Pet Habitat South Africa

Companionship

Chinchillas are largely nocturnal, but become active during the evening and throughout the night – perfect for when owners get back from work or school. Very young children and chinchillas, however, aren't always a good partnership because the animals are very sensitive to rough handling and are not particularly good at sitting still to be petted.

Chinchillas like the company of other chinchillas. Choose a pair or a group, but try to make them all the same sex, and it's best to get all your pets at the same time.

Housing

When it comes to choosing your chinchillas' cage, your motto should be the bigger – the better. Chinchillas are busy, active, inquisitive animals and they love lots of space to jump and play around in.

The best cages are made from wire mesh (which should have a mesh no larger than 15mm x 15mm) which extends across the floor too. They love to chew and would gnaw their way through a wooden floor in no time.

To give your chinchillas' feet a rest from standing on the wire (which can lead to a chronic condition called bumblefoot), fit some solid shelves and branches to sit on – ideally these should be apple or pear as some branches have sap that can be poisonous. Make them out of soft wood – it keeps your pets entertained to have something to chew on.

Within the cage, you should create a small bedroom area where your pets can snuggle up and feel secure. You can buy a small chinchilla nest box from specialist pet shops, and these don't need bedding. But your pet will eventually chew through it, so make sure there are no nails or staples in its construction.

Showing behaviour that's unique amongst rodents, your chinchillas will love a bath – not a water bath, but a good sand bath to keep the coat in tip-top condition. Have a special container and fill it with approved chinchilla sand only, which stops the skin being damaged. Put the bath in the cage several times a week, but only for ten minutes at a time, in case it gets used as a toilet.

A constant temperature is ideal, so you should put the cage out of direct sunlight and away from draughts and radiators. Your chinchillas will bear cold quite well, but may be prone to over-heating. At temperatures greater than 25°C, chinchillas cool themselves down by sending blood to their large ears – so red ears can be a sign of over-heating.

Chinchillas are very sensitive to sugar in the same way humans with diabetes. Sugary foods should be avoided. Chinchillas need to keep their digestive systems busy with a mix of two kinds of fibre moving through the gut at all times (these types of fibre are called digestible fibre and indigestible fibre).

Chinchillas can’t get enough nutrition from fibre when it passes through their gut the first time, so they pass it through a second time.

Indigestible fibre is moved through their digestive system and excreted as separate, round, hard droppings. This type of fibre keeps the digestive system moving and their appetite stimulated.

Digestible fibre is moved up into an organ called the caecum – which is like a giant appendix.

Good bacteria in the caecum ferment the fibre, making it easy to digest. This emerges in the form of clumps of sticky droppings – we call these droppings caecotrophs. Guineas then re-eat the caecotrophs directly from their bottom and the essential nutrients are then absorbed when the digestible fibre passes through for the second time.

If chinchillas don’t get the right amounts of both digestible and indigestible fibre, it can rapidly lead to serious health problems. At Excel, we call the correct ratio of these two types of fibre ‘Beneficial Fibre’.

The Excel Feeding Plan is a simple five step guide to help pet owners understand the high levels of beneficial fibre required by chinchillas. It is the only complementary range that, when used together, delivers extremely high levels of the right kinds of fibre needed in chinchillas’ diets and effectively promotes and maintains the dental, digestive and emotional health and longevity of these pets.

These premium quality Feeding Hay and Grass products should form the majority of your pets’ diet. They are especially good for dental health as the gnawing action required to eat them helps to wear down teeth. The teeth of rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are constantly growing and overgrown teeth can be the cause of potentially fatal problems. Hays also play a vital role in digestive and emotional health as they provide the bulk of the diets’ indigestible fibre and encourage foraging.

Excel Tasty Nuggets are a single component food and are high in 'Beneficial Fibre' which means they're great for digestive health. All Burgess Excel Nuggets have added vitamins, minerals and prebiotics to help with healthy eyes, skin and coat.

These delicious, natural and healthy snacks are ideal for 'Fibrevores' as they promote emotional health, by preventing boredom.They can also be used to encourage bonding and interaction between you and your pet. They can be fed daily, because they're packed with 'Beneficial Fibre' and made with natural ingredients. Some are specifically designed to be fed by hand which helps pets to get comfortable with human attention. Snacks work really well when mixed through Excel forage.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas can be fed fresh greens to give additional nutrients and to provide some variety. You need to be careful about what you feed them, and how much. Fruits can be fed, and are a great source of extra nutrients, but only feed in very small amounts as they can be high in sugar. Avoid feeding anything that grows from bulbs as these can be dangerous.

Good Chinchilla Greens: Chinchillas can be very susceptible to bloat, diarrhoea and other digestive issues when fed too much fresh material. Be very cautious and introduce only very small amounts gradually. Apples, blueberry, carrot, celery, grape, orange, pumpkin, squash, raisins (in small amounts as a treat), Romaine lettuce (large amounts of iceberg lettuce can lead to diarrhoea). Please note chinchillas on a healthy high fibre diet which consists mainly of 80-90% hay can handle small amounts of veggies, but chinchillas that are used to eating mostly dry food mixtures (muesli type foods) it is not recommened to feed them any veggies or fruit at all because their digestive system is compromised. If you not sure, don't take risk and avoid feeding any veggies or fruit.

Bad Chinchilla Greens: Asparagus, avocado, peas, cabbage, corn, lettuce, broccoli, rhubarb & rhubarb leaves, spinach, potato tops, tomato leaves, locust pods and beans.

A plentiful supply of fresh water should always be available. Change it daily in warm weather and ensure it hasn't frozen over during winter months.

Sticking to The Excel Feeding Plan will ensure your chinchillas get the right amounts of fibre in their diet. The Excel Feeding Plan was developed in conjunction with one of the world’s leading small-animal vets, to provide a perfect daily balance of fibre and nutrition.

The Problems with Feeding Muesli

Muesli-style foods are a real problem because chinchillas can become fussy eaters, eating sweet foods as an easy way to get a sugary fix (which is a serious issue for chinchillas). As a result, they can pick out the unhealthy bits in muesli-style foods and leave the rest. We call this selective feeding. It can lead to an imbalanced diet, that’s lacking in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D as well as a diet that’s low in fibre, which can have very serious consequences.

The unhealthy ingredients in muesli-style foods are high in sugar and starch; these are difficult for chinchillas to digest and can lead to health problems and obesity. Obese chinchillas often can’t reach the caecotrophs around their bottom that contain so many of the important nutrients, which can again lead to problems.

Pet Obesity is fast becoming an epidemic and can lead to serious health issues in pets.

Handling

Chinchillas are, by nature, timid creatures, so allow a few days of settling when you first get them home. Talk softly to your pets, so your voice is easily recognised, but avoid touching.

Start to form a bond by hand-feeding Excel Nature Snacks, always being careful to make very gentle movements in the cage. Move on gradually to stroking and, finally, to picking your chinchillas up.

Pick up your pets by putting one hand firmly under the bottom and the other over the back and pulling into your chest with the head facing you – that way your chinchillas will feel secure. Their ribs are very, very fragile, so be very, very gentle.

If you handle your pets regularly, they will become more confident and relaxed.

Chinchillas very rarely bite, but they're very sensitive to rough handling and show their distress in other ways. Keep an eye out for 'fur slip', when patches of fur are shed, which is a sure sign of fear or distress.

Never pick your chinchillas up by the tail – it will cause pain and distress and may lead to skin coming away, known as fur slip.

Grooming

You don't groom chinchillas – they do it themselves in the sand bath. Your chinchillas won't like being brushed and it would damage their fur. It's also important that you never get your chinchillas wet.

Neutering

If your chinchillas are all male, it's best to neuter them to avoid aggression. Aggressive behaviour can also occur in mixed groups – as can unwanted pregnancies - so neutering the males is still a good idea. In all-female groups, neutering isn't required.

Exercise and Play

Your chinchillas may think it's play, but it's really exercise - and both are vital for a happy, healthy life.

The cage makes a perfect playground. As we said in the housing section there should be shelves and branches, but rails and ramps make exciting new routes to explore too.

A scattering of wooden chewing blocks increases the fun, as does hiding healthy Excel Nature Snacks for your chinchillas to sniff out.

The cage is a great place for games, but a little time exploring the wider world of your room is good too. Rule 1: make the room escape-proof - your chinchillas could be out through a tiny gap quick as a shot. Rule 2: make the room chew-proof - it's especially important to safeguard wires that your pets could easily gnaw through.

Worried about an escape bid or damage? Build a special exercise run or playpen instead - but putting them in a run outside is not recommended as if they do escape you will be highly unlikely to get them back.

Cleaning

The wire cage bottom also allows urine and droppings to fall through into a tray where it can be absorbed by newspaper or dust-free wood chippings. This not only makes cleaning up easier, it keeps your chinchillas away from damp litter too – they're very prone to catching colds in damp conditions.

The handy tray also stops droppings getting caught up in your pets' thick coats.

Replace soiled litter every day and clean the entire cage with a safe disinfectant (you can buy special cleaning agents from specialist pet shops) once a week.

Health

It's strange but true: there's a lot about keeping chinchillas healthy that nobody fully understands. But what we do know is that there are no vaccinations that they're supposed to have and that they're less attractive to flies, fleas and mites – all of which is excellent news.

A weekly health check is a good idea, but there are still some health problems which your chinchillas might have if the diet and living conditions aren't all they should be. Here's a brief guide, but remember: you should take your pets to a vet immediately if you are at all concerned.

Dental problems

Your chinchillas' teeth will continue to grow all their lives and overgrown teeth can be the cause of potentially fatal health problems. A good diet with lots of coarse, high-fibre foods like Burgess Excel Herbage will help along with a supply of wooden chew objects like Burgess Excel Gnaw Sticks.

Excessive drooling and a loss of appetite are sure signs of dental problems, and you should see your vet immediately.

Respiratory problems

There are three signs to look out for. Wheezing or chest difficulties may be a sign of a chest infection or pneumonia. A runny nose is linked to the common cold. Ear discharges or imbalance might mean an ear infection. Chinchillas are also very sensitive to draughts and damp which can lead to colds, so make sure they're protected.

Constipation

Signs to look out for: your chinchillas will look bloated and there will be fewer droppings than usual – and the ones you do find will be smaller and thinner. This is usually caused by stress, pain or a lack of fibre and water, so access to plenty of fresh drinking water and lots of hay is the answer.

Diarrhoea

This is quite a common problem with chinchillas and is usually a sign of over-eating – especially with treats or vegetables. Other causes might be stress, lack of fibre or a simple reaction to some bad food.

Bumblefoot

This condition, also called ulcerative pododermatitis, can be identified by ulcers on the feet and can be extremely painful if the ulcers get infected. Make regular checks to make sure the soles of the feet aren't flaky or cracked - if they are, see a vet straight away.

Health Checks

You can help to maintain your pets' good health by learning to do some simple health checks every week. It's a good way to increase the bond between you and to get to know your chinchillas' natural condition and personality. That makes it easier for you to see when something is wrong, so you'll be able to spot any problems early and get treatment in good time.

These are quick and easy checks which are best done when your pets are feeling comfortable and relaxed – you might find that an Excel Nature Snack helps.

And never forget: if in doubt, always see your vet immediately.

Ears
gently look inside and make sure they're clean and free from discharge, which can be a sign of infection. Fleas and mites can also find their way in here.

Eyes
make sure their eyes are clear and shiny, not dull or swollen. There shouldn't be any excessive blinking or too much wetness around the eyes.

Teeth
check to make sure there isn't any excessive drooling which can be a sign of dental problems. Be careful with this health check: your chinchillas might not be comfortable with having their mouths inspected and may bite – in which case, let your vet do the check instead.

Feet
gently hold and feel the feet to make sure you pets haven't injured themselves. Signs of flaking or cracks mean a visit to the vet straight away.

Fur
gently feel and look to check that there are no bald patches or injuries.

Weight
weigh your chinchillas on a regular basis to see that they are maintaining a constant weight that is healthy for their age. Regular visits to your vet will tell you what the weight should be. Watching the scales is important – obesity is a serious illness that can lead to other health problems.

Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountains in South America and live in colonies called "herds" at high altitudes up to 4,270 metres.

Historically, chinchillas lived in the Andes of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, but today colonies in the wild remain only in Peru and Chile. Along with their relatives, viscachas, they make up the family Chinchillidae. The chinchilla (whose name literally means "little chincha") is named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who once wore its dense, velvet-like fur.

By the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become quite rare due to hunting for their ultra-soft fur. Most chinchillas currently used by the fur industry for clothing and other accessories are farm-raised.

Chinchillas are currently listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to a severe population loss approximated at a 90% global population loss over the last 15 years. The severe population decline has been caused by Chinchilla hunting by humans.