We've come across some interesting facts about chinchillas during our research. Here's a list of things that don't quite fit in with other pages on this site.
- Chinchilla fur is considered the softest in the world and is thirty times softer than human hair.
- Chinchillas must regularly bathe in dust or volcanic ash to remove oil and moisture that gathers in their thick fur.
- Chinchillas have the highest fur density of any land animal with more than 20,000 hairs per square cm. Their fur is so dense that skin parasites (such as fleas) cannot live on one lest they suffocate. Whereas humans grow one hair from each follicle, a chinchilla has more than fifty hairs from a single follicle.
- They are agile jumpers and can jump up to five feet above their head.
- Martha Stewart has 15 pet chinchillas.
- Chinchillas have no dander, which is the leading cause to pet related allergies.
Sources:
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Chintasia
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August 8th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
In response to Dolly,
Chins are like people they have different personalities. Some like to be handled, some do not, however even though they do no like to be handled they still want your attention, so continue to speak softly to them. A chin that hides from you may have been handled roughly or when it didn't want to be and that's why it does not trust you. You can try training it, which takes time and patience. Start with a treat, a raisin, a cherrio, or banana chip. Place it in the palm of your hand and the chin will come explore due to their curious nature. Eventually it will take the treat from your hand. After it continually takes the treat from your hand start putting the treat further up your arm, eventually it will climb up your arm, you may then try to put your hand under its bottom and pick it up. But as I said not all of them like to be held. I have a female who climbs on me but will not let me hold her so don't get discouraged. You also said they like to run around your room sit still on the floor and see if it comes to you, chins often like to use people as their jungle gym.
Hope I could help. If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me at gmaebaby@yahoo.com.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
In reply to chile_mommy,
I have 3chins and one of them lost patches of fur around their nose and ears it grew back a couple months later. If it is wet around the patch it most likely gnawed its fur which is normal. Also I have a friend who has a chin who is missing fur, but is perfectly healthy. Sometimes it is unknown why that happens. If it is in a noisy environment than move it to some place quiet. It may be stressed. If they fur doesn't grow back but the chin continues to be responsive and playful, I wouldn't worry much about it.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
hello, i have two little pet chinchillas that i have recently adopted. One of them is a mother and the other is a young son. We do not know exactly how old they are but we know that the young one is a little buggar. It is hard for us to get close to them. They do not like to be held often and get extremely jumper when they are touched, but prefer to run around our room. Im just wondering what kind of things i could do to help our little friends feel comfortable with my boyfriend and I. I'm scared that they may not be able to get along with us. My boyfriend and I love them very much but its hard for them to be comfortable with us…..
if you guys have any suggestions please help
July 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Our foreverfriend is 8 months old and also has lost a patch of fur the size of a quarter. What should we do, if anything? It has been a month and the fur is not growing back. He is otherwise healthy.
Please help,
Mommy 2 Chile
June 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I have a chinchilla and I love him so much. He loves to cuddle and play with me and he's wonderful. I do suggest getting a chin but only if you're up to take great care of one because they are harder to take care of than the average pet. After I give my chin exercise he lies on his side and lounges like a dog and it's normal. He's just tuckered out from all the running and wants to sleep.