1. Chinchillas originated from the Andes mountain range in South America
2. They are easy to look after ...but they are mainly nocturnal so they are not very suitable as pets
3. They live to be over 10 years of age ...and up to 20 years is not uncommon  ! So if you buy one as a family pet consider who will look after it once the children grow up !!
4. They are members of the rodent family ..like mice, rats and hamsters.
5. They eat grasses, bark, leaves, fruit and other vegetation
6. If fed a commercially prepared diet they still need fibre in the form of good quality hay (eg timothy grass)
7. You should never change the diet of a chinchilla suddenly because they can develop serious gastrointestinal problems including diarrhoea
8. Like many rodents chinchillas often get dental disease which needs to be treated by your veterinarian
9. Chinchillas like to be cool (but not cold). They can suffer heat stroke if they are kept in an environment at over 80^oF
10. Chinchillas need low humidity (ie they should not be kept in a moist environment)

Chinchillas are Mammals.

Reproduction
Sexual maturity (males ) : reached at 8 months.

Sexual maturity (females) : reached at 8 months

Oestrus cycle : lasts 30-50 days. Seasonally polyoestrous - breeding mainly during November and May in the Northern Hemisphere.

Gestation period : 111 days

Average litter size : 4-12. Maximum recorded 26.

Young at birth : Weight 30-60g. Born with fur, eyes open. Suckle milk until weaning at 6-8 weeks of age

Weaning : 6-8 weeks of age

Updated : January 2016