Home Pulpitis Behavior of chinchillas at home. The chinchilla animal is a homemade plush joy

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Behavior of chinchillas at home. The chinchilla animal is a homemade plush joy

The chinchilla animal is a rodent that inhabits the territory South America. Chinchillas are known for their valuable fur, because of which their numbers have rapidly decreased and these animals are listed in the Red Book. Today the chinchilla animal is a very popular pet. Below you will find a description of the chinchilla, and you can also learn about the features of caring for and keeping a chinchilla at home.

The chinchilla looks very cute and funny. The chinchilla animal has a large head, short neck And round body. She has big ears, long mustache and short tail. The chinchilla looks like a small rodent. Chinchillas range from 25 to 35 cm in length, with females being larger than males. The rodent weighs 500-700 grams.

The chinchilla looks fluffy, as if made of plush. She has soft, thick and beautiful fur. The chinchilla looks inconspicuous due to its gray-blue color and only on its belly its fur has a light gray tint. Modern colors of captive-bred chinchillas are varied and have many variations.

The description of the chinchilla includes a lot unusual facts about these rodents. For example, ears they have special membranes with which the animals close their ears during sand baths to prevent sand from getting inside. Chinchilla fur is very dense, because from each hair follicle grow up to 80 hairs.

Thanks to the developed cerebellum, the chinchilla animal has good coordination and is adapted to night life. The animal's hind legs are longer than its front legs, which allows it to jump to a height of 2 meters. Chinchillas make many interesting sounds, they can quack, chirp, growl, squeak and click their teeth.

Where and how long do chinchillas live?

Chinchillas live for about 20 years. The homeland of these animals is South America. IN natural conditions The chinchilla lives in the Andes of southern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. Chinchillas live in the mountains at an altitude of up to 5 km above sea level. IN natural environment The chinchilla animal lives in rock crevices, under stones or digs holes.

The chinchilla animal is perfectly adapted to life in the mountains. The structure of the skeleton allows the animal to crawl through even the narrowest spaces, and the developed cerebellum ensures confident movement along rocks. Chinchillas live in colonies and are active at night. In nature, chinchillas feed on various herbaceous plants (cereals, beans, mosses, lichens, shrubs, cacti, tree bark) and insects.

The chinchilla animal is mostly monogamous. Chinchillas become capable of reproduction at the age of 7-8 months. The duration of pregnancy is a little more than 3 months. Usually 2-3 babies are born. The female is capable of bearing offspring up to three times a year. Chinchilla babies are born with with open eyes, erupted teeth and covered with primary hair.

It's no secret that the chinchilla animal is a source of valuable fur. Chinchillas began to be hunted for their beautiful fur in the 19th century. To make one fur coat, it takes about a hundred skins, so chinchilla fur products are rare and expensive. In 1928, a coat made from the fur of these rodents cost half a million gold marks. In 1992, the price of a chinchilla fur coat was $22,000. Currently, the chinchilla animal is protected in South America. Now in many countries there are special farms where chinchillas are bred for their fur.

It is better to get a chinchilla when the animal is no more than 2-3 months old. At this age, the animal quickly adapts to a new environment than older individuals. If you decide to get a chinchilla, remember that this is a nocturnal animal that will be active in the evening and at night. The first time after the animal appears in the house, give it a few days of rest so that it gets used to its new home.

Taming a chinchilla is not that easy. For the most part, chinchillas do not need much attention and communication with their owner. Therefore, a chinchilla should be tamed gradually. Try giving your pet a treat, open the cage door and hand the chinchilla something tasty. The pet will definitely take the treat from your hands, if not immediately, then after a while. The main thing is not to try to forcibly pick up the animal.

To tame a chinchilla you will need patience, calmness and careful attitude. Soon the tamed animal will be safely in your arms or sitting on your shoulder. Remember that by nature the chinchilla is a gentle, timid creature and does not like loud noises. Be careful when handling your chinchilla and do not frighten it.

Chinchillas are vegetarians, so when choosing food, you should take this feature of the animal into account. The chinchilla needs to be fed with special food. Pet stores have a huge range of granulated food. This food contains essential vitamins and minerals.

In addition to food, you must feed your chinchilla hay. You can prepare it yourself; for this you need to collect clover, dandelions and herbs. But you can also buy hay at a pet store. When purchasing, pay attention to the quality of the hay; it should be dry, clean, free of unpleasant odor and mold. A special hay feeder should be placed in the cage.

The chinchilla should be fed once a day. Food and water should always be fresh. Water should be given filtered or boiled. There should always be a special stone in the cage for grinding teeth, which can be purchased at any pet store.

Pelleted dry food and hay are the best diets for chinchillas. As a top dressing, you can give your chinchilla flax seeds, corn grains, dandelion leaves, birch, willow, raspberry, apple, currant and linden branches. But under no circumstances give branches of cherry, oak and coniferous trees. You should not feed your chinchilla too much fresh vegetables and fruits, as this can lead to stomach problems.

Chinchillas especially love raisins, dried apricots, dried apples, pears, cherries and rose hips. But such treats should not be given often. Also be careful with nuts and seeds, they should be given in very limited quantities and only raw; fried grains are contraindicated for the animal. You should not give your chinchilla food from your own table (bread, cookies, etc.).

Care and maintenance of chinchillas at home

Keeping a chinchilla at home is no less popular than keeping a guinea pig. First of all, to keep a chinchilla you will need a spacious cage. It is better if the cage is of a tower type. The optimal solution in this case would be a display case for a chinchilla, which will be an excellent home for the animal and will fit well into the home interior. A display case for a chinchilla will satisfy all the needs of a rodent; it has a house, stairs, floors, balconies, a running wheel and other toys. In addition, cleaning in such a display case is even easier than in a cage.

Keeping a chinchilla requires maintaining a certain temperature. The chinchilla animal does not tolerate heat well, so the cage should be placed in a cool place, without direct contact sun rays and drafts. The optimal temperature for keeping a chinchilla will be +20-22 °C. At temperatures of +25 °C and above, the rodent will overheat. Never place the cage near batteries.

The bottom of the cage must be lined with sawdust or special filler. The animal goes to the toilet anywhere and it is very difficult to train a chinchilla to do it in one place. The litter will have to be changed at least once a week. It is better to hang the feeder and drinker, otherwise the chinchilla may turn them into a toilet.

Caring for a chinchilla at home includes taking care of the rodent's coat. Chinchilla fur gets dirty very quickly, so the animal needs frequent hygiene procedures. But the chinchilla bathes not in water, but in special sand. Chinchillas take sand baths with diligence and sand will fly in all directions. That's why this procedure It is advisable to carry out it outside the cage so as not to collect sand later. The best option V in this case will become fishbowl or any other deep, stable, round container. Place it on the floor, lay newspaper under it, pour a 5-6 cm layer of sand on the bottom and put the animal there for 20-30 minutes.

Caring for a chinchilla at home includes bathing at least 2 times a week. If your home has high humidity and temperatures close to +25 °C, bathing should be done 3 times a week. Bathing – compulsory necessity for an animal, if you want the chinchilla to have beautiful fur. Do not forget that swimming in water is harmful to a chinchilla and will cause health problems.

In general, caring for and maintaining a chinchilla at home does not require much effort. The main condition is to protect the animal from overheating and observe correct mode nutrition. Try not to leave the animal unattended outside the cage. Remember that rodents love to taste everything and you will be guaranteed damaged furniture. The main danger there are electrical wires hidden inside. Also, do not forget that any hard-to-reach space in the apartment will be immediately explored by a curious animal.

The chinchilla, the maintenance and care of which is quite simple, has a number of advantages and one disadvantage. The advantages include the small cost of the animal, beautiful appearance, lack of odor and shedding, peaceful character. But the disadvantage is the nocturnal lifestyle. If you decide to get such an animal, you will have to get used to rustling, squeaking and fussing at night.

Chinchilla diseases

If you have the slightest suspicion that your chinchilla has health problems, you should contact your veterinarian. It is extremely undesirable to delay visiting a doctor, because the sooner the problem is identified, the greater the chance of curing your pet.

Take care of your pets, take care of them and do not forget that we are responsible for those we have tamed. If you liked this article, subscribe to site updates to receive the most interesting and useful articles about animals first.

Continuation

Habits of chinchillas.

“My character is not bad, I just have it!” (WITH).

This phrase could not be more suitable to describe chinchillas. Judging by the stories of the owners, the variety of characters is in no way inferior to human ones. But you can find out what your furry’s character is and enjoy his friendship only if you yourself are ready to be a patient and understanding friend.

What can't you do?

1. Don't grab or squeeze chinchilla. This is completely unacceptable treatment, for which the chinchilla can repay you with all its defense methods: from a stream of urine to a bite.
2. You can’t scare chinchilla: scream, scold loudly, and even more so beat, even symbolically spank. The animal's trust can be lost forever.
3. It is undesirable to change her daily routine and make frequent rearrangements in the cage. All changes must be made extremely slowly and carefully.
4. When training, the commands once chosen should remain the same. If you have taught chinchilla to the word “impossible”, then let it continue to be exactly this word, and not “stop, stop, ah-ay-ay”, etc.
5. Disturb her sleep. During the day chinchilla sleeping And this means that you cannot scratch her, stroke her, grab her, talk to her, etc., etc. She's asleep, and that's all.

What should you do if you want to tame a chinchilla?

First, be patient. It would be very nice if you read about how they live in wildlife, - this way you will better understand your tailed one. In nature chinchilla Reaction speed saves you from danger. That's why chinchilla always on guard. Natural instincts force her, at the slightest suspicion, to make a lightning-fast jump in a direction unpredictable for the enemy. Definitely chinchilla The movements of the hand from above are frightening. Apparently, this is because birds of prey are the main enemies of rodents and a shadow looming from above is a clear signal of danger. Therefore hand chinchilla It’s better to bring it from below, back side palms up. There's no need to rush. Even if you are already old friends, let the animal sniff you and take a closer look.

Also chinchillas are afraid of snakes. Therefore, avoid the sounds of hissing, something long-crawling, rapid movement, in general, imitation of a snake’s presence and attack.
If the animal has not yet become comfortable with you, then immediately prepare yourself for the fact that it will need as much time as it wants. The first few days it is better not to pay attention to it: just change the water, add food, put on a bathing suit (this is not only hygiene, but also pleasure, a cure for stress). And only when you see that the chinchilla is no longer shying away from you to the opposite corner of the cage, you can start communicating with it. To begin with, you can talk to her very quietly. Kind words and a gentle tone may not be on the first day, but they will definitely calm the baby. Then you can open the door, put a treat on your palm and quietly put your hand into the cage. There is no need to rush further. To the eyesight chinchillas weak, but the sense of smell - wow! If the chinchilla shows interest in the tasty treat, then there is no need to rush further. If the baby takes the treat, consider half the job done. After that you need to leave him alone.
In our case, several days were enough for the mustachioed one to run to the palm when the cage door opened, and then eat the treat while sitting on the hand.

The next moment of taming was walking. I’ll say right away that chinchilla breeders have very different attitudes towards walks. There are people who, having heard about walking outside the cage, are ready to burn you at the stake. And there are those who think this a necessary condition health and development chinchillas. We'll talk about walks later, I'm just sharing my taming experience here. Actually, our main communication takes place on walks. When Shurshik runs around the whole room, swims to his heart's content in the sand and makes the required number of leaps, leaps, somersaults and flips, he certainly goes to the one who is walking him.

I usually sit on the mat and wait patiently. I already have a tasty treat in my hand, and Shurshik knows this very well. He gets up on hind legs and looks at me with a sly look. You can play staring contest for a long time, but if you tell him: “Shurshik, here!”, then the little hooligan rushes headlong, jumps on his knees and begins to squeak impatiently and poke his nose with a long mustache into his palm - vibrissae. Having eaten, Shunya begins the second series of “Marlezonsky Ballet”. Having made sure that there is nothing else tasty, he again runs in Brownian order throughout the room, not forgetting, however, to run over me. Can jump on your shoulder, sit on your lap, or hide behind your back. And then the test of strength begins. Suddenly jumping up, Shurshik rushes to a corner convenient for gnawing wallpaper or to a pile of wires behind the computer. Pretending that now he will gnaw on this property, the little bandit takes an expectant pose and looks back at me.

At this moment, you need to say in a reproachful tone that, in fact, mom sees everything, and therefore you need to behave reasonably. Shurshik drops everything, stands on his hind legs and pretends that wallpaper is the last thing that could interest him in this life. If he really starts gnawing on something or finds a piece of paper that he drags into the cage or under the table, then you need to strictly and loudly say “no”. You can also teach that “no” is accompanied by clapping of palms - this is non-traumatic and intelligible.

The cage door must be open during the entire walk. If your child runs home and stumbles upon the impossibility of getting there, or, even worse, hits it, consider that you have injured him and undermined his trust. The next walk may take a very, very long time.
I trained Shurshik for three main commands: "It is forbidden", "on" And "home". WITH "it is forbidden" everything is simple - you see illegal actions and clap your palms, repeat this word in a firm voice. If you stop, you immediately praise him and give him a treat. With the second word, everything also turned out to be quite simple: every time you treat with a treat or a stick, extend your palm and repeat "on" until he takes it. But with the team "home" It turned out to be more difficult. Shurshik wanted to sneeze at my training and run into the cage on command. Then I began to guess the moment when the animal got tired and went into the cage itself. At that moment I quietly but persistently repeated “Home, Shurshik, home.” When the chinchilla jumped into the cage, I immediately gave him a treat and praised him, repeating: “I came home, home, well done, home.” Two weeks later, Shunya went home without a treat, just on command.

Don't think that everything chinchillas so understanding and sociable. These animals have different temperaments, different trust in the world, different speeds. But they all have a need for communication. And that's why you can make friends. Now, when I open the cage, and Shurshik has already woken up and is sitting on the shelf, I slowly offer him my palm, and then approach him with my shoulder. Our sun jumps on my shoulder, then on my head, squeaks joyfully, and tickles me with its mustache. A little later, he will ask to go for a walk, standing on his hind legs and holding onto the bars of the cage with his front legs. He will run from one wall to another, flashing his touching fluffy belly and putting on a naturally pleading look. An orphan, no matter what. Give me something to drink, good people, otherwise I want to eat so much that I have nowhere to sleep. We are not locals ourselves...

I must say that even now, when Shurshik and I are on excellent terms, I try to respect his boundaries and habits. And if I want to caress him, and he starts to grumble with displeasure, then I obediently remove my hands, no matter how much I would like to feel this unimaginable softness of fur in my hands. For this Shurshik rewards me with fame "chinchilla smile".

The only exception in which I am tactless and shameless is treatment and scratching. Well, here you have to spit on etiquette and decent manners, catch the gray aristocrat by the tail, grab him in the right way and execute necessary procedures. After this, Shurshik sulks for a while, turns sideways, or even swears with his unique bark-croak. However, deliciousness and a sincere request for forgiveness soon do their job - I am mercifully forgiven.

What else can be said about taming chinchillas? For me this is a friend. I respect his boundaries and habits, I make sure to talk to him, find time to scratch his cheeks and neck, and give him a treat. Not every day, but I try to find time for a walk. And the animal pays me with affection, clearly distinguishing me from the rest of the family. Do you want tenderness and affection from your pet? Then be patient and you will discover a completely different chinchilla- the sweetest creature on earth. She comes into your heart once and remains there forever...

To be continued

Chinchillas are rodents with unusually soft and beautiful fur. Distinctive feature of these animals is their cleanliness, timidity, predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, and quite high demands to the content (food, cage, sand, air temperature, etc.) they say that caring for and maintaining a chinchilla is not cheap entertainment, so before you bring an animal at home, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Features of chinchillas

Height: 22-38 cm, tail length reaches 10-17 cm.
Weight: 600-800 grams.
Color: standard chinchillas are gray with a white belly; black, white, and brown are also available.
Life expectancy in captivity: at proper care 10-15 years (rarely up to 20 years).

Is it worth buying a chinchilla for a child?	Shusha is a very fragile and exotic animal, so it is not suitable for small children. Of course, it all depends on the child’s consciousness, but it is usually not recommended to buy it for children under 12 years old.
Are chinchillas suitable for allergy sufferers?	Although chinchilla fur is hypoallergenic, experience shows that rodents are not suitable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Filler and sand that are needed for on an ongoing basis, may be dangerous for people with lung diseases. Their small particles rise into the air and settle in respiratory tract and cause irritation and severe discomfort.
Why can't a chinchilla walk around the apartment?	Human housing is completely unsuitable for a chinchilla. At every step she faces dangers: vases with water, electrical wires and sockets, unstable furniture. Walking around the apartment is not recommended even in cases where you are sure that you have provided for all possible problems. Leaving the shushi cage is extremely stressful, and running quickly can cause a rise in temperature. As a result, heatstroke or stroke may occur. Don't worry about the animal feeling bad in the cage. Better make his home as comfortable and interesting as possible.
Is it possible to leave Shusha alone for a long time?	They do not get bored in the absence of people, but they need constant care. It is not recommended to leave the animal for longer than 1.5 days. For this time, the food left and a portion of water in the drinking bowl will be enough for her. But you need to keep in mind that a fidget can break the drinking bowl and wet the food. Therefore, leaving it for a long time is a bad idea.
Maybe get a couple of females or two males?	Same-sex animals do not coexist well together. They may quarrel and fight. If you still want to take the risk, get two males from the same litter.
Do doctors deal with chinchillas?	Unfortunately, specialists in the treatment of rodents are only available in major cities. Ordinary veterinarians do not have sufficient qualifications to work with exotic animals and can seriously harm Shusha. Having chosen this animal, you must be prepared for independent decision majority possible problems with health.
Will the animal get bored alone?	They live well alone, the animal always has something to do.
Is it difficult to breed chinchillas?	Breeding chinchillas is not an easy task. It assumes the presence of 2 cells or a spacious display case with a maternity unit. The female and male should not live together for six months after giving birth. In addition, many owners note that shushis living in pairs become less tame.

Character, behavior and habits

Each animal has its own character, but there are features that unite this species. All animals are very inquisitive. They will not ignore changes in the environment and new things in the cage. They react violently to the arrival of guests and find a favorite among family members.

Shushi are nocturnal animals; they like to sleep during the day. Watching them sleep is very funny. Everyone has their own preferences: some sleep on their sides, others curl up in a ring or take another “uncomfortable” position. Usually the animal wakes up at 7-8 pm, and its peak activity occurs at 10 pm.

Chinchillas make very interesting sounds. Each sound has its own meaning, and with their help you can understand how the animal feels. Lonely shushis often make searching sounds. This is how they try to find their relatives. A male paired with a female often sings a mating song and performs a dance, twirling his tail.

When the animal gets angry, it begins to click its teeth and make a cracking sound. If her displeasure is caused by a person or another chinchilla, she may attack the offender. Their attacks are quite funny: the snarling rodent stands on its hind legs, stretches out, releases a stream of urine and tries to bite. Their bites are harmless. Despite the fact that they have sharp and long teeth, they are not able to bite through the skin.

Relationships with rodents and other animals are usually complex. Shuni do not pay attention to other animals as long as they are not touched. But as soon as a cat or dog becomes interested in the animal, he will begin to experience severe stress. If you want to keep a chinchilla in a house where there are already pets, give it a separate room.

At home, keeping and caring for chinchillas is not particularly difficult. The animal should live in a spacious and comfortable cage, always have access to clean water and fresh food.

They require a strict thermal regime. The air temperature should not exceed 25°C. More high temperature is life-threatening and can cause heat stroke.

If you live in a hot climate, consider installing an air conditioner. This will help avoid many problems. If the heat in your city lasts only a few days, use the following ideas.

Freeze several liter water bottles in advance and place them in the cage. Make sure that the bastard doesn't start gnawing on them.
Place the tiles in the refrigerator for half an hour. Then give it to the chinchilla.

What not to do:

do not use a fan, the animal may catch a cold;
do not install a humidifier; high humidity is also undesirable.

Ideal home

The animal is very mobile, so they need a lot of space. When choosing a cage, first of all, be guided by its size. The minimum cage size for one animal is 50*50*70 (length*width*height). It is optimal to choose a more spacious home - 60*50*100.

The higher the cage, the better! Chinchillas love to jump and climb on bars. The cage must have at least 2 shelves.

You can also equip a storefront, since such a house has several advantages. It has closed walls, so dirt will not fly out. In addition, the showcase looks more stylish and can be successfully integrated into the interior.

Unfortunately, display cases are not sold in pet stores. You can order them from craftsmen or make them yourself. You can use wooden shelves or an old chest of drawers as a basis.

Accessories

Chinchillas definitely need:

feeder;
drinking bowl;
house;
stone for teeth point;
stones and branches.

When your home is ready, start arranging it. First, she needs a water bowl and a feeder. It is better to choose hanging options, so the animal will always have clean food and water. It is advisable to purchase metal utensils, as the wood will quickly wear down.

Be sure to put a house in the cage. It would be better if it were made of wood. Of course, sooner or later it will be eaten, but the animals will get great pleasure from such a shelter.

You can distract the animal from the point of its teeth on the cage or house using a special chalk stone. A teeth pointing stone can be purchased at any pet store and hung on the bars of the cage.

Large stones and branches of permitted trees can be placed in the cage (see section Feeding). The chinchilla will be pleased with the system of manholes and pipes where it can hide. If the size of the cage allows, hang a hammock in it. You can buy a hammock for ferrets or sew one yourself from thick fabric.

Toys

To prevent your fidget from getting bored, place several toys in the cage. Don't be discouraged if your upgrades don't make much of an impact. Chinchillas are completely unpredictable. They may be happy with an ordinary branch and not react at all to a new hole or house.

The best toys for chinchillas are wooden blocks and walnut shells. Watch how enthusiastically she drags them around the cage and gnaws them.

Standard running wheels for hamsters and guinea pigs have too long distances between the bars. While running fast, an animal can easily damage its paw. There are solid wheels made of wood, they are difficult to find, but they will suit the shushi well. If you are afraid that your pet is not getting enough activity, equip the cage with pipes and hang a few extra shelves.

Basic care: feeding, bathing and cleaning the cage

Feeding

The main component home care The chinchilla's main concern is feeding. Shusha is a herbivore. In the wild, its diet consists of dry grass and tree bark. In captivity, food includes 4 components:

main food, it should make up 70-80% of the diet
cereals
complementary foods (treats) - no more than 10%.

The animal needs bottled or boiled water. Tap water cannot be given.

Chinchillas should not be given anything raw. Allowed berries, fruits, branches and leaves must be well dried.

Choosing the main food

The right basic food is the key good health your pet. The main rule of good food is that it should consist entirely of compressed grass pellets. It should not contain any additives, including approved complementary foods and colored granules.

High-quality granules can be ordered from farmers and professional breeders. It can also be purchased at a pet store. Pay attention to the products of the following companies:

Vitakraft;
Versele-Laga;
JR Farm;
Benelux;
Beaphar.

Carefully study the composition of the food. The presence of salt, yeast and preservatives is not allowed (see). Adult you need 2 tbsp. feed per day. All uneaten food should be removed and replaced with fresh food.

How to accustom a chinchilla to the right food?

Many people buy chinchillas that have been trained to eat improperly. Moving is very stressful, so it is not recommended to suddenly change the animal’s diet. It is advisable to ask the seller for some of the food that the animal was fed with or to find out in detail about its usual diet.

Start small:

Eliminate all fresh foods immediately.
Use the correct food as a base and mix in 1/3 of the normal food.
Over the course of a week, gradually reduce the amount of your usual food, replacing it with a new one. If you notice that your animal is not eating well, increase the amount of sweets. This process may take a month.

Add grains and hay

Cereals also make up daily diet. Every day, give 1 teaspoon of rolled oats, buckwheat, corn, lentils or a mixture of 5 grains. Shushis are very fond of flax seed, but you can give it a little at a time (no more than 1/3 tsp).

Hay should be given once every 3-4 days in small portions. It is better to put it in a hanging hay. Fallen hay needs to be picked up. Firstly, dirty hay can harm the bush, and secondly, it causes a sharp bad smell. Also make sure that purchased hay is free of roots and soil.

Lure

Many people underestimate the importance of complementary foods and consider them just ordinary treats. In fact, the right treats are an excellent source of essential nutrients. If they are varied, you don’t have to worry about the quality of your pet’s fur and teeth.

How to pamper your pet? You can buy ready-made complementary food for chinchillas. Many feed manufacturers have it. Such a delicacy should make up no more than 10% of the total diet, that is, approximately 1/3 tsp.

If you wish, you can make the goodies yourself. Simply collect and dry berries, fruits or branches. Remember that herbs can only be collected in ecologically clean areas away from the highways.

Chinchillas can:

branches, leaves and berries of hawthorn, viburnum, cranberry, gooseberry, sea buckthorn, rowan, currant, bearberry, blueberry;
lingonberry leaves and berries;
blackberry leaves and stems;
blue honeysuckle berries;
leaves and fruits of strawberries and raspberries;
branches, leaves and fruits of viburnum, ;
juniper berries;
mulberry branches and leaves;
rose hips and flowers;
calamus, ginseng and burdock roots;
carrot;
sweet pepper;
greens and parsley root;
Jerusalem artichoke root and stems;
bird knotweed stems;
leaves, inflorescences and stems of oregano;
jasmine flowers;
leaves, stems and flowers of fireweed;
calendula flowers;
hibiscus;
sorrel;
clover stems;
nettle;
alfalfa;
mallow leaves;
leaves and stems of the common cuff;
leaves, stems and flowers of goat's rue;
coltsfoot leaves;
lemon balm;
mint (great for stress relief!);
dandelion root and leaves;
plantain;
rose buds;
chamomile;
chicory root, stems and flowers;
thyme stems and strings;
Echinacea leaves;
branches of acacia, maple;
branches and leaves of birch, elm, pear, willow, linden, hazel, aspen, poplar, alder, ash;
branches, leaves and buds of willow;
branches, leaves, fruits and inflorescences of an apple tree;
pumpkin seeds;
spikelets and stems of brome, fragrant spikelet, meadow bluegrass, red fescue, wheatgrass, ryegrass, shaker grass;
grape leaves and vines;
green tea leaves.

Prepare 7-10 options and alternate them regularly. This way the animal will receive all the necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Do not overfeed your animal with sweets! The chinchilla liver is not designed to process large amounts of glucose. Poor nutrition will greatly shorten their lifespan. On average, a rodent with an improper diet lives up to 3-4 years and gets sick regularly.

Fur care

Chinchillas have soft fur that covers their entire body. In order for it to remain beautiful, it needs to be looked after regularly. They love to take care of themselves. They bathe and groom their fur regularly, but need a little help.

Once a week the animal needs to be bathed in the sand. Buy special sand for chinchillas or volcanic dust (it will give the fur a special shine). Pour it into a special bathing suit, which often comes with the cage. You can make your own bathing suit from a 5-liter bottle or wood. Open it and give it, the zeyer will happily brush his fur coat, happily tossing and turning in the sand.

Do not leave the bathing suit on for more than 30 minutes. Chinchillas love to sleep in it, and prolonged contact with sand dries out the skin. Also, there is no need to succumb to persuasion and put on a bathing suit more than once every 4 days.

It is contraindicated to wet the fur. It takes a long time to dry, and Shusha can catch a cold. In addition, while swimming, water can get into the ears, which will end inflammatory process. If the fur is very dirty, use a damp towel and a fine-toothed comb to gently remove dirt.

The cage requires major cleaning every 3-4 days. It doesn't take long to clean up. To speed up this process, use a small dustpan and brush.

Use any unscented wood filler. There are special litters for rodents, but cat litters are also suitable.

It is prohibited to use the following as bedding:

sawdust (they are too small and can get into the chinchilla’s eyes);
newspapers (paint contains toxic lead);
rags (shusha will eat threads).

Taming

Unfortunately, a chinchilla cannot be tamed like a cat or dog. She is very independent and prefers solitude. There are happy exceptions - some shushis happily go into the arms of their owner, adore affection and attention.

In order for Shunya to become more tame, not afraid of you and feel comfortable, start taming her from the first day at home.

For the first 2 weeks, keep all contact with the chinchilla to a minimum. Let her get comfortable, get used to new food and unusual smells. To relieve stress, offer her a leaf of dried lemon balm or mint.

After two weeks, start communicating with the Shusha. Approach the cage, open it and reach towards it open palms. Most likely, she will become interested and will sniff and lightly nibble your fingers. She might even jump into your palm. In this case, try not to make sudden movements and do not try to pull the animal out of the cage. It's better to let him get used to it and then let him go. Celebrate your success with a treat.

After that, try scratching it. Favorite places for affection are behind the ear, along the neck and chest. Try not to touch the back, sides and tail, this awakens protective reflexes and a sense of fear. Some shushi don't like to be touched at all. If you hear a dissatisfied crackling sound when scratching, leave the animal alone.

Never catch or handle a chinchilla against its will. This is only permitted in cases of illness or the need for examination. She will react violently to such an invasion. She may shoot urine at you, bite you, or scratch you. If you catch it regularly, your hands will become a signal of danger, and the shusha will be afraid of you.

What not to do

Remember that chinchilla is exotic. She requires special treatment.

let the bullshit out of the cage;
take it outside;
wash in water;
put in a ball for walking;
use a ferret harness;
give fresh grass;
feed indoor plants.

Health diagnostics

What does a healthy chinchilla look like?

The sole of the paws should be smooth and velvety. If your heels peel or bleed, change the padding and apply moisturizer.
The teeth are bright orange and even. Light colored teeth indicate a calcium deficiency. If the animal is constantly drooling, its teeth have become too long.
The nose is dry, without any discharge. If her nose is wet and she sneezes, she has a cold.
Ears should be cold. Hot ears indicate that the noise is hot. Reduce the ambient temperature immediately! Peeling occurs due to prolonged bathing. Age spots on the ears (they look like freckles) are the norm.
Eyes are shiny and dry. There are no cloudy spots. If the eye is numb or swollen, rinse it with chlorhexidine. Perhaps a piece of filler or sand just got into it.
Bald spots in fur- a sign of stress. Most likely, the chinchilla chews it out on its own. If the problem does not disappear after a month, have the scraping checked for mites.
The weight of the shushi should not change dramatically. If you notice that Shusha has lost weight, start giving her mint regularly. The main culprit for weight loss is stress.
The animal's urine is yellow and transparent. Blood may appear due to kidney problems.
Boluses (litter) should have an oblong shape and a smooth, slightly moist surface. A sharp decrease in the number of boluses indicates constipation. Temporarily switch the shusha to hay and water. If there is diarrhea, immediately give the animal an activated charcoal tablet. Mucus and blood in boluses are a reason for an urgent visit to the doctor.
The genitals should be dry, without swelling or discharge. A ring of matted fur may form on the male's genitals. Usually the animal removes it on its own, but if swelling begins, help it.

Perform this inspection regularly to quickly respond to potential problems.

Chinchillas have different personalities. Chinchillas almost never bite. There are animals that willingly go into your hands, examine clothes, hair, jewelry, etc. They can sit on the shoulders and head for a long time. But some chinchillas cannot tolerate being touched by hands; the extreme degree of hostility is when the chinchilla tries to shoot out a stream of urine and shedding fluff. Typically, this behavior occurs in animals raised on farms (which have had little to no contact with humans). But such chinchillas can be re-educated if you allow him to feel attention to himself, and not be limited only by the desire to grab and cuddle the animal. Most chinchillas perceive this attitude as aggression.

If you decide to get a pet, then when visiting a chinchilla breeder, pay attention to the behavior of the animals. After all, each animal has its own individual character. Some chinchillas run up to the open door with curiosity and even try to take advantage of the opportunity to get out. These chinchillas are leaders; they are not only the most active, but also restless. There are chinchillas that, when the door is open, are in no hurry to leave the cage, but first try to find out for what purpose it was opened: they are going to feed it, I suggest they go for a walk, they want to transfer it to another cage. These chinchillas are calm with a balanced temperament (long-term pairs form well). There are chinchillas that either do not show any reaction to opening the door, or at the same time try to hide in the far corner of the cage. This behavior occurs in chinchillas when kept in groups. These chinchillas are in a depressed state. If you take such an animal, then its character is difficult to predict. If the animal is already an adult, it may be withdrawn and will avoid the owner. If this is a young puppy, then it is quite possible that he will grow into a cheerful and sociable animal.

Four types of chinchilla temperament
Choleric(excitable unbalanced type of GNI) It is different increased activity: during wakefulness (in the evening and at night) jumps like a clockwork one; During the day he sleeps with half an eye, and at the slightest disturbance he always wakes up. The animal has sharp movements and a wary look, while it does not give any danger signals. If a choleric person is frightened by a loud sound or some kind of movement, he reacts in panic - the animal will rush off without making out the road and bumping into objects. After walking too much, he can easily become overexcited. When overexcited, the ears turn red, breathing and pulse quicken, the animal shudders and sometimes shakes its head. As a reaction to overexcitation, the so-called “exorbitant inhibition” occurs, i.e. the nervous system, in order to protect itself from excessive stress, goes into “sleep mode”: the animal dozes with its eyes open after a desperate but short run, can lie on its side, throwing its legs and tail out to the sides or stretching out its legs, closes its eyes and almost does not react to its surroundings. For choleric people, such rest after a walk is typical; there is no need to worry - the chinchilla will rest and everything will be fine again. For nervous system dangerous if overexcitation occurs regularly! The development of conditioned reflexes in choleric people is quite slow, since the animal is constantly distracted. They quickly form positive conditioned reflexes (“Come to me!”) and very slowly form negative, inhibitory reflexes (“You can’t!”). However, once a command has been learned, the animal will always be willing to “work it out.”

Sanguine(balanced movable VND type)
Sanguine people are active while awake, but unlike choleric people they sleep soundly during the day. They willingly run, jump and play. Sanguines make sounds more often than others, in particular “security” sounds, which warn other chinchillas about possible danger. They react actively to sharp sounds and movements, but not in panic. Like choleric people, sanguine people can become overexcited, although their recovery period is shorter and less pronounced. The animal falls asleep, but does not “fall”, exhausted, on its side, and after 10-15 minutes it will be ready to continue its walk. Sanguine people are more trainable than others; both positive and negative reflexes are well established in them. Animals quickly learn commands and remember them firmly, willingly carrying them out even after a long break in training. You just need to take your time, move from simple to complex, so as not to “overtrain” the animal.

Phlegmatic person(balanced calm type of GNI)
Phlegmatic people are characterized by less motor activity in general and strong nap. They run less, periods of running are replaced by longer ones" walking". They react to sharp sounds and movements, but not expressed. Overexcitation in phlegmatic people is rarely observed. In phlegmatic people, reflexes are developed more slowly, but the fixed skills turn out to be very persistent, the animal flawlessly follows commands and is very resilient. When training, great perseverance and patience are required, also not things should be rushed.

Melancholic (weak type GNI)
Animals of this type move less compared to others. They sleep soundly during the day and behave calmly during walks. At harsh sounds and movements they hide, finding the darkest and most protected corner, and do not come out from there for a long time. Overexcitation is not typical for such animals. On the contrary, a melancholic person should be encouraged to take walks, since due to inactivity he is prone to obesity. Melancholic people, unfortunately, are of little use for training, because... Their reflexes are developed slowly and unstable. Conditioned reflexes They are produced rather slowly, and without use they can “fade out” over time. Most likely, it will be possible to reinforce the execution on command of some actions that the animal is inclined to perform anyway.
Friendship with chinchillas will depend only on your patience and the time you spend together.

The usual behavior of chinchillas at home is calm and friendly. The animal sleeps during the day, feeds and is active in the evening and at night. In a cage, a chinchilla spends most of its time on the top shelf. The animal sleeps sitting or in funny positions on its side. Chinchillas are active, at night they start a merry run around in the cage. The animals occasionally make sounds. You are probably familiar with the behavior of cats and dogs. It is very varied and informative, but chinchillas show emotions in their own way and show affection for humans. However, the conversation will not be about cuteness, but about the practical side of studying behavior. Let's try to understand by activity, behavior and emotions whether the chinchilla feels good or bad.

Recognizing Abnormal Behavior

For the owner of a chinchilla, it is important to distinguish the normal state of the pet from the abnormal one by its behavior. The owner of a chinchilla must understand the behavioral signals that his pet gives. An animal’s behavior shows its condition – whether it is stressed, sick or aggressive. It is important to notice, first of all, negative signs and correct the situation.

Behavioral Signs of Stress

Chinchillas are susceptible to stress, which occurs under the influence of external or internal reasons. Signs of stress in an animal are decreased appetite, motor activity, avoiding people, gnawing fur. More details. Identify and eliminate stressors.

It happens that a wild chinchilla is not easy to handle; it will not bite or shoot urine, but will shed its fur. When you grab the animal, the fur will fall out at the point of contact with your hand. This is their protective natural instinct of “freeing themselves from the clutches of a predator.” Don't worry, the fur will grow back quickly. Try not to grab the chinchilla too harshly, especially not with a sudden movement from above.

Manifestations of aggression

When under stress, a chinchilla can become aggressive. We once bought a young female, brought her home, put her in a cage, and did not bother her for the first few days so that she could get used to the environment. The animal turned out to be wild; its previous owners did not tame it in any way. When trying to pick it up, the female stood up and shot out a stream of urine. Such an act is the highest degree of aggressiveness in chinchillas. We managed to gain trust with walks on the couch and pumpkin seeds.

Chinchilla bites are not aggressive. Firstly, the chinchilla, like a rodent, tastes everything, including outstretched fingers. Secondly, an attack on a larger creature with an attempt to bite is not typical of rodents. It happens that chinchillas bite each other, showing dominance. Just in case, when handling an animal, do not put your hands near its face.

How does a chinchilla's behavior change if it gets sick?

You will see external symptoms diseases by regularly examining the animal. It’s not difficult for you to glance at your chinchilla at any moment; suddenly you notice changes in behavior that should alert you.

The pet is wilted, does not go into the arms of the owner, hides from the person
The chinchilla is inactive, sits hunched over
Lost appetite, scatters food
Stays at the bottom of the cage for a long time, not on the shelves
A very alarming sign if the animal turns its muzzle into a corner
If a chinchilla sits day and night down with its head in a corner or in a litter tray. This is a very bad sign. The disease is probably advanced. I don’t want to scare anyone, but often a chinchilla just sticks its nose into the corner of the cage before dying.

These are behavioral signs animal diseases. If you see something like this, immediately get to work, weigh it, etc.

Just as an animal’s distress is determined by its behavior, progress in treatment is also observed. A chinchilla, recovering, becomes mobile, climbs high shelves, and its appetite improves. The animal gives small but important signals. For example, a pet sat in the corner of the cage in the morning, and after taking medication, it moved to the bowl in the afternoon. It seems like a small thing, but it's good sign. This is how you know you are on the right track.

Chinchillas make sounds, some trills resemble the whining of a dog. We have not yet been able to understand what the sound signals indicate. One thing is obvious: if an animal is hurt, it will squeak briefly. However, chinchillas endure illnesses and internal pains courageously and silently, unlike cats and dogs.

Questions arise about the behavior of chinchillas during pregnancy. According to observations in our nursery, an animal’s pregnancy has virtually no effect on behavior. When pregnancy is progressing normally, the chinchilla behaves as usual. Only immediately before giving birth, the female goes downstairs, clears the area and, without any unnecessary sounds, gives birth to chinchillas. We determine the fact of pregnancy mainly by the dynamics of the animal’s weight.

During a female's heat, the male gets excited and runs after her. If the female is already pregnant, she may refuse courtship. Then you will see fights, fuss, hear the squeaking of animals.

Individual character and habits of chinchillas

Chinchillas vary in temperament to the same extent as humans. Select three groups of pets according to the degree of taming - “quiet”, “ordinary”, “active”. According to our observations, boy chinchillas and girl chinchillas differ little from each other behaviorally. Both can be quiet or active. “Quiet” people avoid people more than others and are reluctant to give in to people’s hands. "Regular" domestic chinchilla She is accustomed to being handled, but due to her nature she is mobile and restless. “Active” pets are more tame, allow themselves to be held, accept affection, and even “extort” preferences from humans. One of our active pets was vigorously shaking the cage bars with her teeth, trying to be let out for a walk on the sofa. It is interesting that the same habit was formed in the chinchilla daughter, who grew up separately from her mother. It is likely that behavioral character traits are inherited.

Consider individual characteristics character of chinchillas, observing behavior. If your pet, active by nature, suddenly does not go to his hands and is depressed, is this a sign of a disease?

In the photo: Angora chinchilla baby Misya is very friendly, she approaches people herself

On video: Chinchilla Queen loves having her chest scratched

Health to you and your chinchillas!