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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July 3rd, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Jenn,
A chinchilla's bones are delicate. You can't play with them like you would with a dog, but they can certainly be held if you can get them comfortable with you.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I want to get a chinchilla but one of my friends said their bones will break when you hold them. Is this true?
April 29th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Kelly,
Our chinchillas only bite when our fingers when they smell of raisins. As for picking them up, it can take some time. At first you should let him get used to you by not attempting to pick him up. Then try giving him a treat while holding it between your fingers. After that, put the treat in the palm of your hand so that he needs to climb in to your hand. Keep doing these sorts of activities and eventually you should be able to pick up your chinchilla.
Ideally your chinchilla would've been handled at a very young age so that he'd be used to it.
As for barking, that usually the sound a chinchilla makes when scared.
April 28th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
I have a chin that was born Jan. 19 of this year. So far he has been pretty good. He has nibbled us a few times. My questions are: I was told that they seldom bite. Have you found this to be true? My other question is: he almost always barks and hops away when I try to pick him up from his cage. What does this barking mean? Will he ever allow us to pick him up without this running and barking? Thanks!
April 17th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I have 1 pet chinchilla at home. He is so cute! I got him when he was just a few months old. I got him a few days before last Christmas. He was really small. Now he is a big fluff ball! If I sit quietly or lie quietly, playing on my DS Lite in my bed, he will start jumping on my face! Chinchillas are sweet, gentle creatures. Take the time to bond!