Chinchilla Care

Chinchilla Care information is highly available online, so anyone interested in this animal or willing to purchase a Chinchilla as a pet can familiarize himself or herself with the basics of Chinchilla maintenance. Today, Chinchillas are popular as pets, but there were times when they were hunted for fur so much that they near disappeared. The Costina Chinchilla – one of the three known Chinchilla species – has been hunted to extinction. The two remaining Chinchilla species – Chinchilla Lanigera and Chinchilla Brevicardata – are no longer threatened, since their population has much regained its position in the wild.

Chinchillas have been popular as pets for several decades – since the 1960s. Today, Chinchilla Care information resources are constantly visited, and not only by Chinchilla fanciers. These animals appreciate space and activity. They are no great lap companions, and they do not like to be held in the arms. They do not usually respond to names or calls, like dogs. Chinchillas are nocturnal animals, and they take up action during night hours. Because they are social animals, they thrive on communication, and it is possible to keep two or more Chinchillas in one cage.

Today, there are two species groups: Chinchilla Lanigera and Chinchilla Brevicaudata. The Chinchilla Lanigera has a slender elongated body and a longer tail than Chinchilla Brevicaudata. Lanigeras measure about 12 inches in length. They have long and rounded ears, measuring 2,8 inches long. Hairs grow from follicles, and there are 50-60 hairs growing from each follicle. The hair is usually grayish-blue on the top of the body and white on the belly. Chinchilla Brevicaudata is larger in size, measuring about 15 inches in length, and it has a chubbier body formation by comparison, with a shorter head, shorter ears and longer hair. Chinchilla Brevicaudata has a gray upper side and lighter underside. Chinchilla Care requirements are similar for both species, but if you would like to have Chinchillas in possession, you should decide, which is more preferable for you.

Chinchillas come from the Andes mountain range of South America. They live very high above sea level – from 8,000 to 10,000 ft on the average. They are well adapted to the rigors of mountain life, as their dense coat provides superb protection against cold. Wild Chinchillas hide in narrow splits between rocks, crevices and hollows. They feed on leaves, grass, twigs, seeds, as well as small insects. Because Chinchillas are well accustomed to cold and are not adapted to heat, they are best suited for cooler climates. All Chinchilla Care information resources concentrate our attention on the animal’s extreme susceptibility to overheating – a serious condition, which often leads to premature death.