Chinchillas are attractive and popular pets. Many people prefer to take this furball home with them because of the chinchilla’s gentle temperament. Choosing a rodent as a pet is very important because of its uniqueness. The pet owner should know the basic information related to these creatures. Are here some lesser known facts about the chinchilla pet.

Chinchilla life expectancy

Chinchillas are a centenarian species in a family of rodents. They can live in captivity for more than 20 years. Rabbits, Degus and guinea pigs live less, from 2 to 7 years. The chinchilla’s lifespan depends on its balanced diet, fresh water supply, and enough space to exercise. Moderate temperatures are essential: if pets are exposed to heat for a long time, their lives are in danger.

During their relatively long lives, bed bugs change in size and weight but maintain their cheerful and curious temperament.

The young are ready to move immediately after birth. Baby chinchillas eat solid food at the age of seven days. At the age of 8 months they reach sexual maturity.

Dry bath

When you think of personal hygiene you probably picture a shower, soap, and plenty of water. In fact, chinchillas need a dry bath. What does it mean? These exotic pets clean their silky fur by rolling them in a special powder. Owners have to offer this bath to their chinchillas three times a week. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. Rabbit-like rodents use the bathroom not only to keep their fur healthy. This bath is also a lot of fun for them.

Some owners may be allergic to dust, so people intending to buy a chinchilla should be aware of this fact.

Chinchilla Health Problems

Heat stroke, diabetes, and broken bones are among the common health problems for chinchillas. Bed bugs will need an air-conditioned place to live in the summer. These rodents are very sensitive to heat. Another fact to keep in mind is that the chinchilla’s cage should be placed away from fireplaces, direct sunlight, or even your kitchen. Another life-threatening factor is humidity.

Problems with digestion are also very common. The first thing an owner can do is feed the pet balanced food or feed the chinchilla only hay. Liquid vitamin C is also a good first aid option.

Chinchillas often suffer from uneven or overgrown teeth. To prevent this problem, the bed bug parent should provide their pet with plenty of hay and wooden sticks to chew on.

Here are some of the lesser known chinchilla facts that everyone should know before deciding to get a small exotic pet. If you already have this creature at home, we hope you will find useful information about chinchillas in this article.