Pet chinchillas make a great addition to your family, but there are a lot of things about them that can take some getting used to. For those thinking about adopting or purchasing a chinchilla, here are some fun facts that might surprise you about these super cute creatures.
Chinchillas cannot be outside during the day unless they are shaded from the sun.
Chinchillas need a large cage to be happy and healthy.
The front teeth of pet chinchillas never stop growing, so they must chew quite a bit to keep them filed down.
A chinchilla’s ears should be checked often for dirt or other things stuck inside, like bedding.
Chinchillas love to jump and climb, so provide a tall cage with safe perches.
If you find that your chinchilla is smelling bad, it most likely means that they need more dust baths or they are not being bathed enough.
Chinchillas do not like loud noises and will object to them by chewing on their owners or their cages.
Chinchillas can often have a bad smell to them, which is normal and actually just means that they are healthy. If you bathe your chinchilla too much, they can get a very sickly sweet smell instead.
Chinchillas should not be handled out of the cage until they are used to it.
A chinchilla’s fur is worth a lot of money, which is why there are many false claims that chinchillas cannot be outside or need to live in very specific ways or else they will die. This is NOT true, but it has made the price of real chinchillas go up quite a bit.
Some people feed their chinchillas a mix of dark green veggies and certain nuts in order to keep them healthy, but mostly they should get hay, pellets (be sure to take the sugary ones out), and clean water.
Chinchillas like to be kept on a diet that is high in fiber, so make sure that you are feeding your pet chinchilla enough hay and pellets.
Chinchillas are nocturnal creatures, so they will move around a lot during the night to make up for all their naps during the day.
Red pandas and chinchillas have very similar markings because they are from the same area of the world.
Chinchillas love to eat raisins as a little snack, but they should not be part of their regular diet.
Chinchillas can eat the same hay that horses do and actually need to swallow quite a bit of it to help them digest.
A chinchilla’s teeth are always growing, so it is important that they get enough exercise to wear down the teeth so they do not grow too long.
Chinchillas love to jump and climb, so provide your pet chinchilla with a tall cage filled with perches and safe toys.
In conclusion, chinchillas come from South America but can live for up to 20 years in captivity. Pet chinchillas are nocturnal and love to climb and jump, so provide them with a tall cage with lots of toys. Chinchillas also need plenty of hay to eat, but they must have their teeth filed down or they will get too long.
Chinchillas are cute little creatures that make great pets if you are willing to care for them properly.