Chinchilla Facts

Chinchillas are small animals that occasionally live with humans as exotic pets. The rodents are part of the Chinchilliedae family and originate in western South America, within the Andes Mountains. Chinchillas are especially common in Chile. However, the rodents are now rare in the wildand are more prevalent as house pets throughout Europe and the United States.

  1. Appearance

    • Chinchillas are typically gray in color. However, some other colors of chinchillas do exist, such as black, pearl and beige. Some chinchillas are slightly purplish. When the rodents are fully grown, they are similar to adult rabbits in terms of size. Without the tail, chinchillas usually reach between 9 and 11 inches. Male chinchillas usually weigh somewhere between 0.8 and 1.1 lbs at adulthood, while female chinchillas can get to 1.3 lbs. Other physical features of the animals include four big incisors (which grow continually), extended whiskers, big ears and eyes and thick fur with a silky and soft texture.

    Food

    • When chinchillas reside in the wild, their diet consists mostly of lichens, insects, seeds and grass. In zoo and home settings, chinchillas consume lettuce, kale, carrots, apples, hay cubes, pellets, herbs, grains and fruits. The animals do not take in a lot of water in general. Chinchillas have relatively fragile digestive systems, so it is important to make dietary adjustments very slowly so not to shock them.

    Mating

    • When in the wild, the rodents mate all the way from the end of the spring until the autumn (May to November). In a single season, chinchillas can produce between two and three separate litters. One litter can include a maximum of six, although two to three are most common. The nursing process lasts between six and eight weeks. Maturity occurs at eight months of age.

    Lifespan

    • In the wild, chinchillas can reach eight years old. In captivity (in homes and at zoos), some chinchillas can reach 20 years of age.

    Crepuscular

    • The animals are considered to be crepuscular, which is a term that indicates their main activity occurs throughout dusk and dawn. Due to the size of their eyes, their eyesight is sharp and effective in moderate darkness. Chinchillas are mostly nocturnal by nature.

    Behavior

    • With proper care, chinchillas can be gentle and tame pets. With sufficient attention, they will thrive. The animals usually have very energetic and active personalities. For the most part, chinchillas work well both alone and in same-gender pairs. In the daytime, chinchillas prefer quiet. Due to high activity levels (jumping is very common), the animals prefer spacious cages.