Chinchillas are surprisingly perky and cute animals. It is difficult to remain indifferent, looking at a small touching face with a long mustache, black button eyes and a curled uptailed tail.
In recent years, representatives of this family of rodents have gained incredible popularity with our compatriots. Chinchillas at home are unpretentious in feeding and keeping, they need very little living space, and the positive received from daily communication with them is difficult to convey with words.
Where did they come from
The birthplace of chinchillas is the mountain ranges of South America. There they settle in caves and burrows, appearing out only with the onset of darkness.
According to legend, rodents got their name from the name of the Chinchil Indians, who were dressed in soft and fluffy fur. It was because of the amazing fur coats that the animals were almost exterminated.
Hunters were interested not only in skins. There is fragmentary evidence that chinchilla meat was used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
The hunt for chinchillas did not stop with the disappearance of the Chinchill Indians. The Spanish conquistadors, having entered South American land in the 16th century, were fascinated by the fur of these animals. Fur coats, mantles, collars were a huge success, and thousands were chinchillas to meet demand. The barbaric extermination of the species lasted several hundred years.
In the end, rodents fell into the category of rare, endangered animals. Now they are listed in the Red Book and are under the protection of the law.
Captive Chinchillas
The chinchilla was first domesticated in 1895. Francisco Irrazaval, who was then living in Santiago, did this. In the first year of captivity, the animals brought offspring and later continued to actively breed.
Breeding chinchillas became a profitable business already in the middle of the 20th century. Thousands of farms were opened in the United States and Canada. Then they began to recommend rodents as cute pets that would not cause unnecessary trouble. In advertising, they were called “fur balls” or “fur balls”. And the average price of animals was $ 100.
Fluffy namesake
Amazingly beautiful, the fur of these little fluffy rodents fascinates everyone who at least once picked them up. All thanks to the unique structure of the hairline. About 70 hairs grow from each bulb located on the skin of the animal. The coat is so thick that not a single insect is able to settle in it.
This unique fact has fascinated even cat lovers. About twenty years ago, a silver chinchilla breed was bred as a variety of short-haired British cats.
The namesakes of our cute rodents are unusually beautiful. In cats, the hair is white, with a slight blackening at the tips, and a black veil covers the head, the tips of the paws, side, back and tail of the animal. Among feline brethren, they stand out truly royal appearance.
In addition, the British chinchilla has an unusually kind and complaisant character. Such cats perfectly experience their own loneliness. And if necessary, they can become a great "interlocutor" for their master. Each “meow” uttered by these cats is endowed with special intonations and a deep meaning.
Everyone who has ever met these cats at least once has fallen in love with them once and for all. Every year an increasing number of fans are attracted by this amazing cat breed.
Just a couple of minutes alone with the Briton - and everyone will confidently say: this is an amazing cat breed.
Chinchilla: how to behave with a rodent
Before buying a chinchilla, carefully read the list of pet bans:
- Do not wash animals in water. Chinchillas “bathe” in special sand (zeolite) or volcanic dust.
- You can not settle chinchillas in small cages made to fit the size of other (smaller) rodents.
- The constant squeezing of chinchillas very poorly affects the condition of their fur.
- Do not let the rodent walk around the apartment on his own; his curiosity can lead to tragedy.
- In no case do not feed chinchillas with mixtures intended for other rodents.
- Do not leave the rodent in a room with a temperature above 25 degrees - overheating is guaranteed to lead to thermal shock.
- You can’t walk the chinchilla on the street. There, the animal can become infected with dangerous infections. In addition, leashes and harnesses will permanently ruin the coat.
- Currently, the immune system of chinchillas is not well understood, therefore, preventive vaccination of these rodents is not carried out.
- Parents and their offspring can live together for no more than four months, violation of this prohibition can lead to mating within the family.
- Do not feed animals with grass and leaves collected along roads and in parks. This can lead to very serious poisoning and, as a result, death.
Chinchilla at home
Reviews of the owners of rodents about their cute pets are always only positive. A person gets a great emotional lift, enthusiasm and tenderness from communicating with these animals.
Here are just some of the points that chinchillas are so fond of:
- Chinchillas at home do not require difficult maintenance and high maintenance costs.
- They do not need to prepare food separately, rodents eat dry mixes of dried fruits and several types of cereals.
- If they are properly looked after, rodents will live quite a long time (about 20 years), and couples of chinchillas will regularly breed.
- Rodents rarely get sick, they do not have an unpleasant odor.
- The animals are funny, playful, they can be tamed and even trained in simple commands.
Many will ask: "Do they really have any flaws?" Of course there is, because no one is perfect! However, there are very few of them:
- With the onset of darkness, all chinchillas become active (like all animals leading a nocturnal lifestyle). They can make noise almost all night, interfering with the owners' restful sleep. In addition, if you want to play with a cute animal, you will have to do this closer to midnight.
- Chinchillas are extremely cunning and curious. At the slightest opportunity, they seek to flee the cage and rush off to explore the territory. However, they are very fast. Catching a rodent, if he doesn’t want it, is not so simple. Therefore, owners should carefully monitor that the cell door is always locked.
- Animals are very demanding on the climate. They do not tolerate high humidity and a sharp temperature drop. Therefore, to keep chinchillas at home in the southern regions, the cage should be equipped with air conditioning.
We buy chinchilla
Just ten years ago, buying a chinchilla was quite problematic. Only a few specialists bred for the sale of rodents, and their prices were extremely high. However, they are now sold at most pet stores and are available to everyone.
Choosing a furry friend, you need to be extremely careful. It is worth buying only those chinchillas for which proper care has been carried out. Otherwise, the animal will have to be treated after purchase.
Take the rodent in your hands and examine. Pay attention to how fat the animal is. To do this, feel all parts of the body, also examine the quality of the coat.
In no case do not buy a thin animal. The coat should not be dull, falling out in fragments. Inactive rodents with signs of obesity should also not be acquired.
The eyes of the animal can tell about the presence of health problems. Purulent discharge is a sure sign of a bacterial infection in the body. However, this statement is true for damage to both eyes. If there is only one soured - most likely, this is a consequence of mechanical damage by sand, or the animal was in a draft, and it simply blew it.
A healthy rodent must be active, react sharply to the approach of an outsider. His coat is shiny, smooth and snug against the body.
Cohabitation
Animals living alone, require a lot of attention from their owners. They love the company, and without proper care, they become very sad.
Chinchillas feel much more comfortable at home, living in pairs. And it is not necessary to populate a boy and a girl together. Chinchillas are very prolific. The shoulders of the owners of such a family will automatically fall into the care of numerous furry babies. Therefore, if you are not ready for such a turn of events, think about buying a same-sex company.
Furry family
Puberty in chinchillas occurs at the age of 6-7 months. From this moment they can be safely planted.
The issue of information of animals must be approached very seriously. In chinchilla families, total matriarchy is observed. Therefore, never plant a male in an already lived female cage. She is guaranteed to beat him and drive him away.
It is advisable that the boy is older than his girlfriend. This will help him feel more confident.
Before being in the same territory, future spouses need to meet at a distance. To do this, cages with animals are placed nearby and give them the opportunity to get used to the smell of each other. Only after that they can be planted, but under the close attention of the owner.
If everything is done correctly, breeding chinchillas at home will pass without any difficulties.
Waiting for the kids
The pregnancy period in chinchillas lasts 100-115 days. At the first stages it is rather difficult to determine whether the “lady” is really pregnant. The embryos are small, and finding them is unrealistic. The easiest way to detect the moment of pairing. At the eighth week of pregnancy, the expectant mother's nipples swell. This will serve as a sure sign of imminent replenishment in the family.
The birth of a new life
Usually, chinchillas give birth in the morning. Most often, the female does not need anyone's help. Kids are born quickly. They are already covered with hair, the eyes are open, and the mouth has a complete set of teeth.
After birth, the mother eats the placenta. It contains all the useful substances necessary for the body of the chinchilla during breastfeeding.
It is simply impossible to hold a chinchilla in your hands, play with it for at least a couple of minutes and not fall in love with this exotic rodent. They are perfect pets, best furry friends for children.
And if, after reading about all the benefits of keeping these animals, you still haven't made a decision, right now go to the pet store and look into the little black eyes. The answer will come by itself!