A chinchillas main diet is made up of chinchilla pellets. Females are usually larger than males, and weight ranges from 500 to over 700g. In the wild, life expectancy is 8 years so thats when we consider a chinchilla in captivity to be a senior. Average lifespan in captivity is 1015 although there are instances where chinchillas have lived into their 20s. Chinchilla habitat in the andes mountains of chile. However, due to predators, climate changes, and human hunters interested in their fur, a wild chinchilla may live only five to ten years. Chinchilla brevicaudata waterhouse, 1848 eriomys chinchilla lichtenstein, 1829 the shorttailed chinchilla chinchilla chinchilla. Longtailed chinchilla chinchilla lanigera longevity. It has been reported that these animals have bred at 15 years of age and some have lived for more than 20 years in captivity, which is possible but. Chinchilla the chinchilla is a small, furry rodent, about the size of a rabbit, that is native to the andes mountains of south america. A chinchillas lifespan as a pet is significantly increased if it is properly taken care of by its owner. Plant proteins are necessary for a chinchilla to aid in.
Many do not make it past 5 years old due to poor breeding andor owners who dont provide them the care they need. However, when kept in captivity the numbers go up to 15 or 20 years. Chinchillas have an exceptionally long lifespan for rodents, making them an appealing pet choice for people looking for longterm companions. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and wellbeing around the world. Chinchilla chincilla, chinchilla velligera lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits maximum longevity 17. A bennetts chinchilla rat in captivity lived two years and four months. When they live in their natural habitat, chinchillas can live from 8 to 10 years. Various other colours of chinchilla have been bred in captivity, where they can survive 20 years or more. The american chinchilla rabbit was bred from large standard chinchilla rabbits in order to produce a meatier rabbit. Ideal ferret cages are tall with multiple levels, so they still dont take up too much room. They do need to spend time out of their cage every day for playtime and exercise. The male standard chinchilla rabbit is called a buck and a female standard chinchilla rabbit is called a doe, also both known as a bunny.
Anything other than this will have effects on a chinchilla s health. In their natural habitat in the andean regions of south america, they typically live for 8 to 10 years. A young rabbit is called a kit kitten or baby bunny. There are several reasons why chinchillas live longer in captivity than they do in the wild. The chinchillas natural habitat is the andes mountain range, which stretch down the western side of south america. With proper care and feeding, their lifespan can go up to 20 years or even more.
Chinchillas hearing ability is very similar to humans. This is longer than the wild version because the pet is guarded from predators. Ultimate chinchilla care chinchillas as pets the must have. They are bred in captivity mainly for the fur trade, though a few lucky ones have made it into the pet trade. The chinchilla s natural habitat is harsh high up in the andes and the environment is barren. Chinchilla carers club ukbased club for all people interested in the care and keeping of chinchillas as pets chinchilla club nz new zealandbased, the chinchilla s health and welfare is of the foremost concern of the club chinchillas as pets association events capa is a u. Their lifespan in the wild is believed to be one to two years. It is sometimes sold to tourists as real chinchilla fur. Although when in captivity, chinchillas are often said to live for fifteen to twenty years. These chinchilla rabbits originated in france in the early 1900s, and were named for the similarity of their fur to the south american rodent, the chinchilla. In chinchillas natural habitation in the south america region, they are said to basically live for eight to ten years. On average, they grow to lengths of 10 inches with the tail having lengths of up to 6 inches. Formerly, chinchillas occupied the coastal regions, hills, and mountains of chile, peru, argentina, and bolivia.
It all depends on the quality of life you give your chinchilla, a happy healthy chinchilla can live a long time. Chinchilla lanigera is found in the barren, arid areas of mountains at elevations of 3,0005,000 meters. Chinchillas are nocturnal, being more active during the night. When selecting your chinchillas, look for animals that are well socialized and used to being handled. Pets also receive medical help when injured or ill. Histology of the ovary of chinchilla lanigera in captivity. Standard chinchilla rabbits have long ears which can be as long as 4 in 10.
The average lifespan for a well cared for chinchilla is 1520 years. This age range can vary quite a bit, though, depending on factors such as the type of chinchilla, their family history, daily care, and a bit of luck. Ask a store partner about petcos selection of books on chinchillas and the variety of private brand. The chinchillas pelt is still used in the fur industry today, in the creation of fashionable clothing, but these chinchillas are farmraised, rather than wild. May 22, 2010 the american chinchilla is an american breed developed in the early 1920s from the first chinchilla rabbits imported from europe in 1919. For many years, the chinchillas only interaction with humans consisted of being hunted, and later bred in captivity, for their exceptionally soft fur. American chinchilla rabbits are a sixclass breed in show. Includes health, toys, food, bedding on free shipping on qualified orders. Visit us today to find out more about different books we have at amazing animal books. The maximum lifespan of wild chinchillas is 6 years. In captivity, it ranges from 12 to 15 years, a difference attributable to factors such as the greater amount of available food and the absence of predators. The chinchilla care guide enjoying chinchillas as pets covers. Domestic, pet chinchillas usually live well into their teens, or even longer. Theyre an exotic pet, and new information is constantly popping up as owners share and learn new things.
As of 2008, bouncer held the official record for worlds oldest chinchilla. These nocturnal animals may emerge at dusk and dawn to bask in the sun. The fine chinchilla dust provided for a dust bath penetrates the thickness of the chinchilla s fur, where it absorbs oils and clears away dirt. The average lifespan of chinchilla kept as pets are around 15 years since they are not subjected to predation or hunting and have access to veterinary care. The fine chinchilla dust provided for a dust bath penetrates the thickness of the chinchillas fur, where it absorbs oils and clears away dirt. You can find both products at another good choice for chinchilla pellets is manna pro classic show rabbit. Rules for keeping a pet chinchilla by jesslyn shields jun 7, 2019 slightly larger than ground squirrels, chinchillas are native to the andes mountains in south america and are either one of two species, chinchilla chinchilla or chinchilla lanigera shown here. Chinchilla life cycle amazing animal books youtube. Jul 12, 2018 the tail is long while their legs are short. With enough care and nutrition, chinchillas can live up to 20 years. Thats a huge improvement over the life span of their wild relatives. While handling your chinchilla its important to make sure they feel comfortable and dont feel the need to escape, as they can be quite hard to catch once loose. Evaporative water loss of wild chilean chinchilla mean.
A chinchilla s diet should consist of 30% fibre, 1416% protein, 35% carbohydrate, 3. He was declared the oldest living rabbit in the world by the guinness book of. If humans had jeanne calment, the oldest chinchilla in the world would have been a male named bouncer. On the other hand, if a chinchilla is kept as a pet. Study shows captivity curtails orca lifespan animal welfare. At maturity, chinchillas are 11 to 14 inches long, weighing between between 1 and 2 pounds. The american chinchilla is an american breed developed in the early 1920s from the first chinchilla rabbits imported from europe in 1919. Overexploitation caused the downturn of these populations and, as early as 1914, one scientist claimed that the species was headed for extinction. Calf manna is a great source of calcium for your chinchilla. Buy ultimate chinchilla care chinchillas as pets the must have guide for anyone passionate about owning a chinchilla.
You will have to take proper care of your pet chinchilla for it to live longer. Chinchilla carers club ukbased club for all people interested in the care and keeping of chinchillas as pets chinchilla club nz new zealandbased, the chinchillas health and welfare is of the foremost concern of the club chinchillas as pets association events capa is a u. Chinchilla rats are sometimes hunted by humans for their fur, which is sold at local fur markets and has a low value. A chinchilla s lifespan as a pet is significantly increased if it is properly taken care of by its owner. Ferrets dont need a huge cage, though the bigger the better. In their native habitat, chinchillas are colonial, living in arid, rocky environments of the andes mountains from southern peru to chile at elevations of 800 metres. Chinchilla lanigera is currently found only in the mountains of northern chile nowak 1991 biogeographic regions. Chinchillas can live up to 20 years in captivity, while the wild chinchilla is thought to live between 1015 years. So, for a while, i purchsed every chinchilla book i could find and most of them were published in the 1980s.
The lifespan of chinchilla pet goes up to 1520 years. Females are larger than males with the average adult having a mass of between 1 and 1. They have rounded ears and eyes on either side of a broad head. Not only do dust baths keep the fur of chinchillas in tiptop shape, but they also really seem to enjoy having a vigorous dust bath. Chinchilla life cycle amazing animal books amazinganimalbooks1. The american chinchilla rabbit breeds have been developed from the big standard chinchilla rabbit breeds with the intention of producing meatier rabbits. In the wild chinchillas have a lifespan of about 810 years.
Chinchillas measure around 12 inches long, with a fluffy tail measuring around 56 inches. Chinchilla facts, pictures, care, pet, lifespan, diet. She had researched their care thoroughly, but this book really goes indepth into a. Most captive chinchillas are descended from 11 animals that were captured in the early 1920s richardson, 2003. For a longer life, nutrition is very crucial when keeping chinchilla as a pet. They were originally called heavyweight chinchilla rabbits. All that fur fools the eye, making the animal appear larger than he really is.
The average lifespan of a chinchilla is 8 10 years, though in captivity they have been known to live up to 20 years. Jan 14, 2011 chinchillas can live for over 20 years. The oldest chinchilla on record lived 28 years and 94 days. The average lifespan is much shorter because lots of misinformation exists regarding basic chinchilla care. Description and physical characteristics of chinchillas all. For information about small animals and their care visit. These small, cute rodents have plush, soft coats of fur. If you bring a chinchilla into your life, expect to have him for quite a long time. In the wild, chinchillas have been observed eating plant leaves, fruits, seeds, and. Study shows captivity curtails orca lifespan their results, published in the journal marine mammal science, indicated that orcas in captivity had a mortality rate the inverse of survivorship 2. We hope you will take a few moments to read about our rich heritage, where we have been and where we are today. I confess, i got my first chinchilla a bit before the internet existed. They are one of the longer lived rodents, with a lifespan of around 1520 years. A wellcared for pet chinchilla might live between 15 and 20 years.
However, it is not uncommon that some chinchilla owners lose their pets before 15 years. Chinchillas are either of two species of crepuscular rodents of the parvorder caviomorpha. This can be supplemented with coarse alfalfa and timothy hay, endive, escarole and spinach. Chinchilla, chinchillidae, chinchilla lanigera, chinchilla. In the wild chinchillas would live in burrows or rock crevices. Their fur is highly appreciated, which has led to indiscriminate hunting resulting in a dramatic decrease in the wild population. Long coveted for their fur, their coats also make chinchillas good. Jul 20, 2016 in chinchillas natural habitation in the south america region, they are said to basically live for eight to ten years. The female american chinchilla rabbit is an excellent breeder, which is capable of producing an average litter of 6 hits to 9 kits per litter. Facts, training, maintenance, housing, behavior, sounds, lifespan. Anything other than this will have effects on a chinchillas health. In their native habitat, chinchillas are colonial, living in arid, rocky environments of the andes mountains from southern peru to chile at elevations of 800 metres 2,600 feet near the coast to 6,000 metres inland. A chinchillas diet should consist of 30% fibre, 1416% protein, 35% carbohydrate, 3.
Empress chinchilla has always stood for the finest in chinchilla and chinchilla products and that tradition continues strong today. There are two species of chinchilla, chinchilla lanigera and chinchilla brevicaudata. The chinchillas natural habitat is harsh high up in the andes and the environment is barren. For this article we researched nine separate written accounts from our large chinchilla reference library of scholarly and rancherauthored books. In captivity, chinchillas need ample space to move and jump. Facts, training, maintenance, housing, behavior, sounds, lifespan, food. Facts, training, maintenance, housing, behavior, sounds, lifespan, food, breeding, toys. Longhaired cats hold a special place in many cat lovers hearts, and perhaps none more so than the chinchilla.
At home, they get proper care, as well as their feeding requirements, are met. Like rabbits, chinchillas perform a behaviour called caecotrophy, where they ingest specific droppings in order to ensure they get the required level of nutrition from their food. He died in 2005 in great barr birmingham, uk at the age of 28 years, which would correspond to a human aged nearly 240 years. Most of the chinchillas do not even live up to 8 years.
If you are looking for a pet rodent, then a chinchilla is perhaps the best choice when it comes to long lifespan. The typical lifespan of dogs varies widely among breeds but for most, the median. On average, wild chinchillas tend to live between 8 and 10 years, while chinchillas in captivity commonly live to be 15 to 20 years old. Yaheetech collapsible large 3 tier metal wire pet cat kitten ferret chinchilla.
In captivity, however, chinchillas may live between 1520 years. There is little noticeable difference between the two species except that the chinchilla brevicaudata has a shorter tail, a thicker. The chinchillas primary diet 90% should consist of chinchilla or guinea pig chow mazuri 5m01, zupreem, purina or equivalent. In the wild they live in groups and make their home in burrows and natural outcroppings and crevices.
1639 1475 1352 1244 431 498 266 1548 82 1352 232 644 48 914 1328 580 1652 787 1191 8 310 797 475 70 721 1571 522 1635 6 969 1148 65 672 1477 1488 864 414 1275 1002 1241 461 511 592 1403