Where do chinchillas come from? Chinchilla at home - is it worth getting such a rodent? Peculiarities of behavior of chinchillas

The chinchilla is an active rodent with a beautiful fluffy tail, large beautiful eyes, and beautiful thick fur. Warm fur protects the animal from sudden changes in temperature and cold, as they live in the highlands of the Andes. Chinchillas are wonderful pets for pets. They are smart, quick-witted, playful, funny, energetic. They are easily tamed and get used to people, and are also very clean. The chinchilla is listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. They are bred for fur production on specialized farms.

About the breed:
If you take a first glance at a chinchilla, it may seem that you are looking at a mouse, only large sizes. But they have nothing to do with the mouse family. Their beauty has become a determining factor in the popularity of this species of animal. Chinchillas have beautiful fur, shiny and thick, shimmering with bluish silver. The animal has huge beautiful eyes. If we also remember their intelligence, friendliness and unpretentiousness, it turns out that you simply cannot find a more ideal pet for the home!
The peculiarities of the chinchilla's appearance are explained by natural necessity. Large ears - to hear the approach of the enemy, long mustaches - for orientation in space, thick fur - to protect from frost, a very sensitive nose - also for safety. But chinchillas have poor vision; other senses compensate for it. Therefore, the chinchilla is very nervous and timid. Mostly they live up to 10 years. Chinchillas have been little studied, so if a pet gets sick, not every veterinarian will be able to understand why it happened and how to deal with it. Therefore, it is better not to let your rodent get sick.

Titles in other languages:
Chinchilla - Chinchilla (Latin).
Chinchilla lanigera is a species of Coast Chinchilla (Latin).
Chinchilla Brevicaudata - species of Large short-tailed chinchilla (Latin).

Classification:
Species: Chinchilla lanigera, Chinchilla Brevicaudata
Genus: Chinchillas
Family: Chinchillas
Superfamily: Chinchillas
Suborder: Porcupines
Order: Rodents
Infraclass: Placental
Class: Mammals
Type: Chordata
Kingdom: Animals.

Chinchilla habitat:
Habitat is the Andes Mountains in South America. But you can also find it in other parts of the mainland, in northern Chile and western Argentina. They settle on rocks because there are rocky crevices there that chinchillas use as burrows. Mountains are their usual habitat, so they are remarkably adapted for mountain life. Chinchillas are nocturnal animals. They navigate well in the dark thanks to their senses. In case of danger, chinchillas hide in narrow crevices. Dates can fit into the narrowest ones, since their skeleton can shrink vertically. But not much is known about life in nature, about chinchillas. Basically, all knowledge about their behavior comes from observations of domestic animals.

Description of chinchilla:
The external indicators that nature has endowed the chinchilla with are for their own safety. Large locator ears warn of impending danger and catch sounds; Whiskers - replace vision, help recognize objects and determine the distance to them. Chinchillas have a well-developed cerebellum, which is why they calmly and deftly move through the mountains. Poor vision is compensated by quick reaction. Although chinchillas have poor eyesight, they are endowed with the ability to see well in the dark.
The body is 20-40 cm long, and big ears-6-7 cm, and the mustache can reach 10 cm or more. The hind legs can grow twice as long as the front legs, have four fingers, and the front legs have five grasping fingers. In the wild, chinchillas live in small colonies. Their funny feature is the way they wash themselves. They use sand and volcanic ash for washing. They have a special membrane in their ears that covers their ears when swimming.
Chinchillas' fur is soft, silky and thick. One bulb will grow up to 60-70 fluffy hairs. The hair length reaches 4 cm.

Chinchilla nutrition:
The places where chinchillas live in nature do not offer a variety of food. They feed on plants that grow in the mountains. They eat cacti, moss, lichens or small insects. Food can be the bark of trees or shrubs. At home, food can be varied. You can update it only once a day, that's enough. Chinchillas are fed grain or special granulated food, which are sold in stores. It is recommended to feed chinchillas coarse hay. From cereals you can feed buckwheat, rolled oats or stale bread. It is useful for pregnant females to give a hawthorn or rose hip berry a day. The water must be fresh and changed every day. Pregnant females become picky when it comes to food. If she gets tired of a certain type of food, she can simply throw it out of the cage. In this case, you need to update your diet. A boring type of food can be returned to the diet only after three weeks, not earlier. Their delicacy is a piece of apple, hibiscus, hawthorn berries, and carrots.

Chinchilla breeding:
A chinchilla begins to bear offspring at the age of six months, approximately 2-3 times a year; babies in a litter range from 2 to 5, usually 2-3. A chinchilla bears offspring for 3.5 months. After a week, newborn babies can already feed on their own, at 1.5 - 2 months. the cubs can be removed. Chinchillas are monogamous and form a stable married couple. During selection, chinchillas are sometimes kept in colonies in which there are 4 females per male. A pregnant female is very restless, so there is no need to disturb her. The offspring of chinchillas are born pubescent, sighted and with erupted teeth.

Chinchilla content:
It is better to choose a large cage for a chinchilla, about 0.5 m cubed. Chinchilla loves space. The cage should have toys, shelves, and climbing equipment. The tray with bedding can be changed once a week, because chinchillas do not have a bad odor. To prevent an active chinchilla from turning over the bowl and drinking bowl, it is better to screw them to the walls of the cage. You also need to buy a container with sand for bathing for the chinchilla. Just put her in the cage for half an hour no more than twice a week. The temperature to the cage also deserves special attention. In the heat, a chinchilla can die. She is very timid, so protect her from sudden movements, sharp sounds and other irritants. Only in good conditions and with caring owners can a chinchilla live for many years. A chinchilla takes much less time to care for than a dog. She is very unpretentious.

It so happened that the chinchilla cannot choose its fate - either to live a full life. happy life, or in the prime of life, give up your skin for a fur coat. A person decides for her. Yes, due to the harsh climate in its natural habitat, it has very warm, soft and beautiful fur, but let’s still admire it on the animal itself, which will delight you for up to 20 years - that’s how long they live in captivity. Moreover, in our time, these beautiful animals are not in short supply - you can buy chinchillas in our country in various nurseries, for example, the St. Petersburg nursery “Shinchilla Land”.

Rodent of the chinchilla family

Cell preparation

Before purchasing an animal, a cage for the chinchilla should already be prepared. This will be her home, a home and a refuge in which she will sleep, eat, bathe and give birth.

Large cage for chinchilla

Therefore, there are certain requirements for the cage:

1. The cage should be located in a cool place. Chinchillas cannot tolerate heat; the optimal air temperature for them is 20 degrees. If it is 25 degrees in the cage, then the animal will overheat its body; at 30 degrees it will die;
2. The size of the cage should be approximately 50x50x100 cm, that is, it must be of a tower type, greater in height than width and depth. This is a very active animal; the cage must have floors with stairs so that it can run a lot;
3. If possible, try to hang the feeder and water bowl, otherwise the chinchilla may turn them into a toilet;
4. There should always be a piece of chalk or a special stone in the cage for grinding down teeth. You can buy it at any pet store;
5. The bottom of the cage should be lined with sawdust. The animal goes to the toilet anywhere, they cannot be tamed to the toilet, so the sawdust will have to be changed often. Although some people succeed in toilet training;
6. They have fur that is very sensitive to dirt; it even reacts to sweaty human palms. Therefore, the animal often bathes, but not in water, but in special zeolite sand. They do not require water for these purposes.

Taking sand baths

Sand special for swimming

By the way, while taking sand baths, chinchillas are so violent that dust will fly in all directions. It is not advisable to carry out these procedures in a cage so as not to clean up later. The ideal solution is a three-liter jar. We poured sand in a layer of 5 cm, put the animal in there, and left it in a cool place for an hour. Although the duration can be reduced to half an hour, but not less.

Chinchilla bathes in the sand

A chinchilla should be bathed at home a couple of times a week. If your home is hot (i.e. about 25 degrees) and there is high humidity, then you should bathe every other day. The thing is that the animal does not have sweat glands, and without these procedures you can forget about beautiful, healthy fur.

In the wild, they bathe in volcanic dust, but never in sand. And at home, you also need to follow this rule - only special sand. If you add regular river water, you will get at least two problems:

• Skin diseases, fungus;
• Ugly, chewed, tousled fur, as if the chinchilla had been in a centrifuge.

A visual technique for a sand bath

For preventive purposes, for example, against lichen, the antifungal drug fungistop is sometimes added to the sand in the proportion of 1 large spoon of the drug per 1 kg of sand.

Animal behavior at home

Chinchillas require much less care than, for example, . The main thing is to keep it cool. If the animal is released from the cage, it will immediately begin to explore every crevice in the room, because... their ancestors lived in endless labyrinths of rock slides that appeared after volcanic activity and earthquakes.

Please note that they try everything to their teeth, this is the instinct of a rodent, so you should not leave them outside the cage unattended. Cases of biting live wires with inevitable death are very common.

Chinchillas don’t really need to communicate with people; they are somewhat cowardly animals and prefer to play with themselves, simply running around the floors of the cage and gnawing everything in sight (that’s why a spacious cage is needed). Also keep in mind that this is a very shy animal and can die from fright.

Also, you should not pick up a chinchilla by the back, because... she may shed her fur. Here, for example, is a chinchilla, photo below, which did just that:

Chinchilla shed a tuft of fur

This is normal, so they have a chance to escape from the predator's mouth. Even though we are not going to eat them, the instinct remains. But let us warn you again - they die from severe fright! And being grabbed by the scruff of the neck from behind is also frightening.

Domestic chinchillas are mostly nocturnal, so get used to the nightly rustling, squeaking, and stomping that can last half the night.

Chinchilla nutrition

What does a chinchilla prefer for lunch? In this matter, it’s just a gift for the pet owner - they are herbivores, they need very little for nutrition:

1. Fortified ready-made food;
2. Vegetables, fruits;
3. Dried fruits (especially raisins);
4. Nuts (in limited quantities);
5. Bread, bran, seeds;
6. Fresh water in the sippy cup.

They eat only once a day, a couple of tablespoons of food. They also don’t drink a lot of water, but it needs to be changed regularly, at least once a day.

Chinchilla's meal

Do not forget to place a special stone for the teeth in a timely manner, otherwise the incisors will grow so large that the animal will not be able to eat, and you will have to go to the veterinary hospital to have them ground down.

Chinchilla and its colors

Not everyone knows that chinchilla is a whole family of rodents. There are both chinchilla breeds and interbreed mixtures. There are more than 14 of the former, 12 of the latter.

In principle, they are no different except for color. Their fur color is very diverse:

• White;
• Black velvet;
• Brown velvet;
• White-pink;
• Sapphire;
• Beige;
• Violet.

Purple color of chinchilla

If you cross chinchillas of the same color, then this color is passed on to all the babies, so for experiments it is better to choose multi-colored mom and dad. But there are cases, although rarely, when the color of the children is neither mother nor father. This happens when they pass on the color gene from their grandparents.

Animal Reproduction

A pregnant female carries children for about 120 days, during which time she gains weight well. There can be from 1 to 6 children in a litter.

An interesting fact is that after giving birth on the same day, the female begins to demand a male for the next fertilization. It’s up to you to decide whether to add a male or not, but you need to adhere to the rule: no more than two births per year. A larger amount puts a greater burden on the female’s body.

Chinchilla babies

During the first days after birth, children eat only mother's milk. But in a female, not all mammary glands work, but only the first pair, very rarely - two pairs. Stronger children push away weaker ones, and there are often fights between them. In such cases, you must either ensure that all children receive milk and control this process, or feed them with artificial formula from a bottle.

Feeding the baby

Breastfeeding can last up to two months, then the grown-up offspring completely switches to an adult diet.

Benefits of chinchillas

If you are still in doubt about choosing a pet, here is a general list of the advantages of chinchillas:

• Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a chinchilla, the price of which starts from 1000 rubles, which is very inexpensive;
• Always neat appearance (with regular swimming in the sand);
• Due to the absence of sweat glands, there is virtually no odor;
• Absence seasonal molts classifies this animal as hypoallergenic;
• Chinchillas do not bite or scratch.

And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!

Caring for a chinchilla at home

Even in ancient times, people, realizing how useful animals can be, began to domesticate them. Among pets, there are those that we get for our benefit, and there are pets for the soul.

Often, pets become so close to us that we treat them as members of our family.

Nowadays, it is difficult to surprise anyone with the presence of an exotic animal in the house. And you definitely won’t surprise anyone with a funny animal, a chinchilla. But just recently this exotic animal was wild.

Breed classification

Chinchilla is one of the representatives of the rodent order. Chinchillas in nature are small, long-tailed and coastal. The habitat of this animal is rocky terrain.

Currently, there are about 14 chinchilla breeds and 12 interbreed species.

Main color: light, dark and gray, the most popular color is dark with a light zone at the roots.

Chinchilla breeds depending on fur color

Chinchilla is not agouti. This type The animal suggests gray fur.

Chinchilla charcoal. This variety of chinchillas is distinguished by black fur and the same eyes.

Albino chinchilla. This animal has white fur and red eyes.

Chinchilla white stone. This breed looks like an albino, that is, the same white fur, but the animal’s eyes have a different shape. The cubs of this animal are most often born spotted with red eyes, like the chinchilla in the photo.

Chinchilla misty. The animal is dark gray in color with a fuzzy pattern on its fur.

Beige chinchilla Sullivan. The animal of this breed is beige in color with red eyes.

Wellman's beige chinchilla. The animal's skin is beige and its eyes are black.

Chinchilla sapphire, blue powder, blue carat. An animal with bluish fur.

Chinchilla motley. An animal with light fur with white spots.

Chinchilla black corduroy, artillery corduroy. This chinchilla is characterized by contrasting fur, in which the animal has a black back and a white belly.

Beige chinchilla. Animals of this species have pale beige fur and white down.

White chinchilla British chinchilla. This animal has a white skin with a silver tint.

Chinchilla brown corduroy. The skin of this animal is brown.

Chinchilla whitish pink, apple color, yellow powder, star shine. This animal is characterized by a beige-pink color.

Rules of care

When you decide to get a chinchilla, you must take into account that the room in which it will live must meet certain requirements, first of all, it must be warm, light and dry, and the animal also needs good ventilation.

Most suitable temperature regime for chinchilla health 18-20°C.

The cage should be equipped with wooden shelves for the animals to rest. The width of the shelves should be 15 cm.

If desired, the cage can be equipped with ladders and tunnels. The cage must have a house in which the animals can rest and have offspring. The bedding in the house needs to be constantly changed.

The house should have the following dimensions: length 30 cm, depth 15 cm, height 15 cm, the house should be twilight.

A ceramic or iron feeder and drinker are attached to the wall of the cage or mounted on the door.

Eating and bathing

Since a chinchilla at home, as in its natural environment, must eat hay, it will need an additional feeder for this ingredient.

For a full life and beautiful fur, chinchillas need a bath. The chinchilla bathes in special sand made from crushed volcanic stone. This procedure is necessary for the animal to clean its fur.

You should not use regular sand for bathing chinchillas, because it will damage the animal’s fur.

The bath cannot be kept in the cage all the time; it must be left for half an hour; this time is enough for the animal to perform the procedure, otherwise the chinchilla’s skin will become dry.

Since the process of bathing chinchillas is very interesting, a transparent bath or an ordinary three-liter jar can be an ideal option for observing this cute animal.

Another rule for keeping chinchillas is related to the fact that chinchillas are primarily rodents, therefore, like all rodents, the animal has an instinct that requires gnawing something.

In addition, the cage should contain wooden sticks or toys, as well as mineral or chalk bars that the chinchilla will happily chew on.

Photo of chinchilla

IN lately Breeding chinchillas at home has become a popular activity. Many parents believe that a cute, fat-assed chinchilla will be a good friend for their child. Most often, children are really delighted with these exotic animals. Before getting a furry pet, it would be nice to find out how chinchillas live in nature, how chinchillas sleep, what size they reach, what the animal looks like, how many teeth rodents have. All this information, as well as characteristics of the species, its description and interesting facts about chinchillas are contained in this article.

Description of the species

Classification

There are several erroneous beliefs regarding the question: what species does a chinchilla belong to? Many people think that a chinchilla is a squirrel, rabbit or rat. In fact, it is an animal related to:

• kingdom - Animals;
• tipu - Chordata;
• class - Mammals;
• infraclass - Placental;
• squad - Rodents;
• suborder - Porcupines;
• superfamily - Chinchilla-like;
• family - Chinchilla;
• family - Chinchillas.

The chinchilla genus is divided into 2 species:

1. Chinchilla lanigera - small long-tailed or shore;
2. Chinchilla Brevicaudata - short-tailed or large.

There are mutational species that differ in hair color.

Habitats

The homeland of the animals is South America. Long-tailed individuals are widespread in the mountains of Chile. Short-tailed - live in the Andes and northwestern Argentina.

The habitat of rodents is rocky areas, preferably northern slopes. You can meet a rodent at an altitude of up to 5,000 m. Animals choose narrow cracks and openings between stones as a home and can dig a hole.

External signs

• Chinchilla body length – 22-38 cm. Tail – from 9 to 17 cm. Whiskers (vibrissae) – 8-12 cm.
• The weight of an adult does not reach 1 kg. – on average 0.5 kg, more than 0.8 kg. they won't grow. The female usually weighs more than the male.
• Rounded head and short thick neck.
• The eyes are round, black, and the pupils are vertical.
• The length of the rounded ears is up to 6 cm. The ears have special membranes to protect the ears during sand baths.
• The fur all over the body is thick, and the hairs on the tail are coarse.
• The fur color is most often gray, but there are other varieties (black, white, beige, brown, pink, purple and others). The abdomen is white.

Animal skeleton

The body structure of chinchillas provides them with reliable shelter and makes it possible to survive in rocky mountain conditions. The chinchilla's skeleton tapers when necessary. The need may arise when an animal hides in narrow crevices from predators and bad weather. There are 5 toes on the front legs of rodents, and 4 on the hind legs. The hind legs are longer and stronger than the front ones, which allows the animals to jump high.

Rodents have a set of 20 strong teeth that grow throughout their lives. Newborn babies have developed dental systems: there are 12 teeth at once.

How to determine the age of a chinchilla?

By external signs it is easy to determine the age of the animal. Determination is possible in several ways:

• By weight: at two months of age - up to 300 grams, at six months - up to 500 grams, per year - up to 800 grams.
• On the heels: young individuals have delicate skin on the heels. To determine age more accurately, the paws of an individual whose age is unknown can be compared with those for whom this indicator is known.
• According to the muzzle: with age, the muzzle becomes longer.
• In size: at 3-4 months a chinchilla is close to the size of a guinea pig, at 6 months and after the animal can be compared to a rabbit.
• By the color of the teeth: up to 2 months, the teeth are white, and when chinchillas grow up, the color of their teeth becomes orange.
• By sexual characteristics: in males, testicles appear by the fifth month of life; by the age of seven months, the genitals are already easy to distinguish from female ones.
• According to the ear flaps: chinchillas with the beige gene begin to have flaps on their ears by the age of 5 months. There should be more than 2 of them per year, and in an adult at the age of 3-4 years, all the ears are covered with spots.

Number

Today, chinchillas are on the verge of extinction. Over the past three generations, the number of rodents has decreased by more than 80%.

In nature, their wide distribution has been recorded only in Chile. The number of animals in nature is less than 10,000 individuals.

Since 2008, the animals have been listed in the Red Book.

Attempts to colonize rodents in other areas favorable to them did not bring results.

Lifestyle

Chinchillas in the wild

These rodents are monogamous and prefer to live in groups of up to 10 individuals. The whole group sleeps during the day and is awake at night. An “observer” is allocated in the flock, who informs the rest of the community about the approaching danger. In the colony, the leading positions are occupied by females.

Chinchillas are vegetarians. The basis of their diet: plants, seeds, fruits, lichens and cacti.

They get a sufficient amount of moisture from succulent and green food, so they practically do not consume water. They can eat dew.

Animals are able to express their attitude towards something using sounds. If the animal is unhappy, it quacks or chirps. An angry rodent chatters its teeth and growls. A frightened individual squeaks.

The enemies of chinchillas are birds of prey and mammals. When danger appears, the animal can attack the enemy: it stands on its hind legs, releases a stream of urine and clings its teeth to the offender.

Chinchillas love to swim in sand, fine dry dust or volcanic ash. This way they manage to keep their fur dry, clean and silky. Hair renewal occurs annually during the warm season.

The average lifespan of the animal is 20 years.

How do chinchillas sleep?

The peak of activity in chinchillas occurs at night, and during the day the animals sleep. Rodents living in pairs or groups sleep in an embrace or one individual may perch on top of another.

Even the slightest noise can awaken the animal. Therefore, when keeping chinchillas at home, it is better to develop a clear cleaning and feeding routine so that the pets go to bed at the allotted time. During this period it is recommended not to make noise.

A pet living alone in a cage sleeps on its stomach or side. If the animal is lounging on its side, the owner can conclude that the chinchilla completely trusts him.

How do chinchillas see?

Chinchillas have night vision, but rodents see perfectly during the day. These animals have panoramic vision, that is, they have a wider view than a person. This feature gives rodents an advantage over predators - the chinchilla is able to see the enemy from any side.

The animal's large pupil allows it to see in the twilight, and the mobility of the pupil prevents it from going blind in the bright sun.

The animals do not have ideal vision, at a distance more than a meter the picture will be blurry. But sensitive hearing and vibrissae compensate for this deficiency.

Today I want to talk to you about such animals, which most of the earth’s population is not indifferent to - chinchillas!

This article opens new section on the project “Good IS!”, called “Fauna”, in which you can find information about any animals of our planet...

So, chinchillas...

Chinchillas ( lat. Chinchilla) - a genus of furry animals of the family chinchilla squad of rodents.

Chinchillas are native to South America, namely dry rocky ones, preferably northern regions at an altitude of 400 to 5000 meters above sea level. These small, beautiful rodents inhabit the Andes mountains of Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Argentina.

Chinchillas grow up to 22-38 cm in length, and their tail is 10-17 cm long. The head is rounded, the neck is short. The chinchilla's body is covered with thick and durable fur, which warms this animal in the cool highlands, and the tail is covered with hard guard hairs. The weight of adults reaches up to 800 grams. Chinchillas have large black eyes with vertical pupils, making them easy to navigate at night. The whiskers grow up to 8 - 10 cm, and the ears up to 6 cm, and have a rounded shape. The ears of chinchillas have special membranes, with the help of which the animals close their ears when they take sand baths; Thanks to this, sand does not get inside. The chinchilla's skeleton is capable of compressing in a vertical plane, which allows animals to penetrate narrow crevices in rocks. The forelimbs are five-fingered: four grasping fingers and one little-used one are twice as long as the front five-fingered ones. The hind limbs are four-toed. Strong hind limbs are twice as long as the front ones and allow high jumps, and a highly developed cerebellum provides good coordination of movements necessary for safe movement on rocks. Chinchillas live up to 20 years. The standard color of the animal is grayish-blue (ash), with the exception of the white belly.

Sexual differences in chinchillas. Female chinchillas are larger than males, so if an adult female weighs up to 800 grams, then males weigh no more than 700 grams. Chinchilla boys develop secondary sexual characteristics (testicles under the tail) at the age of 4-5 months. And at the age of about 7 months, the genitals are easily distinguishable and can no longer be confused with a female. In terms of behavior, male chinchillas are usually suckers, i.e. more tame. An interesting fact is that if there is a male and a female in a cage, and if you take the male first in your arms, then the female may be offended by you, which will result in her turning her back to you.

Chinchillas were, and still are, the object of intense hunting due to valuable fur, from which fur coats are made, which led to a strong decrease in their numbers. On at the moment chinchillas are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Long-tailed chinchillas are farmed for their fur in many countries and are also common as pets.

Peculiarities of behavior of chinchillas

Chinchillas make very interesting sounds: when they don't like something, they make a sound similar to quacks or chirps. If you make them very angry, they begin to make sounds similar to growling or blowing their nose, and sometimes click their teeth very quickly. If they get hit hard or get very scared, they can squeak very loudly. But chinchillas are not defenseless - if threatened, they can attack. They attack in a rather funny way: they stand high on their hind legs, begin to “growl”, let out a stream of urine, and then grab them with their teeth.

Chinchillas in history

When spanish conquerors reached the shores of South America, the warm fur clothing of the local population aroused their admiration. The name “chinchilla” was given to the fur by the Spaniards in honor of the Chinchas Indian tribe. Intensive fishing for chinchilla fur began for delivery to Europe. This led to the virtual extermination of wild chinchillas. Many attempts to breed chinchillas in captivity have failed. Since the movement of chinchillas from the mountains to the valley ended in their death.

The first who was able to move chinchillas from the mountains, as well as transport them to North America, was M. Chapman. In 1923, he managed to bring 11 chinchillas (eight males and three females) to the United States, which can be considered as the ancestors of almost all animals living on farms today. He managed to get offspring from the first three females. After the success of M. Chapman, extensive development of the experience of breeding chinchillas in captivity began in North America and Canada, and later in Europe and South Africa. Great job Selected by farmers from all over the world, it has led to a color mutation. Wilson white, beige, and black velvet were the first to be received. Currently, chinchillas have gained great popularity among lovers of exotic animals.

Types of chinchillas

There are two types of chinchillas: the small long-tailed or coastal chinchilla (lat. Chinchilla Lanigera) and the short-tailed or large chinchilla (lat. Chinchilla Brevicaudata).

The body length of the small long-tailed chinchilla is 22-38 cm, and its main difference from its other counterparts is its chic fluffy tail, 10 to 17 cm long, which resembles a squirrel’s. In addition, this animal is endowed with large black eyes, long mustaches and large rounded ears, adapted for nocturnal activity.

This type of chinchilla is endowed with short front and very powerful hind legs, and the body of such a chinchilla is framed by a small tail. The animal's neck is quite thick. The general color scheme of short-tailed chinchillas is grayish-blue, and the abdomen is painted white. The short-tailed chinchilla is distinguished by its larger size than the long-tailed chinchilla, its wide head and small bluish ears.

In addition to the main species, chinchillas have many mutational species that were produced over many years of work by crossing these animals, and differ mainly color scheme your fur.

The color of the standard chinchilla, which is the main type raised on farms, is blue-gray on the vertebral part of the body (head, back, sides, thighs and tail) with a white ventral stripe. The agouti color pattern typical of the chinchilla is shared by all species in the suborder Caviomorpha (e.g. guinea pigs or viscacha), and its name comes from the Agouti species (Dasyprocta agouti - South American golden hare, living in South America and the Antilles). This pattern is based on the zonal color of the fur: dark - the top, light - the middle and dark - the parts of the base. The overall fur color effect that a dark top gives is called veiling. In the middle part of the hair the pigment is more or less diluted. IN standard types There are three types of color: dark, medium and light. They differ in the length of the colored part of the fur and the intensity of pigmentation.

Some types of chinchilla coloring

At home, chinchillas are mainly bred in the following colors: standard gray, black velvet, white, beige, homobeige, ebony, purple, sapphire. When crossing of these colors, more than 200 different combinations of hybrids arise among themselves, some of them have a complex genetic structure and are bred in several stages.

Standard gray– wild natural color, carrying two recessive genes – aa. Crossing parents of similar colors produces similar offspring. Among standard gray chinchillas, light standard, medium standard and dark standard are distinguished, since the color of the fur can vary from light gray to dark gray with a bluish tint on the back and sides and from white to bluish-white on the abdomen. On the curves of the body you can observe a play of tones, since the lower part of the hair is black or bluish, the middle part is white, and the upper part is black.

Black velvet. The color was first developed in 1960 in the USA.
Distinctive features of this color are black diagonal stripes on the front legs, black color of the back and head, and white belly.

Chinchillas of this color cannot be crossed with each other, as they have a “lethal gene”, which negatively affects the quality of the offspring. Crossing with other colors produces the following main types of hybrids: white velvet (with Wilson's white); brown velvet (with heterobeige); purple velvet (with purple in two stages); sapphire velvet (with sapphire in two stages), etc.
Wilson's white, mosaic (or white velvet), silver. This color, first obtained in 1955 in the USA, is dominant and contains a “lethal gene”. Appearance heterozygous individuals are different, the color of the fur is from snow-white to dark silver.

White chinchillas- carriers of a recessive “lethal gene” that appears as a result of crossing two white parents. Therefore, animals that are carriers of this gene are not crossed with each other.

Recessiveness is a form of relationship between two genes in which one of them has a less strong influence on the corresponding characteristics of an individual than the other.

In relation to the standard gray, the white gene is dominant, and as a result of crossing, both white and standard animals are born.

Color white velvet can be obtained by crossing black velvet and white Wilson. As a result, the individual receives white, black velvet and standard genes. White velvet, which has the effect of double dominance, is characterized by white fur, a dark “mask” on the head, and dark gray diagonal stripes on the front legs.
You should avoid crossing white velvet with animals of the following colors: white velvet, black velvet, brown velvet, purple velvet, sapphire velvet, as well as white, white-pink, white ebony. This is due to the fact that white velvet carries two “lethal genes”, characteristic of white Wilson and black velvet.

Beige color was first obtained in 1955. Animals in which beige is the dominant color have pink to dark red eyes and pink ears, sometimes with black dots. Fur color varies from light to dark beige.

Dominance is a form of relationship between paired genes, in which one of them has a stronger influence on the corresponding characteristics of an individual than the other.

Beige chinchillas are homozygous, so they interbreed well with others. The result is wonderful hybrids.

Beige homozygous. Animals of this color do not have the “lethal gene” and can be homozygous. Beige homozygous chinchillas are distinguished by light cream fur with a pinkish tint, pink ears, light pink pupils with a light blue or white circle around the pupil.

As a result of crossing a homobeige animal with a standard one, heterobeige puppies are born. When heterobeiges are crossed with each other - hetero- and homobeige individuals, the most successful pairs for which are white-pink, brown velvet, white velvet, velvet heteroebony, velvet homoebony.

Heterozygous beige. The combination of two heterozygous beige chinchillas produces 25% homozygous beige, 50% heterozygous beige, 25% gray animals.
Crossing a heterozygous beige and a standard gray will produce an equal number of heterozygous beige and standard gray chinchillas.

Brown velvet obtained by crossing the colors black velvet and beige. Hybrids of this species have a white belly and back - from light to dark shade. To prevent the number of cubs in the litter from decreasing, it is not recommended to crossbreed animals with the black velvet gene.

White-pink obtained by crossing beige and white chinchillas with beige, white and standard genes.

Due to double dominance, there is the possibility of the expression of beige and white genes. The ears of such animals are pink with black dots, the eyes are from pink to dark ruby, and the fur is white. Brown spots allowed various forms and locations.

Homoebony. Color has not yet been thoroughly studied. Chinchillas of this color are distinguished by a beautiful shine and particularly silky fur. However, breeding such animals is quite a difficult task, since homoebony grows slower and is smaller in size compared to other hybrids.

Heteroebony. The genotype of animals of this color contains standard and ebony genes. Obtaining a dark heteroebony chinchilla is possible by crossing a male of a similar color with a light standard female.

The resulting individuals can be light, medium, dark, very dark. Crossing with a beige animal results in the appearance of a pastel color. Heteroebony is the result of crossing homoebony and standard chinchilla, homoebony and heteroebony, heteroebony and standard, heteroebony with each other.

Velvet ebony. Velvet ebony are hybrids of black velvet, homoebony and heteroebony, having black velvet, standard and ebony genes.

The presence of the velvet gene in heteroebony is determined by the dark color of the back and the “mask” on the head. Velvet homoebony is distinguished by light fur on the sides and dark colored fur. The diagonal black stripes on the paws are not visible. The black coloration of the belly indicates the presence of the ebony gene.

Velvet heteroebony are obtained by crossing heteroebony with black velvet, velvet homoebony - by combining velvet heteroebony with homoebony or heteroebony. These individuals have shiny fur, close in decorativeness to the color of homoebony. However, it is undesirable to cross velvet chinchillas with each other due to the presence of a “lethal gene”.

Purple color, related to recessive mutations, appears only in the homozygous state. The result of crossing with standard chinchillas are standard animals that carry the purple gene, which is not manifested externally. The fur color of such animals varies from light to dark lilac. The abdomen is snow-white in color.

The purple color is quite rare, as purple chinchillas only begin to breed at 14–18 months. But despite the difficulties that fur farmers face when breeding, these hybrids occupy the second most popular place in European countries after animals carrying ebony genes.

Purple velvet. A hybrid of black velvet, homoviolet, having the gene for black velvet, standard and purple. The animal's fur is dark lilac, its belly is white, and diagonal dark stripes are located on its paws. The black velvet gene affects the base purple color, making it darker.

The hybrid is bred in two stages: by combining black velvet and purple chinchillas, animals with the black velvet genotype are obtained - a carrier of purple, which are then crossed with purple. The resulting puppies can have different colors, one of which is ultraviolet.

Sapphire. The sapphire color is recessive. When crossed with a standard chinchilla, puppies are obtained that are standard carriers of sapphire, which does not appear externally. The combination of two sapphires or one sapphire and a sapphire carrier results in sapphire animals. The color of the fur remains the same throughout the animal's life.

In 1967, the first purple chinchilla appeared in Zimbabwe. Her cubs were purchased in 1975 by a Californian fur breeder, who began breeding animals of this color.

Before buying a chinchilla, prepare a room for it that should be warm, dry, light and well ventilated. Proper placement and maintenance of chinchillas consists of the following necessary conditions: purchasing or manufacturing a cage or enclosure that meets the biological needs of animals, and care that will ensure them good, good health and longevity.

Before purchasing a cage, you should consider why you are keeping your chinchillas. If you want to get offspring from them, then you should consider the following - the cage should not be very high because very soon after birth they begin to climb the walls of the cage. So if breeding is one of your goals, make sure your cage is not too high so that the baby can climb to the top without hurting itself if it falls.

If you have several chinchillas: the cage should be as spacious as possible, but not less than 90x70 cm and a height of 50 cm. For one animal, a cage measuring 70x50 cm and a height of 50 cm is most preferable. Such cages will take up relatively little space even in a small room places. The cages are made of metal, galvanized mesh with a mesh size of 1.5x1.5 cm for the bottom and 1.9x1.9 for the side walls and roof. The cage cannot be painted, so pay attention to this when purchasing.

It is desirable that the cage have a retractable metal tray (made of sheet aluminum or iron), into which bedding of sawdust and small shavings should be poured. These animals are clean and have almost no odor, so the bedding can be changed about once a week.

The cage also contains wooden shelves approximately 15 cm wide, on which they willingly rest. You can install ladders and wooden tunnels in the cage so that the animals can hide in them if necessary. It is also necessary to install a house for the animals to rest and raise their offspring. It should be designed so that it is convenient to periodically replace the bedding on which the animals rest. The nesting house should remind the chinchillas of their natural refuge; twilight should be created there. The size of the house should be approximately 30 cm in length, 15 cm in depth and 15 cm in height. If a couple, husband and wife, live in a cage, then it is better to install two houses in the cage, so that if they quarrel, and chinchillas do, they could sit in different places. Almost like people :)

The feeder and drinker are installed on the front wall or on the door of the cage. This method is the most convenient, since the feeders, which are placed on the floor of the cage, can be turned over while your animals are playing, or turn into a toilet. The best option for parrot feeders is made of metal or ceramic with attachments to the cage. Currently, a variety of drinking bowls for rabbits and chinchillas are sold on the market and specialized stores. These are vacuum bottles with a metal rod 4-6 cm long, inside which a metal ball is placed.

The chinchilla's diet must contain hay, so it is necessary to install a separate feeder on the side of the cage - a hay nursery. You can install a hay feeder inside the cage, or you can put hay on the mesh roof of the cage above the shelf. It is advisable to remove any hay that falls on the bottom of the cage during the day.

In order for a chinchilla's fur to be in good condition, they need to take baths. The bath should have special “sand” - cialite (crushed volcanic stone). In nature, animals grind down their incisors, gnaw it, and then bathe in this dust. While bathing, they clean their fur. It is better not to use Polish “sand” - it is, in fact, ordinary river sand, which breaks the fur of chinchillas. However, one feature must be taken into account: cialit is a dust-like powder; it is not very convenient to use in an apartment. Therefore, it must be mixed with German-made bathing sand in equal proportions and poured into the bathing area in a two-centimeter layer. Once or twice a week it should be sifted through a sieve (slightly larger than for flour). Two packs are enough for six months. You can buy a ready-made bath or use small containers measuring 30x20x20 cm made of tin or plastic. The bath is set for 20–30 minutes. You should not leave the bath in the cage for a long time, because... the animal can relieve itself there and the sand will have to be thrown away. Also, with frequent bathing, the animal’s skin can become very dry, which is not desirable. Animals bathe with pleasure, noticeably transforming in the process. The fur becomes more fluffy and airy, and the animals’ mood and activity improves. It is very interesting to watch chinchillas bathe, and if there is such an opportunity, it is better to use transparent materials to make a bath, and if this is not possible, then an old saucepan or a three-liter jar will do. Packaged bathing sand is sold in markets and pet stores.

Since chinchillas are rodents, they have a natural instinct to constantly chew on something. Therefore, it is necessary to put a special hard stone in the cage to grind down the teeth. You can also put wooden pigs or wooden toys, a mineral or chalk block in the cage, in general, everything that can diversify the life of your pets.

In the room where the cages with chinchillas are installed, there should be fresh air, but without drafts, with a humidity preferably 50-70%, a temperature of 5 to 25°C, preferably 18-20°C. As already mentioned, long-term exposure of animals to direct sunlight is undesirable, but at the same time, morning or evening sun is very useful for them and activates vital functions.

Important! Under no circumstances should you use hairspray, perfume or other substances that cause strong odors near the chinchilla’s cage.

Daily routine. Chinchillas lead a twilight lifestyle, and sleep during the day (during daylight hours), so it is necessary to create conditions for them to do this.

Important! Chinchillas are shy: very loud sounds of music, sudden switching on of bright lights or a very sharp clap can lead to stress and illness or even death of the animal, so near the cage, until it gets used to the atmosphere of the house, you should not make sudden movements, shout, or turn on bright lights .

Chinchillas are herbivores and are not picky about food. The basis of their diet consists of various herbaceous plants, mainly cereals, legumes, also seeds, mosses, lichens, shrubs, tree bark, small insects.

Feeding chinchillas is practically no different from feeding rabbits. There are quite a lot of different foods for chinchillas on the market and in pet stores. You can also offer your pets something more varied and tasty. In the summer, fruits, plant seeds, and dry crusts of bread can be given. In winter - hay, tree branches, dried fruits - apples, plums, dried apricots, raisins, nuts. Rosehip and barberry fruits are very useful. However, when feeding greens to chinchillas in the summer, you must adhere to some rules; you need to start with servings of 1-2 well-dried dandelion leaves per day. Clover and stems leguminous plants Always wilt or use dry to avoid bloating. You should not get carried away with root vegetables - beets and potatoes; carrots must be given well washed.

Hay should also be present in the animal’s diet. The hay should consist of forbs. Well-dried hay is green and smells good. Its nutritional value depends on its content various types herbs Do not feed animals wet and moldy hay.

The chinchilla must be constantly provided with water.

Important! You should not give chinchillas chlorinated water (from the tap), because... this can lead to the death of the animal. Artesian or mineral water is used, but without gas. You can also use boiled or purified water.

To grind down the front incisors, you need to put dry ingots or tree branches into the cage. Trees you can use are apple, pear, willow, acacia, birch, willow, linden, and hazelnut. It is undesirable to give branches of coniferous trees with a high content of resins, citrus fruits, walnuts, cherries, plums and oaks. You can also purchase special stones made of pumice or chalk for the same purposes. Chalk is also necessary for chinchillas as a mineral supplement.

However, when feeding chinchillas, you should not get carried away with large amounts of sweets and high-calorie foods. This can lead to obesity, which negatively affects their ability to reproduce.

Squirrels - building material.

Functions of proteins:
- participate in the production of antibodies, thereby protecting the body from viruses and various microbes;
- control energy balance;
— ensure the full development of the body, especially the nervous system, regulate irritability and reactions to external stimuli;
- are components hormones, muscles and other tissues;
- are biological catalysts of processes - enzymes (in connection with vitamins and microelements);
- form thinking.

Proteins are found in large quantities in milk, legumes, cereals, corn and nuts.

Fats – are a solvent for vitamins, and regulate the water balance of cells, are responsible for the supply of salts, amino acids and sugar to them, and provide a feeling of fullness during meals. In addition, fats are a source of energy.

Excessive consumption of fat is very harmful to the health of a chinchilla!

The richest sources of fat are nuts, sunflower seeds, and other oilseeds.

Carbohydrates – the main source of energy in the body.

Perform the following functions:
- participate in the synthesis of nucleic acids, non-essential amino acids, and plastic processes;
- are part of cells, tissues and interstitial fluids, blood;
- replenish blood glucose levels;
- Help the body metabolize fats.

Vitamin A (retinol) - necessary for chinchillas to maintain good vision. A component of the photosensitive substance of the retina. Responsible for the normal condition of the mucous membranes of the body ( respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, etc.) and skin. Plays an important role in regulating immune processes.

Vitamin A is found in rose hips, red carrots (more when raw), pumpkin, bananas, spinach and lettuce, as well as milk and corn.

B vitamins necessary for metabolism. They ensure normal growth and development, promote wound healing and participate in blood formation processes.

Legumes and cereals (especially their cell membranes), milk, lettuce, and spinach are rich in B vitamins.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - one of the most important vitamins necessary for maintaining and promoting health.

Functions of vitamin C:
- is part of organs and tissues;
— participates in redox processes;
— ensures normal metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats;
— enriches organs with glucose;
- regulates the permeability of vascular walls;
- has a beneficial effect on the functions of the pancreas and liver;
- regulates blood clotting;
- helps the body resist infectious diseases;
- participates in the production of antibodies;
- affects immunobiological reactions.

The main source of vitamin C is vegetables, berries and fruits. It is found in large quantities in rose hips and sorrel.

Vitamin E necessary for strengthening muscles, it maintains healthy skin. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the gonads and some others, restores reproductive functions, and promotes fetal development during pregnancy. Vitamin E also prevents inflammatory processes. The best natural sources are wheat germ, soybeans, spinach, corn, almonds and walnuts.

The composition of body tissues, blood, tissue fluids, bones, enzymes and hormones includes minerals and trace elements.

Calcium is building material for teeth and bones. Responsible for blood clotting, regulates activity internal organs, muscles, nerves, helps the heart to constantly work, to keep the vessels flexible and strong. Plays a big role in the body's resistance to infections. It is found in large quantities in nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts), seeds, apples, wheat, raisins, dried apricots, soybeans and beans.

Potassium – an important element for the cells of the chinchilla’s body. It is necessary for the normal functioning of soft tissues. Endocrine glands, blood vessels, capillaries, nerve cells, kidneys, brain, liver, heart and other muscles cannot function normally without this element. Potassium is present in 50% of all fluids in the body. You can saturate your chinchilla's body with potassium by feeding it dried apricots, raisins, pine nuts, carrots, sunflower seeds, and dandelion leaves.

Zinc It is simply necessary in the chinchilla’s body to develop lasting immunity. Plays an important role in wound healing and supports the sense of taste and smell. Ensures normal development and functioning of the gonads. Contained in sprouted wheat grains, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and legumes. Fruits, vegetables and berries contain very small amounts of zinc.

Iron in the body of both chinchillas and humans it is contained in very small quantities, but without it it is impossible to carry out many functions. Iron is primarily required for the production of red and white blood cells. Red cells (erythrocytes) contain hemoglobin, an oxygen carrier, and white cells (lymphocytes) are responsible for immunity. Thus, iron plays a major role in providing cells with oxygen and supporting immunity.
Contained in beans, peas, soybeans, wholemeal breadcrumbs, green leafy vegetables, rose hips.

Magnesium affects energy processes in all organs and tissues, primarily those that actively consume energy ( nervous system, heart, working muscles). Participates in immune processes.
Sources of magnesium are nuts (peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts), oatmeal, soybeans, beans, buckwheat. In winter, dried fruits, especially dried apricots, raisins and prunes, can be an additional source of magnesium.

Folic acid found in beans, wheat, vegetables, dried fruits, oatmeal. Participates in the formation of red blood cells, improves milk secretion in lactating females. Folic acid is necessary for normal cell division, which is why it is of great importance in the body of pregnant and injured chinchillas.

How to create a chinchilla family

In order to create a chinchilla family, you need to know several rules. The first is that chinchillas have a pronounced matriarchy, and therefore it is advisable to place a younger female with a male, on his territory. If you are faced with the need to place a male with a female on her territory, then for this you need to conduct a so-called acquaintance between them. To do this, you can place a carrying cage with a new resident next to the cage of the old resident for 2-3 days, so that they get used to each other. After this, try to place them together; if the experiment fails, then you need to put the aggressor in a carrier for several hours. This can be continued until they get along with each other without quarrels. The introduction of a new resident should always take place under your supervision so that the animals do not injure each other.

Males, as a rule, reach sexual maturity at 7-9 months, females at 6-8. The duration of the reproductive cycle in females is 30-50 days, estrus is 2-4 days. In the female, the genitals are located quite close to the anus, and in the male there is a small gap between them where the testes are located, hidden under the peritoneum, so it is not difficult to distinguish a male from a female chinchilla. Pregnancy in chinchillas lasts on average from 105 to 115 days. During pregnancy, it is advisable to switch the female to enhanced nutrition, and it is also advisable to provide vitamins, especially if this is the first pregnancy. Usually 1-2 cubs are born, rarely 3 or more. Pregnancy does not interrupt the development of eggs, which quickly mature after childbirth. Therefore, if you do not want your female to become pregnant again, you should remove the male from her and it is advisable to move his cage to another room. If you decide not to remove the male, then he will usually become caring father, helping the female nurse her puppies. After the second litter in a row, the male should still be removed and the female should be allowed to rest.

Chinchillas are born with hair, with open eyes and capable of independent movement. The body weight of newborns ranges from 30 to 70 grams and depends on hereditary characteristics, mother's feeding and the size of the litter. If one or two cubs are born, there is no need to feed them. If three or more puppies were born, then they must be fed using a glass pipette. Boiled milk and infant formula are suitable for this. You can also give the female 1-2 raisins per day to increase lactation. After two months, the grown cubs need to be placed in a separate cage.

Chinchillas are naturally shy animals, so the golden rule for you should be the following: never rush to become good friends from the first minute of meeting them. Imposition your friendship will only frighten the chinchilla. Several days will pass when the animal has become accustomed to its new territory, and then you can begin to create trusting, friendly relationships.

Please note that a daily routine is very important for a chinchilla; set a time (preferably from 18.00-19.00) for feeding, as well as changing the water in the bottle and, of course, exercise.

First steps to friendship. Talk gently to your pet as you walk past the cage, repeating its name. Several times a day you can offer her a small piece of sweets (for example, raisins are a favorite treat for chinchillas). However, you should not give the whole zest at once - half is enough, since it is too large number Raisins can cause diarrhea, but 1-2 raisins a day, just for fun, are fine.

First, you can offer her a treat through the cells of the cage, while talking to her. The main thing is not to scare your pet with sudden movements. Always move slowly when approaching the cage. Some make a certain sound when they approach the cage with a treat. It may seem silly, but over time, chinchillas associate this sound with a specific action (for example, bringing goodies) and begin to greet you joyfully.

Continue to build your relationship in this way for several days, observing the behavior of your animal. Over time, the chinchilla becomes braver and you can, armed with a twist, open the cage door very carefully, talking all the time with your pet, stick your hand with a treat to its nose. Most likely, the chinchilla will quickly take the treat from your hand and eat it directly on your hand or in a corner. As you continue to do these exercises with your pet, you will soon see how the chinchilla itself will strive to explore your hand. During this time you can also try gentle tickling under the chin or behind the ears as most chinchillas enjoy this and this is good way allow her to study you, your scent, and also associate you with the pleasure they get from communicating with you.

After some time, your chinchilla will be ready to explore more than just your hand. She may try to get close to your face or your shoulder, but the main thing is not to scare her off with sudden movements.
To walk around the apartment, you should place the cage in the place where the walk will take place, and the place needs to be prepared before this: close all places where the animal could hide from you (under a closet, bed, behind a heating radiator, etc.). Then carefully open the cage door, talking to your animal, inviting it to leave the cage. If the pet does not come out, you can always use the old bait - raisins, and reward the animal when it leaves its safety zone - the cage. At the end of your walk around the apartment, try not to resort to catching the animal with your hands, try to lure it into the cage with the help of treats or by placing a bathing tray with sand in the cage. If this does not work, try to take the animal by the base of its tail with one hand and use the other hand as a support, and thus escort it into the cage; do not squeeze the animal too much, as you can damage its delicate body.

Remember, a chinchilla, with all its charm, is not a creature that will hug all the time. They are too impatient to stay in one position. The time will come, as soon as your chinchilla gets used to you and understands that you are not harming him, and the animal will be happy to come up to you, climb on you, play with you, and allow you to pet him. You will be able to create a trusting relationship with your pet.

Chinchillas are truly wonderful and funny animals. All you have to do is spend time with your animal and be patient, and you will have a furry friend for many years to come.

Clumping of hair in the anus indicates that the animal has diarrhea, which may be of infectious origin or due to improper care and feeding.
Also, when choosing and purchasing a chinchilla, you need to understand for what purpose the animal is being purchased and also take into account your financial capabilities. The price of a chinchilla depends on age and color. Standard gray animals are cheaper than their colored counterparts.

Chinchillas almost never bite. There are animals that willingly go into the arms of their owner and examine clothes, hair, and jewelry. They can sit on a shoulder or head for a long time and thus move around the room with a person.

There are, however, individuals who cannot tolerate any hand touching themselves. The extreme degree of hostility of a chinchilla is an attempt to “shoot” a stream of urine at the offender. Typically, this behavior occurs in animals that grew up on large farms and have not had close contact with humans. But even such a bully can be rehabilitated if you allow him to feel attention to himself, and not be limited only by the desire to grab the animal and cuddle it like a kitten. After all, most chinchillas perceive this attitude as aggression.

When purchasing, you also need to decide whether you will buy one chinchilla or whether you subsequently intend not only to keep the animals at home, but also to get offspring from them. In this case, immediately purchase a pair of animals of different sexes. Do not forget that chinchillas live in small families; they are animals that need communication with their fellows. Therefore, lonely animals will be bored, and the owner will have to do more with them.

Chinchilla diseases

Gastrointestinal tract disorder. The reason for this is inappropriate feeding. Its symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. This disease occurs as a result of feeding moldy food, poor quality food, or poor quality water. The cause of this disease may also be an incorrect diet: feeding large quantities of succulent or dry food. Diarrhea also occurs as a result of a sudden change in diet, or feeding foods poor in fiber and rich in proteins and fats. This can lead to stomach colic, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, etc.; upset stomach - bloating, diarrhea, constipation; inflammation of the intestines - bloody diarrhea, mucous diarrhea. Each of these symptoms can lead to deviations from the norm. A change in the flora of the stomach or the water regime can lead to the proliferation of microbes, which can lead to poisoning and death of the animal.

Fatty liver degeneration. This is a liver disease that causes macro- and microscopic histological changes in the organ. The reason for this is the feeding of granulated products to the animals, which were stored for a long time, and as a result, the fats became bitter and carotene was not digestible if it was in excess in the food. Cases of liver dystrophy should be a signal to review the diet and feed foods that protect the liver. It is recommended to include in the diet substances that have a protective effect and substances that cleanse the liver: these include the homeopathic medicine Epatral, metionin, cholin and Vitamin E.

Food poisoning. May be caused by Clostridium perfingens entorotoxin, which was present in the animals' food. A case of such poisoning was described by Novakovsky in (1991): the proliferation of this type of anaerobic bacteria occurred in granulated feed, which included soy hydrolysate and powdered milk, which provided an excellent environment for bacteria during the storage period of the product. Symptoms of poisoning included diarrhea, bloating, and prolapse of the anus. A 20% mortality rate of animals was registered. A detailed examination revealed inflammation of the gastric mucosa in the pyloric area, inflamed, bleeding intestines with bloating, as well as an enlarged liver.

Urolithiasis. This disease leads to bleeding inflammation of the bladder. This disease is most often observed in adult males. As a result of the unusual functioning of the urinary function, crystallization of various compounds occurs and crystals fall out in the renal ducts and accumulate in the bladder. If it is in small quantities, then natural removal occurs in the urine; as a result of excess, accumulation occurs - stones are formed that irritate the mucous membrane of the bladder, causing inflammatory processes, often accompanied by bleeding, resulting in urinary retention and uremia. Successful treatment can begin after determining the type of stones (urine tests can determine whether they are carbonate stones or others). Ultrasonography can determine their presence in the bladder. Sand can be removed, but larger stones can be removed surgically or by cutting into the bladder.

Sunstroke. This is a specific disease caused by overheating of the body. This happens when the room for chinchillas is maintained over 26 degrees Celsius for a long time, at high relative humidity air. Excess has a negative impact sunlight and lack of ventilation. Symptoms of sunstroke are: elevated temperature, constant lying position of the animal, short and rapid breathing (in order to increase heat exchange), stale air (heavy breathing), and sometimes there is loss of consciousness and fainting. First aid is a water bath, or cooling the animal’s body with a damp towel and lowering the air temperature on the farm. Sometimes a consultation with a veterinarian is mandatory. Treatment is based on the use of drugs that stimulate blood circulation and breathing.

Conjunctivitis. There are a lot of reasons that cause this disease, and in origin these reasons can be mechanical (various foreign bodies, dust), chemical (disinfectants, gases, smoke) or bacteriological. There are cataracts and conjunctivitis. Treatment can only be effective if the cause of the disease is eliminated, most often it is a dirty, uncleaned cage, uncleaned litter with waste and urine, which releases ammonia, irritating the mucous membrane of the eye. Treatment is based on washing the eyes with a 3% solution of boric acid or chamomile decoction. Used in the treatment of conjunctivitis eye drops containing antibiotics.

Catarrh of the nose. This disease most often occurs when the weather changes: late autumn and in spring, when there are significant temperature fluctuations and high humidity. Additional factors are drafts and heavy dust in the room. The nostrils of sick animals are wet, mucus flows from them, the eyes are watery, and discharge is visible in the corners of the eyes, first white and then yellow. As a rule, there is a loss of appetite, the animal looks drowsy, stands on the rack, rapid breathing, and elevated temperature. Sick animals must be isolated in a dry room with a low temperature, their eyes and nose should be washed with a solution of boric acid, and food should be fed. rich in vitamins S. In more difficult situations consultation with a veterinarian is required.

Wounds. These are skin tears caused by mechanical stress. Most often, wounds are the result of battles between animals, although sometimes they can occur as a result of contact with sharp protrusions of a cage or shelf. Skin abrasions and wounds heal very quickly and sometimes without outside help. The most dangerous are deep wounds, the healing of which is slower and, as a rule, only superficial, while an inflammatory process develops in the depth of the wound. Fresh, large wounds need to be stitched, while simple, superficial wounds only need to be washed. The hair around each wound must be trimmed.

Inflammation of the uterus and vagina. Most often, diseases are the result of infection by microbes. Their manifestation is bloody, mucous discharge with the smell of rot. May occur as a result of injury, stillbirth, or retained placenta.

Abortion (premature removal of an unripe, lifeless fetus). This happens quite often in chinchillas. The causes of abortion can be divided into internal (on the part of the fetus: example, genetic defects as a result of inbreeding, or on the part of the female: example, reaction to stress, poisoning, infectious diseases) and external (inappropriate diet, injuries, poor hygiene, disinfection and other). If decomposition of the dead fetus in the uterus does not occur, then the fetus is removed without any help. If the fetus decomposes, then inflammation of the uterus occurs and putrefactive discharge appears. In order to exclude abortions, it is necessary to handle the female carefully, do not grab her, do not feel her, separate her from the male, and avoid dust baths.

Occurrence near the fetal membrane (placeholder). Failure to remove the membranes around the fetus after lambing causes its decomposition, and the resulting toxins enter the bloodstream, causing severe poisoning and even death of the animal. If it is located near the fetal membrane, the intervention of a veterinarian is necessary, who uses means to remove the placenta, and in case of decomposition, uses antibiotics, anti-stress drugs and drugs that improve blood circulation.

Postpartum tetany. Manifests itself in the form of spasms, convulsions, and sometimes loss of consciousness. The reason for this is a lack of calcium and phosphorus in the body, often a clear lack of vitamin B1. A preventive measure for this disease is to provide females with an appropriate diet, the presence of mineral supplements and vitamins in the diet during the animal’s pregnancy. In the last months of pregnancy, it is necessary to slightly limit calcium supplements to avoid metabolic disorders in the body. Excessive amounts of calcium in the diet lead to insufficient release of parahormones, which ensure the removal of calcium from the bone and thereby control the deficiency of this element in the body. After lambing, the diet must be enriched with calcium and phosphorus, in order to increase their consumption. A common mistake is an increase in the dose of these elements during pregnancy, which paradoxically affects their deficiency in the postpartum period and the manifestation of tetany is observed. Treatment is based on the injection of elements containing calcium and phosphorus.

Inflammation of the mammary gland. Most of all, this is the result of injury to the female’s nipples by young animals, the accumulation of milk in the mammary gland, inflammatory or other processes after suffering infectious diseases. In case of milk retention, you can try milking using massage. The presence of inflammatory processes requires treatment with antibiotics. The inflammatory condition of the nipples manifests itself in their swelling, redness, and increased temperature. Often this inflammatory process is a consequence of a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dental diseases. It has been established that as animals age, they develop dental problems, especially tooth growth and periodontal disease. Excessive growth of fangs, caused by the inability to grind them down on a hard surface, leads to gum wounds, which makes eating difficult. Chinchillas' teeth have open roots, which allows them to grow throughout the animal's life. In the natural environment, there is a balance between tooth growth and wear. At home, if there is a lack of vitamins A and D in the diet, as well as calcium and phosphorus compounds, their strong growth is observed. It is very likely that the age of the animal in this case also plays a role. Teeth correction can be done using scissors, small sharp forceps and a file.

Well, that's all, I wish you and your chinchilla good health, as well as a pleasant time with this excellent beautiful animal!

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