Chinchilla Noises
Animals don’t talk, but we know that they communicate. There is just something about the way same animals look at each other that they immediately know what the other is thinking. When animals desire to communicate with other mammals, as would pets to their owners, they usually make noises so as to grab attention. For instance, dogs would bark to warn owners that he senses a threat while cats will meow to tell you they want their food NOW. Of course, there are certain gestures that pets make to show affection. It’s the noises that you should be wary of.
Chinchillas are not your usual pet and it’s best that you know what noises they make and what emotions are attached to them. For instance, chinchillas are very well known to grunt a lot. It’s perhaps the only “normal” sound that they make on a pretty mundane day. Here are a few chinchilla noises, both common and uncommon.
Grunts: Chinchillas grunt a lot and they grunt in many different ways to express different feelings. A series of silent grunts, for instance, is a call for attention and affection from their owners. This can be likened to a purring cat or the high pitched half-squeal half-whisper that a dog makes when it’s trying to say ‘sorry’. A hoarser chinchilla grunt is used to call the attention of its owner, other pets or animals in the vicinity, or another pet chinchilla.
Shrill: Chinchillas make a different sound when they are scared or when they feel threatened. They’ll make a series of shrills, or they’ll throw in one big burst. In the wild, chinchillas make this noise to warn other “chins” of an incoming threat – like a predator. Caged chins will make this noise if there are other animals near them that scare them. This can be likened to a hiss that a cat makes when it’s being cornered. Whatever the reason, you should come to the rescue of your chinchilla if you hear this noise.
Chattering Teeth: This doesn’t mean that the teeth of your little pet are growing too long. This noise is made when the chinchilla is annoyed or upset. For instance, one chinchilla trying to steal another’s food will be met by this response. With that said, this noise is usually made by a chinchilla sharing a cage with another. Chinchillas have a sense of privacy, and violation of that privacy can be the cause of the noise.
There are other chinchilla noises that do not need any explanation. Loud squeaks, for instance, are usually made if the chinchilla is startled or in pain. A different type of grunt can be heard if the chinchilla is being picked up by a stranger – signifying that the animal doesn’t like it. This chinchilla noise is particularly annoying for the owner, so if you hear it, it’s best that you leave your pet alone for the time being.
Chinchilla Habitat
To someone who speaks English, the word “chinchilla” can give a mental picture of a spicy-flavored junk food. That’s a far cry from what a chinchilla really is. Chinchilla literally means “little chincha” – the native American people of the Andes (and not from China as some of you may think). Chinchillas are one of the rodent species with strong genes. You can see it in them, as they have a little bit of every rodent cousin. Don’t be fooled, though. They may look like overfed hamsters, but they are very agile born as natural jumpers. This is all due to the chinchilla habitat; well, the original one, I mean.
Out in the wild, chinchillas are like heavily furred and bloated squirrels. Their primary diet seems to consist of fruits, seeds, little insects, and certain types of plants. But this isn’t really advisable for pet chinchillas. Domesticated chinchilla diet should consist primarily of hay. In the Andes Mountains, chinchillas live under rocks. Either that, or they burrow. Their worst enemies are birds of prey, felines, snakes, and wild dogs. Yes, dogs. If you already have a dog, then you might think twice about getting a chinchilla, unless your dog is specially trained. Chinchillas need to get out of their cages once in a while, and it wouldn’t be wise to let them out if you have a dog in the house.
Chinchillas are native to the Andes, and their genes are jam packed with the desire to feel free. If you are getting a chinchilla, getting a cage to go along with it is not negotiable. Make sure you need to get a cage with lots of room for them to run about, climb, and jump. This includes ladders, swings, wheels, and whatever else you can throw in the cage without compromising space. Of course, even if your pet chinchilla seems comfortable in the cage, it’s always best to let them have fun outside of it. Chinchillas need to jump and run around. It’s like a dog that needs to be walked from time to time.
While chinchillas will have a blast running around the house, they’re creatures that value privacy. In the cage, you’re going to need to put a nesting box. Being rodents, chinchillas will need to gnaw. You can throw in some chewing toys and chewing sticks – preferably made of wood – so as for them to keep from chewing their nesting boxes off.
If you’re thinking of getting a chinchilla, it’s always best to make them feel closer to home. While they are domesticated versions, their genes will always keep them curious and adventurous. To make your pet really happy, try turning your house to a suitable chinchilla habitat.
The Chinchilla
The movie Ratatouille, based on the book, showed man’s lack of love for rodents. When you hear the word “rodents”, you automatically think “stinking rat”. Having a rodent in your house doesn’t necessarily mean you have a pest that you want to get rid of. There are a lot of people that have rodents for pets; and trust me, rodents aren’t the weirdest pets to have. Hamsters, guinea pigs, and mice are often kept as pets. Their biggest relative is one called Chinchilla. Like most furry pets, or animals for that matter, chinchilla colors vary depending on what genes they carry.
Chinchillas have two known existing species: the chinchilla brevicaudata and the chinchilla lanigera. The chinchilla brevicaudata, also called chinchilla chinchilla, are the short tailed species while the chinchilla lanigera have the longer tail. There isn’t any much more differences between the two species, but the domesticated ones are thought to have come from the lanigera family. There is a third specie, the giant chinchilla, which have been extinct for some time due to its high demand for chinchilla fur. The remaining two species of chinchillas are also close to extinction, so the next time you think about hurting your poor pet, keep that info in mind.
Genetics seem to play a large role in a chinchilla’s life. Any birth defect of a chinchilla can easily be passed on to the offspring. Also, chinchillas are often born in twos. When you see them, they look like the entire rodent species combined. Their heads look like a rat, their size is bigger than a chipmunk, their shape resembles a hamster, their defense mechanisms are similar to those of skunks, and their tails are like that of squirrels. This shows how strong their genes are. With regards to fur color, it is never random. You will never see a fur color of an offspring that is absent in both parents.
Among pet owners, the favourite color of chinchillas is ebony. With this color, your chinchilla will have light gray and black tones. You might be wondering how this can be a popular color. Well, ebony wasn’t really a color of chinchilla fur. Experts agree that the ebony color was due to mutation. Another seemingly rare color of chinchillas is the charcoal. Unlike the ebony color, charcoal-furred chinchilla litter can only be produced if both parents carry the gene.
There are a lot more colors for chinchillas. There are beige colors, white, violet, blue, and gold. Unfortunately, the fur hunt continues and there aren’t that many chinchillas today. This makes the rare chinchilla colors very expensive – that is IF you can find them. Whatever their color is, I’m pretty sure you’ll still find your chinchilla adorable.
Things To Consider With A Chinchilla House
Chinchillas are essentially rodents that are almost the size of a cat. While some of them may look like Garfield – mouse version – they are actually very agile; domesticated ones, of course are less active. If we’ve learned anything about where to put pet rodents, they’re in cages. Pet mice are held in cages. Hamsters are held in cages. Chinchillas, their biggest pet cousins, are going to be held in cages. Yes, cages may sound cruel, but all you need to do is make it as comfortable as possible so that your chinchilla will consider it a home.
Chinchilla cages are not meant to hold your pet all the time. Yes, you can throw in some nice “amenities” in there, but it’s still very important that you let them out and have fun outside their little crib. If you’re thinking of breeding chinchillas, then you need to have at least one cage for each to prevent mating right after birthing. Here’s a few things you might want to consider for a chinchilla house.
Temperature: Putting the chinchilla in a cage in the area of your home where it gets too hot or too cold isn’t a good idea. Chinchillas are very sensitive to temperature and too warm can kill them. Too cold can also do them in. This is why chinchilla cages don’t usually include water baths as their furs take a long time to dry and the cold can also be fatal for them. Chinchilla cages have sand baths instead. The only time that a sand bath shouldn’t be used is when a female chinchilla is pregnant; especially when close to labor.
Room: Chinchillas are almost as big as cats, and they jump like them. Most rodent pets are fond of climbing all over their cages. Chinchillas love to climb AND jump. Make sure that you have big cages for your chinchillas for them to jump and run around in. If you think that you got too small of a cage for your pet, then it’s always good to let them out once in a while so they can free roam. Also, chinchillas like privacy so make room in your cage for a nesting box.
Accessories: Well, they’re not really accessories as each item serves a purpose. Ladders, swings, wheels, ramps, and anything else that you can throw in there will be very much enjoyed by your pet. Chinchillas are very active. Besides, this is good exercise. Once again, if you feel like your pet needs more space, let them out for a short time.
Chinchillas are special creatures. You can tell even if you’re not a proud owner of one. They deserve a good home, and it’s your responsibility to give it to them. When thinking about buying a chinchilla house, make sure you get a good one.
Things To Take Note Of When Breeding Chinchilla
Not a lot of people know what a chinchilla is. I know people who thought it was a brand of corn chips. Upon first sight of a chinchilla, they think they’ve seen a horrible experiment gone wrong. Chinchillas look like overgrown hamsters with the head of a rat and a tail of a squirrel. One of the first reactions would be to stare. More often than not, the more you stare the more you’ll find chinchillas really cute. Despite being a rodent, chinchillas make excellent house pets. If you’re thinking about breeding chinchilla, there are many factors that you should consider.
Basic information about your pet-to-be is necessary for survival. Take note that having a home doesn’t necessarily mean that you can keep a pet. Your home should be ideal for a pet. For instance, if you live in a small apartment, a Doberman would be out of place in the whole scene; unless you really take care of the pooch. It goes the same way with chinchillas. Whether you’ve had two chinchillas to begin with or if you bought one and you don’t want your pet to be lonely, then here’s a few things you should consider about either party:
Female Chinchilla: Female chinchillas should not be bred if they are under nine months old. They are very picky, and will not even think about breeding if they have not grown accustomed to their surroundings. This includes the male chinchilla, too. Female chinchillas will need to “get to know” their mate. The mating will begin when, only when, the female is ready to breed. Gestation period is a little less than three months, and the female will often look indifferent the whole time. Her behavior will change, however, as she’ll be going on water therapy most of the time.
Male Chinchilla: Female chinchilla owners often wish men would act like these adorable creatures. The male chinchilla may sexually mature but will patiently wait for the time that the female is ready to do the deed. Males will make noises and wag their tails when the female is ready to breed. During mating, the male will eject a waxy substance often referred to as the “mating plug”. When you find this waxy plug, it is a sign that mating was over. This, however, doesn’t automatically mean conception.
After the female gives birth, separate the male. While the male won’t really eat the offspring, he’ll more than likely initiate another mating session – something that I don’t think you want to happen yet. Keep in mind that defects are passed down through genetics. So if you notice your female chinchilla having health problems, consult a vet as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
Chinchilla Tricks
Would it surprise you to learn that chinchillas are capable of learning and performing tricks? Well, it is true. These creatures that are so soft and adorable that you forget that they are apart of the rodent family, are capable of being more then just something to look at in a cage.
Chinchillas have long memories. If they get frighten by something or someone, they will remember it and reject whatever or whoever frightened it until their trust is regained. It is their memories that assist in their ability to be trained. By consistently offering a reward with the behavior that you want, you can train your chinchilla. It is important not to raise your voice if the chinchilla does something that you don’t want it to. This will frighten your chinchilla. This tactic might be useful if you are teaching it not to chew on electrical wires. But, do not practice this behavior if your chinchilla is shy or uneasy about you. You want to gain its trust. Rather, use an instrument that gives a load noise when your chinchilla approaches the wires. You can use a horn or a whistle to frighten your chinchilla out of this behavior.
Training your chinchilla starts simply with teaching your chinchilla how to eat out of your hand. Start by placing a treat in the middle of your upturned palm. Make sure that the chinchilla has to step on to your hand to get the food. This type of training requires patience. Make sure to stay still if he does not go for it the first time. Do not move your hand toward him in the cage. Chinchillas are a prey animal; they hate to be chased. You might frighten him by moving towards him and that will be the opposite of what you are trying to do. Once your chinchilla is willing to take a treat from your outstretched palm, try moving the treat up to your forearm. To get at the food, your chinchilla will need to climb up your arm.
Anther aspect of training is getting your chinchilla used to being handled. Don’t just move in to pick up a shy chinchilla, allow them to get used to it. It is best to allow your chinchilla to climb onto you before you start picking them up. You can start simply but just allowing them to crawl over your arms when you get to the point that they are crawling up your arm for the treat. You can also open you chinchilla’s cage in a small room and sit on the floor. Chinchillas love to climb so if you are there, they might take the opportunity to use you as their own little mountain. The point is to get them to trust that you are not a predator that is going to harm them. With this in mind, never chase your chinchilla or grab it by the tail.
No, chinchillas will not learn to sit on command like a dog does. But, they can learn tricks like running or jumping over the obstacles that you want him to. They can also learn to do simple actions like give you a kiss to get a treat. Chinchillas are funny, wonderful animals that are a ton of fun to watch and interact with. With patience and treats, you can enjoy a new aspect of playing with your chinchilla b teaching it simple tricks.
Chinchilla Names
The task of naming a new pet comes with difficulties. For some people the task is fun and a breeze. For others the task is overwhelming. How and what should you name a chinchilla?
Some people pick out a name for their chinchillas before they even pick them up and bring them home. Other people like to name their chinchillas after they get them to see what their personalities are like and what name would fit them best. Chinchilla owners have really come up with a large variety of names that seem to suit these fuzzy creatures very well.
Some people like to name their chinchillas after what they look like. Salt, Pepper or Sugar are great names that are associated with the color of the chinchilla’s fur. You might want to name your chinchilla Speckles or Fluffy. You chinchilla might be plump in which case you can call him Hefty or he might be small and skinny in which case the name Whimpy might due. Another name that people have been giving their chinchillas is Sonar due to the fact that chinchillas have such large ears.
Other people find that the best kind of name to give a chinchilla references that way that they act. Chinchillas can get very active climbing and jumping all over their living area or habitat. In their native habitats chinchillas live on mountains and are used to climbing rock faces and escaping predators by jumping out of reach into mountain crevasses. You might want to name an active chinchilla Skippy, Spunky or even something like Feisty. Other chinchillas might be more laid back. You might get a chinchilla that is more interested in sleeping then running around the room. Chinchillas are animals that are pretty set in their ways. IF you purchase a chinchilla that is active most likely it is going to continue to be active in the time that you own it. If you get a chinchilla that is hand shy only a lot of hard work on your part will get you to a point where you chinchilla is comfortable being handled by you. Some chinchillas might always remain shy.
Some people name their chinchillas after where they come from. Andy in reference to the Andes Mountain range where chinchillas are found has become a very popular name for chinchillas. While it is fun to find a name that really suits your chinchilla, some people go with a name of things that they like. You might want to name your chinchilla after a famous actor or a band that you really like. Or you can name your chinchilla after a cartoon character that you have always liked. When it comes to names the list of possibilities is almost endless. There really are no names that chinchilla lover and owners gravitate to but, something that they all have in common is that they find names for their chinchillas that work for them. While names are important to give your pets personality and originality, chinchillas naturally have so much personality that they can almost have any name. They will not respond to their name f they are called but, it makes owners feel like their chinchillas are a part of their families when they give their adorable pets a great name.
Cages For Your Chinchilla
When considering what kind of cage to get for your chinchilla, consider the fact that these adorable creature love to climb and jump. They also enjoy running around and playing in their cages. For this reason, a cage that is higher then it is wide, is a better choice. Chinchillas are also larger then guinea pigs or hamsters and therefore need a larger cage.
Chinchillas should be kept in a wire cage so that they can not chew their way out. The wire should not be painted or coated because the chinchilla can digest this coating. Get a cage that has mesh spaces no larger then 1 to 2 inches apart and the mesh spaces on the bottom of the cage should not be any larger then ½ inch apart. Have smaller mesh spaces on the part of the cage that the chinchilla walks on will ensue that the chinchilla will avoid leg injuries.
Think about a good place for the cage. It is very important to monitor the temperature where the chinchilla’s cage is being kept. The ideal temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees F. You should avoid spots that are too drafty. You should also keep it in a well ventilated area especially in the summer months. During this time our chinchilla can withstand temperatures up to 83 degrees F but you should avoid direct sunlight. Temperatures should not exceed 86 degrees F. Chinchillas do not sweat therefore placing a fan in their direction will not cool them off it will only blow the hot air around. You can try placing a covered pan full of ice cubes in the cage with them. They will be able to lie against it to cool down. Just make sure that there is no way that your chinchilla can fall into it.
Try to get a cage that has a pull out tray for easy cleaning. If your cage has a solid floor you can use pins shavings or newspaper in the bottom of it. Pull out trays should be cleaned once a week but solid floor cages need to be cleaned out more frequently. The entire cage should be thoroughly disinfected once a month. Luckily, chinchillas like to pick a spot within the cage in which to urinate. You can place extra bedding in the spot to help absorb the moisture or even sprinkle baking soda there to help absorb any odors.
Chinchillas need exercise to be happy. With a large cage they are able to move about and climb but they should also be provided with an exercise wheel. They should also be provided with time outside of the cage. At least an hour a day of supervised playtime in a chinchilla proof room keeps your chinchilla happy. Make sure that there are no poisonous plants or chemicals laying about that might make your chinchilla sick or no exposed wires that your chinchilla might be tempted to chew. Since chinchillas are rodents they tend to chew on things. Supervising you chinchilla at all times to ensure they are not chewing on the corners of your couch during playtime will keep you happy as well. Playtime is a great way to interact with your chinchilla and a great time for you to get to see that great climbers they really are.
Chinchilla Facts
Chinchillas are a type of rodent that originates from South America. They have thick, luxurious coats. In captivity they can live between 10 and 20 years. In the wild, their life expectancy falls to between 10 and 15 years.
In the early 1900′s chinchillas were on the brink of extinction. They were being hunted and killed for their fur. It takes about 80 to 100 chinchillas to make a single fur coat. Upon seeing their declining numbers 11 chinchillas were caught and brought back to the United States. One died during the trip and one was born keeping a consistent 11 chinchillas. The chinchillas in the United States that are pets today all originated from these original 11.
Chinchillas are nocturnal, which means that they are most active at night. Since they spend their days sleeping, they need to be protected from a lot of noise and disturbances during that time. They are sensitive to stress and noise, so approach them in a quiet way. A chinchilla’s temperament ranges. They are intelligent, mischievous and social. They can also be affectionate with their owners. But, a chinchillas temperament is inbuilt meaning that how your chinchilla is when you first get it is most likely how they are always going to be. If you have a calm chinchilla, they most likely will always be calm. If your chinchilla is mean, they may always be mean. When you first bring a new chinchilla home they may be shy or tend to run, this does not mean that they will always treat you as a threat. By spending time with your chinchilla, you will earn their trust and they may even get to a point where they come to you for a little scratch behind the ear. Although they do not enjoy being held or cuddled but some chinchillas will allow you to hold them. Make sure you use two hands. Support their back legs in one hand, and their front feet slightly higher than the back with the other hand. You should also hold them up against your body to make them feel more secure. Unfortunately, chinchillas do not make good pets for someone who has allergies to animal fur or dust. Also, they do not always make good pets for children because they do not like to be held and cuddled.
Like all rodents, a chinchilla needs to chew in order to keep their teeth healthy and filed down. You should always provide them with something safe to chew on rather then letting them chew on the bars of their cage or their food bowl. Amazingly, chinchillas are able to make sounds. They make a variety of squeaks, squeals and odd sounding barks. They do not make vocal sounds that often. Most of the noises from an active chinchilla are the sounds that come from their chewing, rearranging of the things in their cage or running on their wheel.
Chinchillas make wonderful pets. They are social and soft to pet due to their thick coats. While chinchilla owners do need to devote time to their care, they are a relatively easy animal to care for.
Chinchilla Dust Bath
One of the chinchilla natural behaviors is to take a dust bath. In their natural habitats, chinchillas do not have any way to clean themselves except to take a bath in volcanic ash. A regular bath of dust is necessary for chinchillas to be able to keep their luxurious coats clean, smooth and healthy. A dust bath is also thought to be fun for the chinchilla.
New chinchilla owners might not be too sure of how to provide a dust bath for their chinchillas. It is fairly simple. You should never give your chinchilla a bath in water. Going in water will remove the natural oils which protect the chinchilla’s skin and help them regulate their body temperature. That is why most local pet stores sell chinchilla dust for bathing. It is specially made for chinchillas. It is made to mimic the kind of dust they have access to in their natural habitats. Other sand or powders may look and feel similar but they might not penetrate the chinchillas fur the way that this special chinchilla dust does. As the chinchilla rolls in the dust, it penetrates their coat down to the skin. It helps clean the fur by absorbing oil and dirt from the fur.
Provide a heavy, tip-resistant bowl or deep dish to put the chinchilla dust in. It must be slightly larger than he chinchilla that will be using it. Using a slightly enclosed container like a glass fish bowl or a canister will keep the dust from flying everywhere. Fill the bottom of the container with a couple of inches worth of dust. You can place the dust bath in the chinchilla’s cage each night when they are active. The dust itself can be used several times in a row as long as you clean out any wastes left by visiting chinchillas. Discard the old dust and use fresh dust if it is starting to look dirty or clumpy. It is recommended not to leave the dust bath within the cage indefinitely. Too much bathing can dry the chinchilla’s skin and they might get in the habit of using their dust bath as a litter box. It is better to offer the bath for a short time, and then remove it when it has been used. It is also possible that the constant exposure of the bust within the cage may lead to inflammation or infection to the chinchilla’s eyes or eyelids.
Offer the dust bath to your chinchilla at least twice a week, typically in the evening when they are most active. Twice a week is usually sufficient, though you can offer the bath more frequently if your chinchilla’s fur starts to look rough or feels damp or oily. In humid weather, baths should be offered more frequently. A chinchilla living in a dry climate will require fewer dust baths. Usually 10 to 15 minutes is plenty of time for a chinchilla bath. If your chinchilla has dry, flaky skin or seems itchy, decrease the bathing time and frequency a bit.
Chinchilla owners love to watch their chinchillas rolling around in their dust bath. There is something so innocent and unique about this adorable behavior. If you enjoy watching your chinchilla bath, buy a glass dish for them to use. A plastic dish might get scratched over time impairing your view of your furry friend.
