When To Give Chinchilla Treats
Any person who owns a chinchilla knows that it loves chinchilla treats. These smaller sized animals are adorable and people love to keep them as pets. They resemble a cross between a mouse and a rabbit and it has a thicker, hairier tail. But there is one big difference between this animal and others that appear similar. The fur of the chinchilla is said to be the softest fur of any animal. Unlike humans that only grow one strand of hair from a hair follicle; the chinchilla grows eighty to one hundred hairs from the same follicle. They do not get wet to clean themselves. Instead they roll around in dust in an attempt to remove oils and dirt.
Chinchillas can be found in South America and come in many different colors. They can be all shades of white, black gray and even violet. Their life span ranges from ten to twenty years and they can produce babies every two years. Unlike other small animals chinchillas cannot get fleas. The fur on the animal is too thick for the flea to penetrate. This makes them the perfect choice pet for some families. There are a few things to know before purchasing a chinchilla.
Chinchillas have a delicate digestive system. So they should only be fed small amount of food. When it comes to chinchilla treats, they have to be limited. This can be extremely difficult to do. When chinchilla begs for food people may give in to the demand because the animal is so cute. But the overfeeding of chinchillas can be harmful or even fatal, especially if the foods are high in fat and sugar. They can also have a painful bloated stomach, diarrhea, and over time diabetes. These are very dangerous conditions for chinchillas. Chinchilla treats can be given to the animal everyday as long as they are healthy. One sunflower seed and one raisin are enough chinchilla treats for one full day. Special vitamin supplements made specifically for chinchillas can also be used as chinchilla treats.
When it comes to feeding the chinchilla the same principle applies. It is recommended the chinchilla have a few teaspoons of chinchilla pellets everyday. But there are other food options available and specialized diet foods you can purchase. After you decide which food to use, remember that after you feed your chinchillas you must freeze the rest of the food to keep it fresh.
Chinchillas need an available water supply at all times. Never use a bowl to store water. The adult chinchillas can drink from a bowl but they will also step into it and make a mess within the cage. Baby chinchillas cannot drink from bowls and can also drown in them. Instead make sure to purchase a water bottle specifically made for chinchillas.
Chinchillas make good family pets but occasionally there are problems. This usually happens when they are place in cages together. If you will be keeping more than one chinchilla or are breeding them, you will have to purchase separate cages. Sometimes there are no problems between these animals but they may start to spray, chirp or stand in an upright position which indicates an oncoming fight. This can also happen after breeding. It is a good idea to separate the pregnant mother from any other chinchilla to avoid upset.
When chinchillas are overly frightened they shed patches of their fur as a defense mechanism. So they must not be held too much by people. Only handle them when you absolutely have to and over time they will learn to trust you. Never leave a toddler or smaller child alone with a chinchilla. The child could accidently injury the animal or the chinchilla can bite the child.
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