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Specifications
Colour: Standard grey 880
Standard grey 1280
Beige 980
Beige 1380
Brown Velvet 1880
Brown Velvet 2380
Tan 2380
Tan 2880
White mosiac 2880
White mosaic 3380
General Information
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Common Name: Chinchilla
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Scientific Name: Chinchilla lanigera (domesticated species), Chinchilla chinchilla (short-tailed, endangered wild species)
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Family: Chinchillidae (related to viscachas and degus)
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Origin/Range: Andes Mountains of South America (Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina)
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Habitat: Rocky, arid mountain slopes and burrows at high elevations (up to 4,200 m / 13,800 ft)
🔹 Physical Description
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Size: 22–38 cm (9–15 in) body length, tail 7.5–15 cm (3–6 in)
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Weight: 400–800 g (0.9–1.7 lbs); domesticated chinchillas often heavier
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Build: Compact, rounded body with short forelimbs and strong hind legs (good jumpers)
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Fur:
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Extremely dense—up to 50–80 hairs per follicle (vs 1 hair in humans)
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Soft, silky, and insulating against cold mountain climates
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Colors: wild type is bluish-gray; domesticated varieties include white, beige, ebony, violet, and mosaic
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Lifespan: 8–10 years in the wild; 12–20 years in captivity (with proper care)
🔹 Behavior & Lifestyle
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Activity: Crepuscular/nocturnal (active at dawn/dusk/night)
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Social Structure: Naturally live in colonies (herds) of up to 100 in the wild
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Personality: Curious, playful, agile, and intelligent; can be shy at first but bond with humans
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Locomotion: Excellent jumpers—can leap 1.8 m (6 ft) high
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Grooming: Take dust baths (volcanic ash/dust) several times per week to keep fur clean and dry
🔹 Diet
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Type: Herbivores (hindgut fermenters)
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Foods:
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Wild diet: grasses, seeds, roots, bark, and cactus
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Captive diet: high-quality hay (timothy or orchard), chinchilla pellets, occasional dried herbs or rose hips
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Avoid: Sugary fruits, nuts, fatty foods—can cause digestive issues
🔹 Reproduction
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Mating System: Usually monogamous in captivity; polygamous in wild colonies
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Breeding Season: Typically November–May (in the wild)
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Gestation Period: ~111 days (long for rodents)
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Litter Size: 1–6 kits (average 2)
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Young: Born fully furred and with eyes open; very precocial and active within hours
🔹 Predators & Threats
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Predators: Birds of prey, foxes, wild cats, snakes
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Conservation Status:
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Chinchilla chinchilla (short-tailed): Critically Endangered
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Chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed): Endangered in the wild, but common in captivity
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Main Threats:
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Fur trade (once hunted nearly to extinction for pelts)
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Habitat loss and degradation
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Low reproductive rate
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🔹 Human Interaction
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In the Fur Industry: Once prized as one of the softest, most luxurious furs in the world
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As Pets: Popular exotic pets—require large cages, climbing structures, cool environments, and dust baths
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In Research: Occasionally used in auditory studies due to excellent hearing range
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Care Needs in Captivity:
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Sensitive to heat—must be kept below 25°C (77°F)
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Need chewing items (wood, safe toys) to wear down teeth, which grow continuously
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