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 16th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
When I out my chin in his cage after his excersise time, he lies on his size and looks like a dog sleeping. He always seems perfectly fine, but I was just wonering if this is unusual behavior that should be examined by a vet. He is a part of my family!
August 16th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
The best way to bond with a chinchilla is to take it out of its cage and just lie somewhere. Soon your chinchilla will get curious and run up to you, maybe even jump on you!! It will get used to you, running up and down your body. After a while, you can even try to pet your little friend. If he gets scared, don't be discouraged. Wait and he/she'll come back, and you can try again. Another thing that is very effective with my chinchilla is scratching him around the soulder blade/neck area. He'll tilt his head up, and open his mouth in pleasure!!! You have to take the time to get to know your chinchilla, what his favourite foods are, and the places he/she likes to be scratched. I gaurantee, if your good to your chin, you'll be friends in no time!
August 8th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
What is the best way to bond with a chinchilla?
August 5th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Amy,
We've never seen that behavior before. Our chinchillas will certainly sit still as if they're in a trance, but they don't rock back and forth. They eventually snap out of it and continue running around like there's nothing wrong.
Hopefully your chinchilla is just adding a slight variation to what ours do. Good luck!
August 5th, 2007 at 2:19 am
Hi! I just got a chinchilla, and I have been reading everything I can find on them. tonight he is sitting very still, and sort of rocking back and forth, with his hands in front of him.. looks like he is meditating, any idea if this is of any concern?