How to Breed Black Velvet Chinchillas

The black velvet chinchilla mutation adds a black mask and dark sides to a "standard" grey chinchilla, keeping the white underside. As the black velvet gene is dominant, this gene overrides the standard gene. Two black velvet gene-carrying chinchillas cannot be bred together. A homozygous black velvet chinchilla will not develop in the womb, due to a phenomenon referred to as the fatal factor. Breeding black velvet chinchillas requires care and attention to ensure the offspring produced are healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Scales
  • Spare cage
  • Chinchilla food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check the adult's health. To produce black velvet offspring, you will require one black velvet chinchilla, and a "standard" gray chinchilla. Both should be in good health, and at least 9 to 15 months old. They should be clear of malocclusion and not show any signs of fur chewing. They should also be friendly and have good temperaments.

    • 2

      Assess the size of the chinchillas. The female should be the same size as or larger then the male she is going to be bred to. If the male is the black velvet, you may find him slower to breed then other males. This is from the black velvet gene causing slower development.

    • 3

      Weigh your chinchillas. A good breeding weight is around 1 pound,12 ounces, or 0.7 kg. Your chinchillas should look full-size at this weight, and be ready for breeding. Breeding a chinchilla under this weight can result in failed pregnancies or smaller babies, and the mother may not finish growing herself.

    • 4

      Introduce the chinchillas in the female's cage. Breeding will not occur unless the female feels secure and happy in her environment, so moving her is not an option. The cage should be big enough that the chinchillas have plenty of space to move and play, together or apart.

    • 5

      Watch the chinchillas carefully. Before mating, the male will begin to act aggressively and may become very vocal and wag his tail. During mating he will eject a substance at the female to secure his semen in place; finding this waxy plug is proof mating has occurred. It does not mean the female is pregnant, but once mating has started, it is likely to be repeated.

    • 6

      Observe your female. The gestation period for chinchillas is 111 days, and she may not begin to show until the later weeks. In the early days, it is safe to handle her as normal. When she begins to show, in the later weeks, do not handle her and remove her sand bath. Sand can block her teets and prevent babies from being able to feed.

    • 7

      Check the cage for a new litter regularly. Chinchilla litters are usually small, containing one or two babies, and the birth is usually very quiet and private. Most people will not see their chinchilla give birth. If you do, and you suspect she may be struggling, seek immediate medical attention.

    • 8

      Remove the male and place in a cage next to the female and offspring. While it is safe to keep the male in the same cage, the female can become pregnant again immediately after birth, and this is very dangerous for her health. Allow the male to see and smell his offspring from his new cage.

    • 9

      Monitor the offspring. Usually the female will have no problems with feeding and rearing, and the babies should be born with fur and teeth. Within a few hours of birth, the babies should be moving around independently.

    • 10

      Place your hand in the cage and see how the female reacts. A tame female usually has no problem with her owner gently holding her babies. If she reacts defensively, do not hold the babies. If she does not, carefully weigh each baby. They should weigh between 25 and 60 grams, and this weight should steadily increase. Record each baby's weight regularly to ensure this happens.

    • 11

      Offer more food around 8 weeks, when the babies will begin to wean. At 10 weeks, the babies should be eating and drinking independently, and should be moved into their own cage. At 12 to 14 weeks, the babies can be sold to new homes.