These adorable animals can be easily trained to interact with humans, making them ideal companions for those looking for an affectionate, but independent pet. They do not make good pets for small children, however, because chinchillas are hyperactive and high-strung.Are you a pet parent looking for the perfect furry friend? If so, then have you considered getting a chinchilla? Chinchillas are small rodents native to South America that make great pets due to their easy temperaments and playful personalities. It is recommended that domestic chinchillas take dust baths once or twice per week in fine volcanic ash that can be purchased at pet shops.Ĭhinchillas are thought to be smarter than rabbits and can be taught to play with humans. To stay clean, these rodents give themselves dust baths. A bottle equipped with a sipper tube is the best way to provide water. Chinchillas do not get along well when caged together, and should be kept in individual cages.Ĭhinchillas can eat food pellets available from pet stores, as well as hay, dried fruits and nuts, and carrots and green vegetables in moderation, or about 10 percent of their daily diet. The cage should be well ventilated and kept dry and cool in temperatures from 60 to 70 F (16 to 21 C). The Michigan Humane Society recommends keeping domestic chinchillas in a wire mesh cage with a solid floor. In 1996, there were only 42 colonies of long-tailed chinchillas, and the population has declined since then and continues to decline. Short-tailed chinchillas are thought to be extinct in Bolivia and Peru but are suspected to be recovering in other areas. Both the short-tailed chinchilla and the long-tailed chinchilla are listed as critically endangered. Many chinchillas are bred commercially for their fur.īoth species of chinchilla are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' endangered-species list. Though chinchilla fur is highly valued for use in clothing and coats, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has restricted the sale and trade of wild chinchillas since 1975. Species: Chinchilla chinchilla (short-tailed chinchilla), Chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed chinchilla).According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the taxonomy of chinchillas is: There are two species of chinchillas: the long-tailed chinchilla and the short-tailed chinchilla.

To eat, they hold their food in their front paws and nibble on it. Primarily, they eat grass and seeds, but they also eat insects and bird eggs when they get the chance. DietĬhinchillas are omnivores they eat both plants and meat. Generally, chinchillas live eight to 10 years, though some have lived as long as 20 years. The babies nurse for six to eight weeks, and when they're about 8 months old, the babies are ready to have offspring of their own. Newborn kits are born with hair and with their eyes open. These groups of babies are called litters. Each time they give birth, they will have one to six babies. Once a female chinchilla becomes pregnant, she will carry her young for about 111 days before giving birth. The breeding season for chinchillas runs from November to May in the Northern Hemisphere and from May to November in the Southern Hemisphere.

(Image credit: Brian Kinney Shutterstock) Offspring Often, one male is bred with many females to create many offspring to sell. This is especially true of domesticated males. Males, on the other hand, can have many female mates. Females are mostly monogamous they have only one mate throughout their lives. When females are ready to mate, they can also be aggressive toward males, and are the dominant of the two genders. They are very social and live in colonies that consist of hundreds of chinchillas.įemales tend to be aggressive toward other females. They make their homes by burrowing in underground tunnels or nestling in rock crevasses. Chinchillas can tolerate freezing temperatures, but they cannot survive in temperatures higher than 80 F (27 C) high temperatures and humidity can cause these rodents to suffer from heat stroke.Ĭhinchillas are crepuscular and nocturnal, which means they are very active at dawn or dusk and sleep during the day. At those heights, it can be very cold - 23 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 5 degrees C) is the average minimum temperature in some places. In the Andes, they can live in elevations of about 3,000 to 5,000 meters (9,800 to 16,400 feet).

HabitatĬhinchillas are covered in thick fur for a reason. Chinchillas are typically 9 to 15 inches (23 to 38 centimeters) long, but the tail can add another 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) to their length.

Are chinchillas nocturnal