chinchilla

A generic name of the rodents belonging to the Chinchila .

The population dropped sharply by hunting to save fur by the end of the 19th century . Both sub -species are listed as endangered species on the IUCN red list. It is difficult to observe in the wild, and it is being improved and sold for a long tailchilla.

There are two types of short -tailed chinchilla and long -tailed chinchilla . The body is round as a whole, slightly larger than the ground squirrel, and weighs about 600 ~ 700g. Gray soft hairs are dense, with the most tight hair of all mammals living on the land.[1] In one hair follicle, an average of 60 hairs sprouts and the fine and soft hairs are dense, preventing the expression of parasites such as ticks and fleas .[2] Each of the four feet has four toes, and on the soles of the foot, there is a football flesh, which can adapt to the rock area. If the long tail chilla has a long tail and has a large ear and a small body, the short -tailed chilla is relatively short, and the ears are large and thirsty instead of small ears.

Their agile behavior allows them to avoid predators by jumping across small rock crevices or moving into narrow spaces . They can jump up to 1.8m using their hind feet, which are longer and more muscular than their front feet. The ears, which are large compared to the body, are developed to detect predators and also play a role in regulating body temperature by emitting heat. If caught by a predator, they spray their fur to deter the opponent and run away.

The lifespan in the wild is 8 to 10 years, which is long for rodents. When raised in humans, the lifespan extends to 15 to 20 years.

It lives in burrows or rock crevices and is mainly active around dawn or dusk.

Live in a group of up to 4,270 m altitude. Sometimes he lives in a social group that is close to colonies. The size of the group ranges from about 10 to 100, and has a social interrelation through various sounds. It is believed that this is to escape the threat of predators. Because of the large crowds, it is also active to control it. For females, the area protection instinct is very strong. It is also due to this habit that pet vinchilla acts aggressively on home cats .

They have a breeding season in February-March and August-September of the year, and the gestation period is about 3-4 months, which is longer than that of other rodents. Thanks to this, young chinchillas are born with their bodies completely covered in fur and their eyes open. On average, 2 babies are born per birth.

Their main food sources include plant leaves , fruits , seeds , and small insects .

Natural enemies include puma , Ande's cat , pampas cat , Andes fox , fan head repair , snake , and skunk .

It is estimated that 90% of the population has declined due to indiscriminate hunting over the past 15 years, and is classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. It was listed tentatively on the IUCN Red List until 1996, but in 2006 the long-tailed chinchilla was relisted as a vulnerable species and the short-tailed chinchilla was relisted as a critically endangered species. In 2008, the long-tailed chinchilla was also designated as an endangered species. In 2016, a limited but limited recovery of the population of the two species was confirmed in some regions, and the species was mitigated from an endangered species to an endangered species.

It was so popular for its extremely soft texture that it was traded from the 16th century onwards. Because of its uniform color, it was used as a lining for clothes, and the skin of about 150 chinchillas was used to make a coat . The fur industry has taken a serious toll on the survival of Chinchilla subspecies. Currently, most animals are raised on farms to obtain their fur. Hunting wild chinchillas is illegal, but the species' crisis is not being resolved due to continued poaching.

Research on chinchillas has been conducted since the 1950s, and research on hearing organs has been the main focus since the 1970s. Chagas disease is an area of ​​veterinary research in chinchillas .[3] , Gastrointestinal disease, pneumonia , listeriosis[4] , Yersinia infection[5] , Pseudomonas research, etc.

It is a very hands-on species. As with other rodents , its teeth continue to grow throughout its life, so it needs teething toys, and considering its physical characteristics specific to the Andes highlands, temperature control is also important. Because of its active nature, it requires a fairly large cage and needs to go for walks. However, it is recommended to take it for long walks indoors due to the threat of natural enemies and the discomfort caused by the leash. It has a sensitive nature, so it takes time and effort to handle it, and considering that it is a small animal, handling should be comfortable and careful.

The species that is mainly kept as a pet is the long-tailed chinchilla.

In Korea, they are traded from the mid-100,000 won to the 200,000-300,000 won range per animal. Among them, white, which is recognized as a rare color, has a high selling price.[6] The color of wild species is gray, and other colors are mutations. As home sales increase, the selling price of non-white units becomes low. Although individuals with the color of wild species are healthier, incest is practiced to obtain the desired color, and individuals born this way are vulnerable to various risks such as genetic diseases and congenital diseases. Rare pets with long lifespans inevitably have their genes mixed in a limited population, but if color is also limited, problems such as recessive inheritance may occur, and the genetic diversity of domestic chinchillas will decrease in the long term.

Considering the habitat environment in which they ran between rocks in the alpine region, the wider the breeding space, the better. You need a space where two adults can live enough, and you have to pay attention to the ceiling so that they don't leave the space. In addition, considering ventilation, it is good to set certain parts with mesh materials. Rodents have strong gnawing habits, so steel or handmade cages are safer than plastic cages. Some breeders even make wooden cages themselves. In the case of a single iron cage, it is good to apply a flat floor because the iron core located on the floor can injure the chinchilla's paws.

The breeding space should be located far away from wires and electric cords, and if this is not possible, exposed electrical equipment should be covered with covers, etc. Considering the habitat environment, space must be secured so that it can climb up and bounce at the same time. Otherwise, you may suffer from emotional instability and depression. Since they are not skilled at climbing trees, they cannot land nimbly if they fall, and there is a risk of fractures, so many footrests must be installed in the cage. Since they are a lower species in the food chain, they will experience stress if they get caught in a hole or ladder in the cage and cannot get out, so care must be taken when setting up the cage.

Since they are animals that naturally live in dry and cold places, temperature and humidity management must be thorough. Because chinchillas have a dense fur structure, they are slow to adapt to temperature and humidity, and because they do not sweat, they cannot regulate their body temperature like humans. The appropriate temperature is 15 to 24°C. If it exceeds 24°C, stress becomes excessive and can even lead to heat stroke. Below 10°C, pneumonia due to respiratory infection can occur and lead to death. The ideal temperature is 15 to 16°C. Humidity between 40 and 60% is good. A humidifier must be installed to provide constant humidity, but if maintaining humidity is difficult, a cool pad is useful. It is a good idea to install cool pads in multiple locations as the breeding space is large. Considering Korea's hot and humid summer environment, a significant amount of cooling costs are basically incurred. Not considering this is a very irresponsible attitude. Chinchillas whose body temperature is overheated have rapid breathing, slow movements, and appear lethargic, so they must be observed closely.

Chinchillas should stick to the basic diet of hay and special feed. The basic diet consists of 25 to 35% carbohydrates, 15 to 20% protein, and 30 to 35% fiber, with less than 5% sugar and less than 3% fat. There are two types of alfalfa and timothy. Alfalfa hay is given to young chinchillas up to 6 months old or pregnant chinchillas, and timothy hay is given to adult chinchillas over 6 months of age, but some breeders give a 50% mixture of the two to adults. It is also a good idea to provide hay cubes along with the basic hay.

It is best to avoid meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, corn, etc. Chinchillas have sensitive digestive systems, so providing them with treats with unconfirmed results can cause serious health problems. Excessive levels of certain nutrients, such as carbohydrates and proteins, can cause problems with the digestive system, so it is recommended to occasionally feed hay made from grass or oats as a snack. If you leave the hay you provided the day before, it's not because your pet is full, but because they want fresh food, so you should feed them new food. It is useful to install a water dispenser so that water is always available. Waterers should be cleaned frequently to prevent bacteria and pathogens from growing.
Teeth continue to grow, so teeth grinding toys are necessary. If this is overlooked, overgrown teeth can cause pain, disease, and even death. Provide dry apple tree branches or wooden toys as teeth grinding toys. Some breeders even purchase shelters.

Because the hair is tightly sprouting, it can be difficult to dry and skin diseases can occur. Due to the nature of the body, wild chilla uses Bushok powder to take a bath. Pet Chinchilla uses sand with similar properties for baths. If you put sand in the basin or dedicated bathtub, it rolls up and trims the hair.[7] The bath schedule is suitable for 1-2 times a week and 5 to 10 minutes, and the sand used is contaminated with keratin, fine hair, so it should not be reused. Excessive baths can dry your skin, so be careful.

Chinchillas cannot cover their feces. Since it is due to the unique physical characteristics of a very short intestine, attempts to overcome it through training are futile. If you are healthy, the smell of feces is light and hard, so you can clean it easily with a vacuum cleaner. On the other hand, urine has a strong smell, so potty training is required. Starting training at around 6 months of age is more likely to be successful.

Same-sex unions are strongly recommended. Since they are lonely animals, unless there is a special reason, they should be housed together. Many chinchillas live alone and die without housing because “they will not die even if they are not housed together.” If these types of rodents that are required to be housed together are not housed together, they become lonely and show a tendency to cling to people. ( Degu , Mongolian gerbils also show this tendency, and rabbits also show this tendency.) This is definitely not something to brag about.

Mixing male and female is never recommended. When they are housed together, the male ends up watching the sensitive female, and the female may become weak and die due to frequent breeding. However, in Korea, there are a huge number of households that ignorantly combine males and females and allow them to continue breeding. If you look at the houses that are posting about sending their cubs for sale, they keep the cubs together and keep removing the cubs and selling them.

Chinchillas are highly fertile and mate about twice a year. If you plan to breed together, it is more stable to breed with breeds that are one year old or older. Because females have a strong tendency to protect their territory, they must be brought into the male's cage.

He brings the male and female, crosses it, goes to a small anti -animal hospital for a combination, and performs a neutralization surgery for male chilla.[8] Neutralization is covered by Nexkara, which makes it difficult for the food to be paid by hand and syringe. Sprouts neutralization also has many risk factors in addition to the dietary problems caused by Neck Cara.

Chinchillas are active and can recover well from minor injuries, but as small animals, fractures are a serious problem. Fractures hinder nutrient uptake because their feeding posture is to sit on their hind legs and catch their prey with their forepaws. Care should be taken in cage setup to prevent falls.

There is a phenomenon that causes convulsions for a few seconds to several minutes. This is a symptom of various causes, including vitamins or dietary element deficiency, cerebral hemorrhage or a kind of nervous system damage. If convulsions are observed after mating, there may be problems in the circulatory. If you are breeding in a group, you may cause stress spasms when you are deprived of your chance to another Chinchilla. In order to prevent cramps, vitamin B, the heart of the heart or calcium injection is prescribed.

Listeria is not an infected disease, but it can be spread with digestive diseases in group residential environments. Pasurella bacteria can be infected through food. Symptoms include insensitive, digestive disorders and fever. Pseudomonas aerinal infections are widely distributed in the natural world, and like many other animals, the chinchilla population can lead to a wide range of deaths, and pregnant chilla can occur.

Respiratory tract infections are caused by many pathogens, but regardless of the cause, they usually present with shortness of breath and a runny nose. Although less contagious, it poses a greater threat to young chinchillas.

Digestive disorders cause constipation or diarrhea. It may be a problem with the digestive system itself, but you should also be prepared for the possibility of an infectious disease. Constipation is not clearly related to infectious diseases. Paraffin is administered to constipated individuals to soften the stool.

A common indicator that a pet chinchilla is stressed is excessive chewing of its fur. When a sick chinchilla is stressed, it may stop eating and worsen its symptoms. Chinchillas that live in groups are particularly sensitive during the breeding season. It is known that during this period, they become stressed when their mating partner changes and become anxious even when their diet changes.

Chloramphenicol for Digestive Diseases in Chinchillas[9] , Neomycin[10] , spectinomycin[11] prescribe etc. Sulfonamide[12] is dissolved in drinking water and prescribed. colistin[13] is an effective antibiotic.

Chirami and Chiracino that appear in Pokémon are Pokémon created based on chinchilla, and were designed by Atsuko Nishida . There are rumors that Pikachu is also modeled after a chinchilla, but according to Nishida, who designed it, it was based on a squirrel .[14]

The chinchilla community is a mess, as is the case with most small animal communities. There are many homes that keep sending chinchillas to foster homes, raising them in inappropriate environments, and sharing stories about chinchillas and us. Although air conditioning is important, chinchillas die every year because they are not properly air-conditioned. There have been breeders who have consistently criticized this in chat rooms, but the scale is too small to improve for a long time.


It has a similar pronunciation in Russian, but the letters that make up the word (шиншилла) all look so similar that it is impossible to read when written in cursive, so it is often used to boast(?) about the difficulty of the Cyrillic alphabet because foreigners find it confusing.

One of the figures in Murphy & Mitji, the US web animation series, is Krisan Tesum.