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Choosing a vet for your chinchilla is not just about picking one that you have immediate access to. A chinchilla is after all an exotic animal and has unique requirements and if you are looking for a vet, select one that your chinchilla will feel relaxed with, that satisfies all the needs of your pet chinchilla. The clinic has to be established and have all accessible resources to cater to constant and continuing care for your exotic pet. Read the rest of this entry »

So you want to introduce two chinchillas and keep them in one cage where they can live happily ever after. There are 3 common ways to go about this. The first is called smooshing, the second involves side by side cages, and the third will involve a cage within a cage.

The most controversial introduction is smooshing. In an effort to force two chinchillas to get along, they are placed in a small confined area. Within the small area, the chinchillas will not have enough room to fight and will become used to each other. Many pet owners have found this way to be ineffective and result in stressed chinchillas.

Pushing two cages side by side has worked in many cases, especially with passive chinchillas. There are some negatives to this method, though. One chinchilla can still display dominance over the other, regardless if they are in the same cage. A chinchilla may see its neighbor as a threat and attack when they are in a shared play area.

Commonly seen as the most effective way to introduce two chins, the cage within a cage method is somewhat self-explanatory. A small cage is placed inside a larger cage. There are a few precautions when setting up this method. Most importantly, if the chinchilla does not trust or is not comfortable with the owner, it will have a hard time bonding with another chin. Also, the cages must be cleaned thoroughly to remove any scents. Read the rest of this entry »

The Chinchilla is a rodent that looks like a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit. A little larger than a guinea pig, the average weight of a chinchilla is between 1 and 4 pounds. In captivity, their life expectancy is around 10 to 20 years. In the wild, the lifespan is in the range of 10 to 15 years. As herbivores, their diet consists of grasses, berries, and plants.

The two types of chinchillas are the chinchilla brevicaudata and the chinchilla lanigera. The chinchilla brevicaudata has a distinctly shorter tail and smaller ears. The typical chinchilla found in homes as a pet is a chinchilla lanigera. The latter is smaller with a noticeably smaller head and neck, and a slimmer body shape. The chinchilla brevicaudata is very rare and nearing extinction. A third type of chinchilla, the giant chinchilla, is now extinct.

Chinchillas originate from the Andes Mountains of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina in South America. They will make their homes in the rocky crevices of the mountainside. Their incredible ability to jump helps them navigate the rocky terrain, and a thick coat of fur protects them from the cold. A chinchilla’s main defense against predators is its amazing agility and speed. The chinchilla is a social animal and will be found living in herds as large as 100. The name chinchilla, or “little chincha” comes from the people of South America with the same name. The Chincha were known for hunting chinchillas for food and wearing the pelts. Read the rest of this entry »