Care for chinchillas at home
Chinchilla is a cute furry animal, growing to 38 cm andweighing about half a kilogram. Chinchilla fur is very beautiful, maybe white, and grayish-bluish, and velvety black. Chinchillas live 15-20 years. Chinchillas are often purchased for breeding, as their fur is very valuable. But many people buy chinchilla as a pet. We offer several tips for caring for chinchillas at home.
How to equip a cage for a chinchilla
So, first of all, to keep the chinchilla inThe house needs a large metal cage, with a minimum dimensions of 70x50x50 cm with a sliding pallet. A layer of sawdust is poured into the drip tray. Select sawdust of hardwood trees (except oak). You can also use corn filler as litter. Change sawdust is often enough to constantly maintain the purity of the cage.
Cage for chinchillas must be equippeda bowl, a bowl for food, a swimsuit and a shelf on which the chinchilla will sleep. The drinking bowl and bowl should also be kept clean and washed at least once or twice a week using soda and hot water.
To maintain the stalk of the animal in goodin the bathing poured a special fine sand. The fact is that in natural conditions the chinchilla cleans its hair in dry volcanic dust. Special sand for bathing chinchillas contains at least 10% talc and is not cheap. To save this sand more economically, it is recommended to sift and calcine it at least once every two weeks.
In order for the chinchilla to be healthy inthe room where she lives, it is necessary to comply with the appropriate heat and moisture regime for her. The optimum temperature is not more than 20-25 ° С, humidity - not more than 55-60%. In nature, chinchillas live in arid climates and elevated humidity is poorly tolerated. Their wool has absolutely no water repellent properties, so even to take them often in the hands is not recommended - this spoils the fur.
What to feed the chinchilla
Food for chinchilla should be plant. An approximate daily diet of an adult is: a grain mixture of oats, barley, corn, wheat (10 grams), hay or grass (25 g), carrots (15 g), white rusks (15 g). Also, the chinchilla willingly gnaws branches of various trees or shrubs. By the way, a twig of a tree or a special stone should be in a cage of chinchilla always. This is necessary for grinding teeth of an animal.
Feed the chinchilla one time a day, preferably in the evening. Water in the drinking bowl should be constantly.
The wool of a chinchilla needs regular combing. To do this, use special combs with long sharp teeth.
Chinchilla is a night animal, at night she is awake, and in the daytime she is sleeping. Therefore, a cell with a chinchilla is not recommended in the bedroom - the night rustling of the chinchilla is unlikely to help get enough sleep.
