Chinchillas: my other obsession!

I've had chinchillas longer than I've had bettas, and entirely by accident. My first chinchilla had been dumped outside my apartment building and within a few days I was smitten! A few of the chinnies to share my life have come from unhappy circumstances and did not live as long as they might have, despite the money spent on vet care, but several that I have now are from pedigreed lines and they have the best chance of having a full and healthy life.

I am currently owned by 6 of the little fuzzbutts, and each has his or her own unique personality!

I have 2 males, Rizzo and Chili, who adore each other and have long murmuring conversations after they're cuddled up for sleep.

Of the 4 females I currently have, 2 are bonded and 2 are singles. One of the bonded pair is the one getting treatment for pneumonia. I took her and her partner to the vet together because some bonded chins can get very stressed if separated.

Of the other two, one is highly neurotic though she's beginning to calm down finally after nearly 2 years of patience from us. The other thinks she's human and wants nothing to do with her own species!

And a few fun pics of the gang:

 

OMG they are sooooo cute . I love chinchillas, they are so fuzzy! We had one once, and we were pretty young, not the best chillie parents....... But there are chinchillas at my work, I don't do much with them though, (the morning people care for them). Anyway it would be fun to try and keep one again .

Thx for sharing!

 

Yay! Thanks so much for sharing!!! So adorable.

 

Thanks guys! It might seem odd, but as wonderful as I think they are, I don't really recommend them as pets. They are very specialized animals and quite intelligent. Long-lived too. I fully expect to be owned by these guys for the next decade at minimum!

 

I honestly have to agree with you. The one I had definitely had its own personality, but was certainly not intelligent. Maybe I did something completely wrong, not sure, but it seemed to fall prey to heart failure as many rodents do, well before it should have. They do take a lot of work, and can be messy. Mine, at least, was really sweet, which I've heard many of them are not. If people want something along these lines, I'd probably suggest piggies or a ferret instead.

 

They're poop machines for sure! Luckily their poos are dry and odourless

I'm sorry you lost your chinny to heart failure. I've lost one the same way. It's something that may be genetic, or at least I know that good breeders will not breed any Chinchilla from a line with known heart problems. But sometimes it just pops up for no apparent reason

 

Interestingly, it's actually surprisingly common in rodents as far as I know. Their little heart beat so much faster, they just give out faster, and tend to be more prone to issues as a result (at least, that's what I remember from research years ago, science may have completely changed regarding that since I last looked into it).

 

They are so sweet, but I have to agree that they are not the pet for everyone. Alison

 

I've wanted one but stayed away for the specialize care they require.

I get so upset when I see them sold at pet stores to families who buy on the whI'm nor do they know how to properly take care of them. I've seen some at my guinea pig rescue for adoption.

I do agree, not everyone should have one for a pet. I know someone who has 12 of those cuties, he converted one of his bedrooms and went all out, climate control, custom cages...etc...I'll try to take a picture next time I visit.

 

That's awesome. Definitely want to see pics!

 

Interestingly, it's actually surprisingly common in rodents as far as I know. Their little heart beat so much faster, they just give out faster, and tend to be more prone to issues as a result (at least, that's what I remember from research years ago, science may have completely changed regarding that since I last looked into it).

That's true, but there are also higher incidents among related chinchillas and it's best not to breed from those chins. Even heart murmurs are hereditary. In a human a small flaw in the heart might not mean much, or not enough to shorten their lifespan, but you're right, in a tiny animal with a fast-beating heart, it's more likely to be fatal

 

Bonus picture! Zoey is my champion snoozer and comfort hound. I gave her back her favourite fluffy blanket after the laundry and I've had ample sleepy photo ops since. This is my favourite yet

 

So cute