understand that
these little ones come from the wild and hence take time to adjust themselves
to the new surroundings.
Some important points to bear in mind with regards to
Chinchilla is below.
Chinchilla as a pet
1. These rodents are most active during dusk and dawn.
Therefore during the day time care should be taken to see that they are kept in
quiet places.
2. The females are quite active and aggressive as compared
to the males. They tend to show more aggression towards the same sex in
comparison to their counterparts of the opposite sex. These little ones can get
irritated easily. When ticked off the females are known to spray urine. They
may also bite their own fur. This could be a sign of poor diet, stress or too
much noise around.
3. Female chinchillas mature at 7 months and can breed after
that. Their gestation period lasts for 111 days. They can mate up to 3 times a
year and bear 1-2 babies per litter.
4. These rodents prefer a lot of green grass and fibre in
their diet. They have a delicate digestive system and therefore sugary treats
must be given to them in moderation.
5. Chinchillas must be handled gently. These little ones like
to nibble and chew whatever they find and so it is recommended to keep them in
a cage. Since these rodents have a wild streak they take a while to get tamed
and adjust to their surroundings. These are low maintenance pets, however, they
love getting all the attention.
Chinchilla animal
Many of you might have pets of your home. Snuggling up to
your pet dog is an experience out of the world indeed . Yet, did you know that
you can have pets that aren't the normal pet dog or pet cat?
We are talking about having a chinchilla as a pet. Wondering
what a chinchilla is? Yes, most of you have not heard about a female chinchilla
so let us help you understand how having a female chinchilla can help you. Of
course, we expect you to be surprised as you read this article.
Chinchilla information
Chinchillas are squirrel -like rodents found in South America . They are slightly bigger in size as
compared to the ground squirrels. These rodents are most active during dusk and
dawn and hence are also known as crepuscular rodents. The body length varies
from 10-14 inches and the tail could be about 4-6inches. These little rodents
weigh about 1.1 to 1.5 kilograms. The average life span of these animals is
18-20 years.
If you are thinking about what there is to know about these rodents.
. Active as compared to the males: Female chinchillas are
known to be more active as compared to their male counterparts. Hence the males
are easier to tame as compared to the females. However, females act as great
pets, too, and one you will love to have.
· Spraying urine: When ticked off or scared, we know female chinchillas to spray urine. They can spray urine from up to a foot
away. While the amount of urine sprayed is not much, it can still be annoying.
· Aggression: Female chinchillas are more aggressive as
compared to males. They show their aggression towards the same sex. Fights
between two female chinchillas can often be very dangerous.
· Maturity: The females mature at 7 months and can be
allowed to breed thereafter. For optimum breeding, breeders place the female
Chinchillas into breeding before they turn 2 years of age.
· Breeding: The gestational period of these rodents is 111
days. A female can conceive 72 hours after a litter. These rodents can mate up
to three times a year, producing 1 to 2 offsprings per litter. The number can
go up to 4 babies per litter in rare cases.
These rodents should be handled and tamed gently. Unlike
other pets, these require extra effort and patience to get acclimatized to
their environment and surrounding. Utmost care should be taken when dealing
with their food as the Chinchillas have a sensitive digestive system.
Chinchillas can be great pets only if they can be cared for in the right way. Of
course, you might want to have a pet dog but then chinchillas can be a great
pet too.
Chinchilla facts
The name "Chinchilla" itself speaks about their
origin. Chinchilla are rodents from the great Andes
Mountains in South
America . Apart from the tamed ones, the wild rodents are not
limited to only Peru and Chile . They are
fairly active and cheerful animals, but they show most of their personality only
during the nighttime. Because they are nocturnal animals, they like to stay
calm and quiet during the daytime and act playful throughout the night. They
usually have a long life span; if their diet is properly structured .
Chinchilla food
Food is a major area of concern for people who like having
chinchillas as their pets. As they have a very sensitive digestive system,
utmost care should be taken while selecting the food items for their meals. To
keep them healthy, it is important to give your pet the appropriate things to
eat. It is limited to high-quality grass hay, pellets, and a moderate amount of
fresh vegetables and fruits. Apart from this, they consume small amounts of
water. The food habits of a pet chinchilla are slightly different from the wild
ones. Wild species also consume seeds, bark, flowers and various types of
grasses, but all these things are not suitable for pets. Overall, they eat
and drink in small portions. Technically, their digestive system can't process
fatty acids and food items that are rich in protein content. Their dietary
needs can be fully satisfied with good quality grass hay mixed with a small amount of a pellet. So, don't feed them on fats ; they prefer to keep it light and
healthy.
Chinchillas as a pet:
Chinchilla pet |
People love to tame chinchillas because of some of their
unique qualities. They are adorable and bond closely with the people around
which they live. Like humans, they also suffer from mood swings. So, don't get
upset if sometimes your favorite pet doesn't allow you to cuddle. They don't
mind staying alone but sometimes they need to have their space so they can
roam freely. Just like kids, they need a lot of toys around them to play with
and keep them busy. They love hiding inside the boxes and are fond of
dust bathing. A dust bath is also important to keep their thick and soft fur in
good condition. They should not take baths in normal water; they should rather
roll in the special dust powder prepared out of fine pumice.
Chinchillas are great pets but it takes some time for them
to get used to people around them. Young rodents will bond easily but older
ones take their time to get adjusted, just like humans. Sometimes it really
becomes difficult to control them, especially during the nighttime when they
become playful. So, it is very important to understand their behavior
along with the food habits to keep them in a good mood and health. They are
enjoyable rodents and like to explore. They make excellent pets and companions
for humans of all ages.
Chinchillas that belong to the rodent family look a lot likes
the ground squirrels. They come from the great Andes
Mountains and are named after the
local people of Andes , "the
Chincha." Their personality resembles that of a squirrel but they are
slightly larger. Chinchillas have certain qualities that make them
great pets.
Chinchilla coat
Chinchillas diet
Chinchilla pet |
Talking about their eating habits, chinchillas consume very
little quantities of water and food. They feed on mostly roughage and their
meals should consist of good quality grass hay that is specially made for
chinchillas. The amount of hay they consume in a day is as little as one
teaspoon. As they have a very sensitive digestive system, any change in food habits can affect their health, so proper care should be taken with their
dietary needs. Wild chinchillas feed on desert grasses as they cannot digest
high protein food or even fats. A good quality hay pellet makes the most balanced
and contented diet for these rodents. Most people try to feed them with
fresh fruits and vegetables, but it is very important to understand their
eating habits. Fresh vegetables and fruits can prove to be fatal for them
because of the body structure they have. Even if you try to give them
dry fruits, limit it to one or two seeds in a day. As nuts contain a high amount
of fatty substances, these should be avoided too .
Chinchillas are nocturnal animal s so they are mostly
inactive during the daytime and show their true colors at the night. Their
activities can be found to be at its peak at the dawn and they prefer to be
calm and peaceful during the daytime. Like humans, chinchillas also dislike changes; , especially in their diet habits. As they are active and playful
during the night, it is preferable to keep them in cages. As warm temperature
is a major concern of them, try to avoid keeping them in warm areas of the
home.
Chinchillas are attractive and popular pets. Many people
prefer to take this furball home because of the chinchilla's gentle
temperament. The choice of a rodent as a pet is very important because of its
uniqueness. The pet owner should know the basic information related to these
creatures. Here are some less known facts about the pet chinchilla.
Chinchilla Lifespan
Chinchillas are a kind of centenarians in a rodent family.
They can live in captivity for over 20 years. Rabbits, Degus and Guinea pigs
live shorter - from 2 to 7 years. The chinchilla's lifespan depends on its
balanced diet, supply with fresh water, and enough space for exercising.
Moderate temperatures are essential - if pets are exposed to heat for a long
time; their life is in danger.
During their relatively long life, chinchs change their size
and weight but keep their cheerful temperament and curiosity.
Youngsters are ready to move immediately after birth. Baby
chinchillas eat solid food at the age of seven days. At the age of 8 months,
they become sexually mature.
Dust bath for chinchilla
When you think of personal hygiene, you probably imagine a
shower, soap and plenty of water. In fact, chinchillas need a dry bath. What
does it mean? These exotic pets clean their silky fur by rolling in special
dust. Owners offer this bath to their chinchillas three times a week.
The procedure takes about 15 minutes. The rabbit-like rodents use the bath not
only to keep their fur healthy. This bath is also great fun for them.
Some owners might have an allergy to the dust, so people who
intend to buy a chinchilla have to consider this fact .
Chinchilla care
Heatstroke, diabetes, and broken bones are among common
chinchilla health problems. Chinchs will need an air-conditioned place to live
in the summer. These rodents are very sensitive to heat. Another fact to consider
is that the chinchilla's cage should be placed far from, chimneys, direct
sunlight, or even your kitchen. Another life-threatening factor is humidity.
Problems with digestion are also very common. The first
thing an owner can do is provide the pet with balanced food or give the
chinchilla only hay. Liquid Vitamin C is also a good first aid option.
Chinchillas often suffer from uneven or overgrown teeth. To
prevent this problem, the chinch's parent has to provide his pet with enough hay
and wood chewing sticks.
These are some less known chinchilla facts everyone
should know before deciding to have an exotic small pet. If you already have
this creature at home, we hope you will find useful chinchilla information in
this article.
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