Cuddly Exotic Pet: The Chinchilla

Are you looking for an exotic pet that is interesting but not dangerous? Chinchillas are small rodents native to Peru that fit that description perfectly. Every chinchilla will have its own distinctive personality. Most in captivity are grey and males. If you can find a female, it will cost more to purchase.

There are numerous things to consider if a chinchilla is the right pet for you. They are not good pets for small kids. Additionally, they are nocturnal. This means they spend most of the day sleeping. They need a home to hide in. They are naturally skittish. However, by spending time with them, they will let you touch them. They like the top of their head scratched.

Like all rodents, they need to chew on things to keep their teeth down. The bad news for the chinchilla owner is they will chew on anything such as wires and plugs. They are best kept in a room with nothing else, but their cage.

Chinchillas are agile jumpers. If they are let out of their cage for exercise, they will run up to the wall and jump up against it. Also, if you lie on the ground, the chinchilla will jump on your back and look around. In the cage, chinchillas love their exercise wheel to keep active.

In the wild, chinchillas eat plants, fruits, and small insects. You are not able to give them the exact diet in captivity. There is a special chinchilla food that you can find in most pet stores. This will take care of all their dietary needs. Like people, chinchillas like treats. Giving one raisin a day is a special treat that will make the chinchilla happy. It will grab it with its cute little paws and slowly eat it. If you give them more than one raisin, it could make them sick.

Chinchillas need a special dust to keep their fur soft. This removes the oils and moisture from their fur. They love to roll around taking their daily dust bath. The bad news is that many chinchillas are killed yearly for their fur.

Most chinchillas should be kept apart, unless you are trying to breed them. They have one - seven babies that take almost 4 months to be born. They are fully furred and eyes open at birth.