There are different types of Chinchillas, namely Lanigera, Costina and Brevicaulda. Most chinchillas come from Lanigera. The other types come about due to the effort of breeders and natural mutations. Some said that Costina and Brevicaulda are Lanigera that adapted to different altitudes. Lanigera It has straight, blunt nose with medium size ears and long tail. Brevicaulda It is larger and more chunky than Lanigera. It has blunt nose with short round ears and tail. Costina This is smaller and slimmer than Lanigera. It has a narrow and rat-like nose with bigger ears and longer tail. Through careful and selective breeding, there are many mutations available today. They are a very hardy animal and can live for up to 15 to 20 years in captivity.

Females can have up to 3 litters of kits each year when they become of breeding age. The gestation period for Chinchillas is approximately 111 days. The average birth weight of the kits can range anywhere from 40 grams to 70 grams. It is advised to remove the male after the female has completed giving birth to prevent a breedback. Most Chinchilla moms do not require assistance giving birth, or taking care of the kits. There are times when you may have to intervene and assist mom. It is my suggestion that you not jump into breeding before knowing the facts. A very wise breeder told me once, that you never stop learning, and this I have found to be true.

Chinchillas need a very healthy diet, consisting of pellets, hay, and plenty of fresh water. An occasional treat, as raisins, craisins, shredded wheat is ok, but these must be given in moderation. I feed all of my Chinchillas, Tradition Feed. They all love this feed and I am completely satisfied. The supplement is a wonderful treat, filled with vitamins and nutrients that the chins also love!!

It is very important to keep a clean cage, clean food bowl, and fresh water. Chinchillas are rodents and they need to chew on things to keep their teeth from continuing to grow. I give them Apple branches, or Pine cubes to chew on. The Chinchilla digestive tract is very sensitive. You can tell a lot about Chinchillas by their droppings. Their droppings should be solid, not runny and also not small and round. When you go to adopt a Chinchilla, from a breeder and not a pet store, be sure to check their eyes, they should be clear and alert. Their teeth should be yellow. Their fur should be clean and clear of feces/urine on their bellies. Ask to see the parents. Make sure you get their birthdate, weight and also I find it nice to know how many kits were in their litter.

One of the most enjoyable things to watch being a Chinchilla owner is when your Chinchilla takes his/her dust bath. Chinchillas do not take water baths, they take baths in dust. This is from their native habitat, the Chinchillas would roll in the volcanic ash. Today we provide dust for them to bathe in. I allow my chins to get dust baths about 2-3 times a week. They enjoy this so very much, and it is hysterical to watch!! They completely have a blast! I only use Blue Cloud dust for their bath. This can be a messy time, the dust does tend to land everywhere.

I cannot stress enough to you, please make sure that if you let your chinchilla out for playtime, that there are no small places for chins to get into. Make sure that the room is secure and also that no larger pets can get near the Chinchillas! It is wise to not allow very small children play with the Chinchillas. The Chinchillas bones are very fragile and can break very easily if dropped or squeezed.