Chinchilla
Scientific name: Chinchilla lanigera
Size: 35-40cm long including tail
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Natural range: Andes Mountains
Housing
- large chinchilla or ferret type cage with at least one level
- social and should be housed in same sex pairs
- Bedding: aspen or corn cob
- Accessories: solid full-size ferret wheel, nest box, tubes, branches, wood chew
Food
- high quality commercial chinchilla pellet
- free access to timothy hay
- provide a cuttlebone for extra calcium
- add a multivitamin specifically formulated for chinchillas to water source once weekly
- fresh low-sugar fruits or veggies weekly
Breeding
- Maturity: 8-10 weeks old, but should not be bred until 1 year old
- Gestation: 109-120 days
- Litter size: 1-4
- both parents help raise the young
- young are born fully furred and eyes open within hours of birth
- should be fully weaned by 7-8 weeks old