A chinchilla is a hystricomorph rodent that is often kept as a pet.Chinchillas are native to barren desert-like areas like those in South America, specifically the Andes Mountains in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. They are nocturnal creatures that live in rock caves and rock formations in the wild.During the day, the natural habitat of chinchillas provides them with warmth and coziness. They are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are highly active during the night. They also search for food during the night. As such, chinchillas prefer cold climates over humid ones. Popular predators of chinchillas include owls, cats, and eagles. While living in the wild, these animals have to constantly defend themselves against their predators in order to survive.The coat of fur covering the entire body of a chinchilla, along with its adorable features and friendly personality, makes this rodent an appealing choice as a pet. This animal can be quite entertaining and playful around people. However, just like with any other animal being adopted as a pet, it is important to know all about a chinchilla before adopting one. Read on to explore the various aspects of these rodents, including their lifespan, natural habitat, food and much more.How long do chinchillas live as pets?Chinchillas that are kept as pets are hybrids of two wild chinchilla species. These adorable rodents can make great pets. Chinchillas are considered to be pets with one of the longest lifespans among rodents.The average lifespan of a chinchilla pet is about 10 years. However, when provided with proper care in captivity, its lifespan can increase to up to 20 years. Therefore, it is important for the owner of this animal to have complete knowledge about its pet. The owner must be aware of the environment suitable for a chinchilla as well as what food is healthy for the pet and what types of food are not healthy. People should also know about the behavioral habits of their pets.While living in the wild, chinchillas have a bigger and more diverse habitat. These animals also need similar space in captivity. A proper and big cage of wire mesh must be provided for a pet chinchilla. As a chinchilla needs a lot of space to roam and explore, the cage for this animal must be at least two-storied. A spacious cage offers a pet chinchilla more space to explore and play around in. The cage must also be created or bought while keeping the breeding conditions of a pet chinchilla in mind. If the chinchilla is a non-breeder, then the wires can be spaced a bit further, but if the pet chinchilla is a breeder, then the wires of the cage must be spaced closely. This is to ensure that a cage is safe for future baby chinchillas.It is also important to look for a cage with a metal dispensing pan or tray at the bottom that can be easily removed. Having this feature makes the cleaning process easier and pretty hassle-free.As chinchillas in the wild like to live in dark places, you can create a wooden hut inside the cage for the pet to stay in. You can also create other places for hiding within the cage for the pet chinchilla to explore and use.There should also be a stainless steel or heavy ceramic bowl filled with water kept inside the cage for the chinchilla to drink from. This water source must be regularly changed so that the pet chinchilla always has fresh water to drink.Other factors that can increase the lifespan of chinchillas in captivity involve their diet. The daily diet of the pet chinchilla must include pellets. There are several brands of pellets that are healthy for chinchillas. These can be given to them in stainless steel bowls, which should be washed daily.They should also have a constant supply of hay. If you are giving Timothy hay to your pet chinchilla, make sure that it is green in color. The green color of the hay indicates that it is fresh. Yellow or brown-colored Timothy hay is considered to be old and should not be given to the chinchilla.An interesting fact about the chinchilla kept as a pet is that it requires a dust bath twice or thrice every week. The dust and the dust house can be found in local pet stores. The dust used for the bath must be fine instead of granular. The dust house must be put inside the cage along with the dust for 15-20 minutes.Chinchillas will take a dust bath themselves by rolling around. As chinchillas may defecate inside the dust house, it is recommended to change the dust every time after the chinchillas are done with their bath.What is the lifespan of a short-tailed chinchilla?The short-tailed chinchilla is a breed of chinchilla which gets its name from its short tail.Apart from a few exceptions, these furry and adorable animals share the same features as those of the other chinchilla breeds.The short-tailed chinchillas can come in yellow, gray, or off-white colors. They are very friendly and affectionate and can make great pets for people who are curious and older children.They are not suitable pets for young children as they are nocturnal and require a lot of care. These chinchillas are known for being agile and attentive.The average lifespan of the short-tailed chinchilla is about 8-10 years. However, they can live longer in captivity. These chinchillas may live a long and healthy life as pets for about 20 years.Can a chinchilla die from loneliness?Chinchillas can be considered social animals who enjoy attention and affection.Although chinchillas can live alone, it is highly recommended that more than one chinchilla be put in a cage. And while a chinchilla might not die from loneliness, it can still affect the health of the rodent.Instances of chinchillas dying because of loneliness from the death of their roommate rarely happen. There are other factors that can be called symptoms of a chinchilla’s loneliness. The chinchilla might fall sick due to loneliness, trauma, or stress.Owners of pet chinchillas must be on the lookout for signs of unusual behavior. If chinchillas fall sick, they must be taken to the vet for diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, a regular check-up with the vet is highly advised in order to have the chinchillas live longer and have good health.There can be other health problems that might be the cause of the chinchilla’s death. Chinchillas often have dental problems, which cause them to refuse the food that is offered to them.Such health issues must not be ignored until they become severe and should instead be addressed as soon as the symptoms are recognized.Which chinchilla species can live up to 20 years?While in the wild, chinchillas can live for about 8-10 years, a chinchilla’s lifespan can increase while in captivity.Studies have found that chinchillas kept as pets can live longer. Moreover, there are no specific species of chinchillas that are known to have a longer life.The age of the oldest ever chinchilla on record was 29 years old. It is also possible for a chinchilla to die at an age below average if it does not receive proper care and hygienic space to live in. Therefore, in order to have the chinchillas live a long and healthy life, the owner must provide adequate living conditions.Chinchillas require a colder climate as they may overheat in high-temperature climates despite being native to desert-like regions. Keeping them in an air-conditioned room is a good option. Furthermore, they cannot live in humid conditions as the thick fur covering their bodies does not allow them to sweat and cool themselves.In addition to proper food, chinchillas also require toys and other things to keep them active and engrossed. Chinchillas are agile animals that need to exercise and burn energy. Instead of installing an exercise wheel, it is advised by experts to let chinchillas out of the cage under supervision. They like to run around and explore their surroundings.Providing an optimal space for chinchillas to live in increases their chance of living a longer life. Thus, before getting a chinchilla as a pet, it is best to first gather knowledge about these animals so that you can offer them a safe habitat.
A chinchilla is a hystricomorph rodent that is often kept as a pet.
