- In what places can you scratch chinchillas for their pleasure?
The most favorite places for scratching (every animal loves scratching in one, two or three, but not in all places at the same time):
1) under the chin (almost everyone loves it);
2) breast (in the upper part, most people like it);
3) behind the ears (not everyone likes it, the main thing is to start under the chin, and not try to cover the chinchilla from above with your hand!);
4) between the ears (a remark similar to the previous one);
5) sacrum, i.e. above the tail (you need to run your fingers into the fur above the tail and gently “scrape” it, you can’t do this with long nails - chinchillas don’t like it);
6) belly (some animals are afraid of tickling);
7) sides (few people like animals, but there are some...);
You need to find out who likes what using a gentle and careful... “poke” method!
- How and how noisy does a chinchilla behave at night?
If you are able to sleep under an overpass where a subway train rumbles every half hour (as some people live in New York), then a chinchilla will not interfere with your sleep! If not, then you will hear it in the next room. Moreover, in the first days (sometimes weeks) a chinchilla can behave quite quietly at night, but then the period of getting used to the new place will end and it will suddenly start...
- Are chinchillas afraid of sharp sounds?
Chinchillas are only afraid of loud noises unless they make them themselves!
And if we're really serious, a chinchilla may react to a loud sound at first, but if this sound is repeated often and there is no physical danger for the animal, then the chinchilla will quickly get used to such sounds and will sleep without its hind legs even under " dance of mad elephants!
However, any noise is, although not stress, but definitely a load on the nervous system. Therefore, the quieter the chinchilla’s room, especially during the day, the better!
In my experience, chinchillas do not get used to such sounds:
1) sawing wood (with a hand or mechanical saw);
2) drilling walls and operating a hammer drill;
3) knocking is uneven and prolonged (driving nails, repair work);
4) starting a car engine, especially a truck (low-frequency noise);
5) the rustling of leaves in the wind in a strong wind and the sound of heavy rain.
- My chinchilla quacks like a duck!
Your chinchilla had a nightmare (like being eaten) or... your upstairs neighbor moved a chair... or your neighbors are nailing or sawing something off... or a truck passed a block away from you... or... or ...
“Quacking” or “yelping” is a danger signal for chinchillas. The animal was afraid of something and notified everyone about it. If the animal makes this sound no more than once a week, everything is fine. If you hear such a sound 5-6 times an hour, it’s bad. Something urgently needs to be changed, the fluffy is nervous, and this will inevitably affect his health.
- It seems that the chinchilla is somehow sad: it sits with half-open (half-closed) eyes.
Half-closed eyes during the day - the chinchilla is simply dozing.
- Do chinchillas react to changes in weather or atmospheric pressure?
Chinchillas react to the weather! But not everything is the same...
Chinchillas have a pronounced reaction to rainy weather: they can go on a “hunger strike,” “grow” or “hoot” like an eagle owl, sit frowning, and sometimes even refuse to go out for a walk. A negative reaction can be expressed even weaker...
In windy weather, most chinchillas get nervous, hide, eat poorly and sleep with half their eyes open.
With high humidity, animals eat less, sleep more, and look lethargic.
In hot weather (especially if the house does not have air conditioning), chinchillas drink more, sleep more, hardly eat, look lethargic and may refuse to go for a walk.
It is not yet known whether chinchillas react to changes in atmospheric pressure or magnetic storms...
- Why does a chinchilla throw food on the floor of the cage?
Throwing away food is not revenge, but rather a manifestation of dissatisfaction, and there are many reasons for this.
Maybe the chinchilla was fed treats and the usual granules are not to its taste... It is also possible that the chinchilla has not had enough exercise...
- Are chinchillas really that sensitive to meeting and separation from their owner?
Chinchillas are like small dogs or cats. It doesn’t surprise you that the cat is sad without its owner, is it?
Have you observed the following in your animals: when you take the baby in your arms, he begins to “cramp” (monotonous movements of the head from one side to the other). One gets the feeling that he is SCARED, he is afraid of something.
This is really a reaction to stress in sanguine and choleric people.
Of course, if your chinchilla shows signs of stress, it is best to let him go immediately.
If you cannot immediately release him, get him out of your hands, but you need to examine him or do some kind of procedure, then distract the baby, the easiest way is with a treat and a kind word.
All stress in chinchillas is “treated” with affection!
Chinchillas are originally from South America. It was from there that they were imported into our country. These cute, fluffy animals have not left many people indifferent, as they are quite attractive and friendly, so it is not surprising that these pets are on a par with domestic cats in popularity. These animals are quite cute in appearance, small in size, they resemble a squirrel in appearance, but their ears are shaped like a hare. Chinchillas are herbivorous rodents.
There are two varieties of these pets - short-tailed chinchillas and long-tailed common chinchillas; this species is purposefully bred for fur in a special territory, or kept at home as pets. Thanks to their thick, rich fur, chinchillas have become popular among ladies who want to own and wear a chic chinchilla fur coat. Due to the popularity of fur, the number of these pets is regularly decreasing.
Currently, due to a declining population, chinchillas are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.
At a time when South America was not fully explored, there were numerous attempts to conquer this contingent. The Spaniards often visited the coast of South America. They liked the nature, the climate and especially the clothes of the aborigines living there. The Spaniards really liked clothes made of warm fur and they began to make clothes and hats from chinchilla fur. In those days, there was a tribe called “Chinchas”, in honor of which the Spaniards gave the name “chinchilla” to fur.
When fur was exported en masse from South American soil to Europe, the number of chinchillas was in great danger and on the verge of extinction, since there were a lot of hunters for them precisely because of their rich fur. In order to protect these animals from extinction, it was decided to transfer them to Europe, but people did not know exactly how to keep these animals, which is why they also died.
At first, it was decided to keep and breed these animals at home, but Matthias Chapman began breeding the animals in the States as pets with especially rich fur. By 1923, fur was particularly popular on the trade market, and Chapman set out to transfer as many more of these animals as possible for large-scale breeding.
An ordinary mining engineer was able to do this, and he bred absolutely healthy chinchilla cubs. Later, people began to follow his example, and farms appeared in the United States of America specifically breeding chinchillas.
Dream
By nature, chinchillas lead a more active lifestyle in the evening, which is why they are also called twilight animals. When choosing a chinchilla as a pet, you need to understand that your life schedule and his will be different, this animal sleeps during the day and is awake in the evening and at night, and the owner must be prepared for this. Ideally, you should not deliberately disturb an animal's sleep (as well as a person's), as this can lead to loss of appetite and stress in the animal.
This animal sleeps very lightly, It’s easy to wake him up; any quiet sound, whisper, or rustle can be the cause. Young animals are especially active and mobile at night. More mature individuals behave more restrained, as well as pregnant females or nursing babies. But when a person himself provokes an animal, does not sleep at night, walks, talks, opens and closes doors, turns on switches, and so on, then even the quietest animal will run wild and become active at night.
How does a chinchilla sleep?
At first, when you buy a chinchilla and stay at home in a new place, she will be stressed and will sleep in a sitting position in one of the corners of the cage. The animal sits on its hind legs, and the front legs are pressed against the body or rests on what is in the cage and is suitable for a comfortable position. Sometimes they can sleep standing up, with their front paws holding onto the cage. This position of the animal indicates a constant readiness for a sharp awakening from sleep and protection from danger or for running.
Gradually, the chinchilla will begin to trust people, adapt to new living conditions and begin to relax. A calm animal lies down in a ball or, conversely, stretches out to its full length, and also takes any comfortable position. From time to time, a chinchilla may fall asleep in a food dish, litter tray, or hanging from shelves above. When an animal lies and sleeps on its side, and during its waking period it actively runs, eats, plays and makes contact with its owner, it means that the animal likes everything, it is comfortable for it to sleep this way, and there is no need to worry.
Also, when the animal gets used to new conditions, it can lie on its side. When the chinchilla's living conditions change, stress occurs, it sleeps sitting or standing, with its back hunched. Gradually the animal gets used to the new environment, relaxes and sleeps as comfortably as possible, including on its side. When the animal has a healthy appetite and is alert and active, or in what position the chinchilla sleeps is not particularly important. Not understanding whether the animal is comfortable or not, the owners worry when the chinchilla does not close its eyes while sleeping. This causes anxiety because it is not entirely familiar.
A chinchilla can fall asleep in a person's arms, which is not a very common occurrence. But this is absolutely normal, many individuals sleep with their eyes closed, and during the daytime they can doze off in their owner’s arms with their eyes slightly open.
Chinchillas are weather dependent, their condition depends on the weather. In hot and very warm weather, the animal becomes less active, sleeps more than usual; when it is windy or rainy outside, the animals will worry and sleep in short bursts. When the weather gets better, the animal also behaves as usual.
To make the owner comfortable and comfortable, It is best to train your pet to live according to the owner’s schedule. Theoretically, this is possible, but this must be approached competently; a frivolous approach to this process will bring stress and inconvenience to the animal. An excellent option would be to keep the animal occupied in the evening so that the animal gets tired and goes to sleep at night. Or this option is to place the pet’s cage in an enlarged place where it will not interfere with the owners’ active nocturnal lifestyle.
There are certain tips on how to train a chinchilla to sleep at night. To do this, you can extend the daylight hours yourself. To do this, you need to turn on the lights in the house where the cage is located an hour or two earlier. This is suitable when it gets dark outside early.
If your pet has a normal sleep-wake schedule, then how exactly he sleeps is not so important. Therefore, do not worry and be calm for your ward!
I don’t know who did these calculations, but the result is this: 25 thousand hairs are located on one square centimeter of a chinchilla’s body.
It was this beautiful fluffy fur that almost caused the animal to disappear from nature: since ancient times it was used to make magnificent outfits for noble people.
Chinchillas especially suffered when European immigrants poured into South America, in the mountains of which they lived, and simply began mercilessly to exterminate the owners of such valuable fur. But, probably, the time has come to stop, and now the number of wonderful animals is being restored, and hunting them is prohibited.
In recent years, chinchilla breeding and keeping animals as pets has become increasingly popular. Naturally, with a new direction new questions arise, including how chinchillas sleep.
Historically, chinchillas in nature are more active after sunset. They are also called twilight animals.
Therefore, when choosing a pet, you need to be prepared for the fact that its activity increases in the evening and night, i.e. Your interests and those of the little animal are radically different: he will sleep during the day!
And it would be good not to deliberately disturb him at this time, because forcibly interrupting sleep (as, indeed, for a person) threatens the chinchilla with stress and a decrease in immunity. The chinchilla wakes up in a split second from the slightest irritant - rustling, quiet steps.
Violent fun at night is usually characteristic of young individuals. Those who are older (look at the animals here), and even if they are burdened with offspring, behave quite quietly and decently.
But if the owner himself wanders along the corridor in the middle of the night, making his way to the toilet or the kitchen, slamming the refrigerator door, turning the lights on and off, then even the calmest chinchilla will turn into a night reveler.
In what position?
He lay down comfortably on his side... On many forums, chinchilla owners are often concerned about the unusual position that their pet takes in a dream. The most commonly discussed and some cause concern is the animal’s habit of sleeping on its side.
Experts say that this should not be a concern, because the chinchilla sleeps in the position in which it likes best. Other animals do this too. Some chinchilla lovers even compare them to people: not everyone, they say, sleeps strictly on their right side! So are chinchillas. Someone talks about their pet, who at first slept sitting up, and then began to lie down on his side.
The fact that the animal changes its sleepy position may be the result of acclimatization. Immediately after the purchase, in a new place, the fluffy sleeps while sitting. This is something like a defensive reaction for him, he is tense and wary. As you get used to your new place of residence, your sleeping position becomes more comfortable and even relaxed.
In addition to the above provisions, the following can also be mentioned:
- curled up in a ball
- on the back,
- on his stomach, stretched out to his full chinchilla height.
All of them correspond to the norm.
However, if the position in which the animal is located causes you doubts, carefully monitor its behavior, movements, gait, because... this may be a symptom of serious damage to any organ or system of the baby.
If no deviations, other than just an unusual posture, are noticed, then there is no reason to worry.
Observant owners note that this position indicates complete relaxation and peace of the pet, a feeling of security and the absence of anxious moments.
Quite often, female chinchillas sleep on their sides, waiting for an addition to the family. This position is more comfortable for them.
This weather dependent fluffy
Experienced chinchilla owners, observing their behavior, came to the conclusion that the sleep of many of their pets - although not all - is also affected by the weather. So, on a rainy or windy day, the animal can doze with its eyes half-closed. They sleep more both when it is hot outside and when the humidity is high.
How to train yourself to sleep at night?
The ideal option for the owners of a restless pet is to accustom him to his own sleep and wakefulness patterns. Some argue that this is possible in principle, but if done ineptly, it can result in great stress for the animal.
There are tips to simply work with him more and more actively in the evening, so that when he gets tired, he still gives up and falls asleep. Or resort to a compromise option - place the chinchilla’s cage in a place where the nocturnal activity of the furry beauty would not bother anyone.
There are also specific recommendations for teaching an animal to sleep at night. How to train a chinchilla to sleep at night? So, you can artificially extend his daylight hours by turning on the lights in the room with the cage an hour or two earlier. This primarily applies to the time of year when it gets dark early.
It is also advisable to give concentrated food earlier than the usual six in the evening - after three or four o'clock in the afternoon.
You can also artificially arrange “full-sized” exercise for a chinchilla, especially starting from its natural period of activity, i.e. six p.m. At the same time, the cage door should be closed, and if the animal is tired during games, it will not have the opportunity to fall into its home and fall asleep.
You can open the cage before you go to bed, at 11 o'clock. By this time, the tired chinchilla will give up and will sleep peacefully without his hind legs, without disturbing his owners with his noise.
Chinchillas quickly get used to a routine if it is done systematically: cleaning, eating, playing and walking - at the same time. In the same way, they will get used to sleeping at night.
Photo of a sleeping chinchilla Video on the topic
As experience shows, The daily routine of a chinchilla largely depends on the daily routine of the owners. If during the day the owners are at work and there is silence in the apartment, the animal sleeps peacefully. In the evening the owners return, and he immediately perks up.
But if you don’t touch the chinchilla, then it will continue to sleep, and its activity will develop closer to the night, when the owners already want to sleep. The most important thing in this situation is to balance the desires and capabilities of both. And find a compromise option.
In contact with
WALKING AROUND THE APARTMENT
As we have already said, chinchillas are crepuscular animals and in nature they become active after sunset. But at home, they can be accustomed to any regime that suits them. If you are at work during the day and there is no one at home, then the chinchilla is sleeping at this time, but when you come home, the animal will immediately perk up and, if you do not pay attention to it, then it will continue to sleep. And when you want to sleep, he will start playing, jumping, making noise, attracting attention, etc.
Therefore, from the very beginning, you need to set him up for walks and wakefulness at a time convenient for you. To do this, you just need to talk to the animal as soon as you come home from work and if he continues to sleep, then wake him up: open the cage, pet him, scratch behind the ear, sides, tummy, tell him a few kind words - show attention. Then he will wake up. Turn on the TV so he doesn't get bored and you can do your thing. And when you are free from household chores and sit in front of the TV and can watch it, then let him go for a walk. Set the duration of the walk yourself - it should be at least 30 minutes, because they can only actively move, play, run and jump for about 30 minutes, then they begin to look for a secluded place for a break to restore their pulse and breathing, and this can also last 20-30 minutes. Therefore, for rest, he can choose a place where he cannot be reached. And if at this time no one tries to get him, then, as soon as he rests, he will come out on his own and run around again, flirt with his owners, jump on your lap, and even run over walls and heads. The animal can choose a place to rest in its own cage, as long as you do not close it immediately behind it. In this case, he will not be afraid that he will no longer be released, and will calmly run into the cage to drink, go to the toilet and rest, so that he can then freely go out again.
If you want to accustom your chinchilla to your hands, then while the animal is walking, when it already attracts your attention by jumping onto your lap, you can hold the animal with your hands and pet it a little and scratch it behind the ear, it will like it, but not for long at first, when he starts to struggle, let him go, then he won’t be afraid of your hands, and next time it will last longer, etc. After some time, he himself will run up to your hands and ask you to stroke and scratch him.
Of course, chinchillas are great naughty creatures, very smart and cunning, and each animal has its own character, just like people. They know how to rejoice when they are praised, and to be offended when they are scolded, and to pretend in all sorts of ways when they want to get their way or beg for something, just like children. Therefore, they need to be raised like children, but not spoiled, otherwise they will instantly “get on their head.” Here an approach is needed: somewhere to strictly threaten, somewhere to praise. They are very responsive to the intonation in the voice and understand everything, you will see for yourself. And if you find the right approach, then the animal will love and respect you.
Chinchillas are rodents, and they have 20 teeth in their mouth: 4 front incisors and 16 throat molars, which tend to constantly grow, so they need to chew something to wear down their teeth. To do this, in addition to the mineral pebbles, it is advisable to put a pine block in the cage, and he will happily get down to business and over time will create some kind of “masterpiece” from it, he will make either a carrot, or a ball, or something else interesting, because they really like to smooth out rough edges. They also really like to chew paper and cardboard. Therefore, if you put everything in his cage that he can chew, then he will not be very interested in pieces of furniture and wires outside the cage. But it is still possible that he may chew on something outside the cage if you leave him unattended for a long time. Just please don’t react too violently if the animal starts to try something on its teeth. Pretend you don't care and you won't draw his attention to the subject. And if you start to drive him away and shout to him that this cannot be done, then at first he will move away, but next time, only in order to attract your attention, he will first run to this place and demonstratively and consciously continue gnawing. And in this case, you will have to try to transfer his attention to something else, to something that can be chewed.
If you don’t have time to constantly watch your chinchilla while walking, and you are afraid that he will chew something or climb somewhere, then just buy him a walking ball in which he will move around the apartment perfectly. Then he definitely won’t crawl anywhere and chew on anything, but he will spend his time actively and sleep at night.
WALKING OUTDOORS
In the warm season, you can walk your chinchilla outside. Only at first it is better to do this with a harness, and when she gets used to it and is not afraid of strangers, you can calmly let her go on the grass without a harness, she will still not get away from her owner, and will run after you like a little dog. Also, if you go to the dacha on weekends, it is better to take her with you than to leave her at home alone; she will not be afraid of anything with her owner. Just protect the animal from direct sun so that it does not get sunstroke; it only takes 10-15 minutes. And if the weather is unbearably hot and in the shade the thermometer shows above 30 degrees C, and there is generally a steam room in the house, then you will need a fan with a rotating head that can be placed 2 meters from the cage and plastic bottles with ice with which you can line the outside of the cage, so that the animal does not overheat. You can also put the cage in the thickets, in the bushes where the sun does not penetrate and the ground is cool, you can hang a wet blanket on one side of the cage and as soon as it dries, wet it again with cold water. In this case, the animal will tolerate hot days normally. It is best to transport an animal in a car in the summer with air conditioning. But if you don’t have air conditioning in your car, then with the windows open and definitely in an open cage and not in a terrarium and not in your hands. If traffic jams are possible, prepare plastic bottles with ice for the trip in advance and wrap the bottle in a towel and put it in the cage, then the animal will get to its destination normally. And if you want to go to the market or to the store, do not leave the animal in a closed car, it is better to take it with you; there are special carriers for this. Be careful and prudent, then nothing will happen to your animal.
So, if you want the animal to enter the cage on its own after a walk around the house, then you should pour food into the feeder only after the walk, and exactly as much as it eats before the next walk, and then the hungry animal will immediately run into the cage to eat . It is only advisable to do this at the same time, then he will get used to the regime and will comply with it. And if he runs around enough in the evening, then he will sleep all night.
The usual behavior of chinchillas at home is calm and friendly. The animal sleeps during the day, feeds and is active in the evening and at night. In a cage, a chinchilla spends most of its time on the top shelf. The animal sleeps sitting or in funny positions on its side. Chinchillas are active, at night they start a merry run around in the cage. The animals occasionally make sounds. You are probably familiar with the behavior of cats and dogs. It is very varied and informative, but chinchillas show emotions in their own way and show affection for humans. However, the conversation will not be about cuteness, but about the practical side of studying behavior. Let's try to understand by activity, behavior and emotions whether the chinchilla feels good or bad.
Recognizing Abnormal Behavior
For the owner of a chinchilla, it is important to distinguish the normal state of the pet from the abnormal one by its behavior. The owner of a chinchilla must understand the behavioral signals that his pet gives. The animal's behavior shows its condition - whether it is stressed, sick or aggressive. It is important to notice, first of all, negative signs and correct the situation.
Behavioral Signs of Stress
Chinchillas are susceptible to stress, which occurs under the influence of external or internal causes. Signs of stress in an animal are decreased appetite, decreased motor activity, avoidance of humans, and gnawing of fur. In details . Identify and eliminate stressors.
It happens that a wild chinchilla is not easy to handle; it will not bite or shoot urine, but will shed its fur. When you grab the animal, the fur will fall out at the point of contact with your hand. This is their protective natural instinct of “freeing themselves from the clutches of a predator.” Don't worry, the fur will grow back quickly. Try not to grab the chinchilla too harshly, especially not with a sudden movement from above.
Manifestations of aggression
When under stress, a chinchilla can become aggressive. We once bought a young female, brought her home, put her in a cage, and did not bother her for the first few days so that she could get used to the environment. The animal turned out to be wild; its previous owners did not tame it in any way. When trying to pick it up, the female stood up and shot out a stream of urine. Such an act is the highest degree of aggressiveness in chinchillas. We managed to gain trust with walks on the couch and pumpkin seeds.
Chinchilla bites are not aggressive. Firstly, the chinchilla, like a rodent, tastes everything, including outstretched fingers. Secondly, an attack on a larger creature with an attempt to bite is not typical of rodents. It happens that chinchillas bite each other, showing dominance. Just in case, when handling an animal, do not put your hands near its face.
How does a chinchilla's behavior change if it gets sick?
You will see external symptoms of the disease by regularly examining the animal. It’s not difficult for you to glance at your chinchilla at any moment; suddenly you notice changes in behavior that should alert you.
- The pet is wilted, does not go into the arms of the owner, hides from the person
- The chinchilla is inactive, sits hunched over
- Lost appetite, scatters food
- Stays at the bottom of the cage for a long time, and not on the shelves
- A very alarming sign if the animal turns its muzzle into a corner
- If the chinchilla sits day and night down with its head in a corner or in a litter tray. This is a very bad sign. The disease is probably advanced. I don’t want to scare anyone, but often a chinchilla just sticks its nose into the corner of the cage before dying.
These are behavioral signs of animal disease. If you see something like this, immediately get to work, weigh it, etc.
Just as an animal’s distress is determined by its behavior, progress in treatment is also observed. A chinchilla, recovering, becomes mobile, climbs high shelves, and its appetite improves. The animal gives small but important signals. For example, a pet sat in the corner of the cage in the morning, and after taking medication, it moved to the bowl in the afternoon. It seems like a small thing, but it's a good sign. This is how you know you are on the right track.
Chinchillas make sounds, some trills resemble the whining of a dog. We have not yet been able to understand what the sound signals indicate. One thing is obvious: if an animal is hurt, it will squeak briefly. However, chinchillas endure illnesses and internal pains courageously and silently, unlike cats and dogs.
Questions arise about the behavior of chinchillas during pregnancy. According to observations in our nursery, an animal’s pregnancy has virtually no effect on behavior. When pregnancy is progressing normally, the chinchilla behaves as usual. Only immediately before giving birth, the female goes downstairs, clears the area and, without any unnecessary sounds, gives birth to chinchillas. We determine the fact of pregnancy mainly by the dynamics of the animal’s weight.
During a female's heat, the male gets excited and runs after her. If the female is already pregnant, she may refuse courtship. Then you will see fights, fuss, hear the squeaking of animals.
Individual character and habits of chinchillas
Chinchillas vary in temperament to the same extent as humans. Select three groups of pets according to the degree of taming - “quiet”, “ordinary”, “active”. According to our observations, boy chinchillas and girl chinchillas differ little from each other behaviorally. Both can be quiet or active. “Quiet” people avoid people more than others and are reluctant to give in to people’s hands. The “ordinary” domestic chinchilla is accustomed to being handled, but due to its nature it is mobile and restless. “Active” pets are more tame, allow themselves to be held, accept affection, and even “extort” preferences from humans. One of our active pets was vigorously shaking the cage bars with her teeth, trying to be let out for a walk on the sofa. It is interesting that the same habit was formed in the chinchilla daughter, who grew up separately from her mother. It is likely that behavioral character traits are inherited.
Take into account the individual characteristics of chinchillas by observing their behavior. If your pet, active by nature, suddenly does not go to his hands and is depressed, is this a sign of a disease?
In the photo: Angora chinchilla baby Misya is very friendly, she approaches people herself
On video: Chinchilla Queen loves having her chest scratched
Health to you and your chinchillas!