Deli Nature Chinchilla

The Chinchilla are native from Chile and Peru in the Andes mountain range. They became popular because they have a beautiful and very soft fur, which led to their near extinction at the beginning of the 19th century. Chinchillas look after their fur by bathing in a special kind of dirt-removing sand. Chinchillas are group animals. So it is highly recommended to keep them as a group. Keeping only females or males is no problem. If there is one or more males with females, this may lead to battling males. Chinchillas are good climbers, so paying attention is the message here! The chinchilla is a plant eater, contrary to other rodents it is no cereal or seed-eater. In free nature they eat mostly dry grasses, herbs and shrubs. They do not eat sugar or fat, as their digestive tube may get upset. In pet shops, you can buy specialised chinchilla feed with dry ingredients and extra vitamins and minerals. An important part of their feed is daily fresh and dry hay. This hay has an important function of the wear and tear of their molars and avoids having teeth problems. Do not forget that hay is representing at least 60% of their eating pattern! Nearly all rodents sometimes eat their own excrements, and so does the chinchilla. During the digestion, they produce vitamin B12 and by eating their droppings, they absorb the vitamin. Chinchillas now and then like a raisin as a sweet or in-between (preferably when they are constipated, so when the droppings are very small), but it may also be a piece of apple and even a piece of dry carrot. And always provide fresh drinking water!