Chinchilla: Animal behaviour and problems.

General information

The silky soft pelage and the vacant look of the big expressive eyes are probably two of the reasons why the chinchilla nowadays has more and more become a favorite pet. Since the quick-witted rodents are nocturnal animals, they need absolute quiet during the day. Chinchillas are thus best suited for working people who enjoy in the evenings their cute behaviour and lively activities. In order to be able to keep these demanding animals in a way appropriate to their species, one has to be ready to fulfil a series of conditions during up to 20 years.

In the open countryside chinchillas live in small family groups. It is advisable to keep a male and a female as pets, the male being castrated in order to avoid offspring. Chinchillas are not the kind of animals to be caressed and, therefore, not suited for children. They have distinctive characteristics and a mind of their own, so that they cannot be trained like dogs. Provided that one spends at least an hour with the animal in the evening, it is possible to tame a chinchilla. The cage has to be of a good large size, so that they have enough freedom to move. Best would be a cage in the size of a whole room! It should not be forgotten that chinchillas make a lot of noise at night when they are busy nibbling, gnawing and rustling which could disturb your own sleep.

Social behaviour

Chinchillas only get on well with each other if they have enough room. This is no problem in their natural habitat where they live together with many families in colonies. If they have to live in a cage, good nature has to be taken into consideration. Newcomers of fellow species are first being sniffed intensively before they are accepted or rejected. In most cases two females get on well together, just as castrated males do. No problems mostly with couples. With regard to chinchilla couples one has, however, to take into consideration that annually two to three litters with three to four cubs each are to be expected if the male had not been castrated. It also can happen that chinchillas who normally get along well together occasionally get on each others nerves if the cage does not offer enough means of getting out of the way. The size and the equipment of the cage is, therefore, of utmost importance for a problem-free social behaviour!

Behavioural disturbances

Pelage biting of the chinchilla on his own body or on the body of an animal of the same species indicates a behavioural disorder. The symptoms indicating pelage biting are holes in the pelage, the behaviour itself can rarely be discerned. Possible causes are: Stress evoked by unusual, loud noise (especially at bedtime during the day), a too small cage or too many animals, hormonal disorder. A stereotypical recurring of the same sequence of movements can also be graded as behavioural disorder. The cause for that is a too small cage and/or an unsuitable furnishing of the cage. The animal is not able to run free in his urge to move and "cracks up". Of course it is necessary to resolve this swiftly in both cases, because the affected animal suffers and will soon also become prone to other illnesses.

Man-Animal communication

Being able to correctly interpret the behaviour of the chinchillas is the first step towards mutual understanding. If the chinchillas crouch in a corner of the cage, it means for instance that they are afraid of something. This way one will soon learn to understand in what mood the animal actually is. Chinchillas are nocturnal getaway animals who are shy and slow in getting used to the contact with human beings. The process of taming a chinchilla is, therefore, an undertaking of a lot of skill and has to be planned in small steps: From touching him in the cage up to his climbing around on the body of a human being.

One should talk to his animals! Animals "talk" to their fellow species by body posture, by moving their tail in a certain way, by facial expression, vocalization and many other ways. If the human being is friend, pal and substitute for fellow species, then he must try to somehow make up for the serious deficit. The best way to do this is to talk to his pets in a relaxed manner. Just as he would talk to a human being. Animals are extremely capable of learning and understand very quickly the meaning of a word or of the sound of a voice.

Undesirable behaviour

If chinchillas only once in a while can go out in a run-out yard, they start, of course, to gnaw at whatever thing that can be nibbled at: Carpets, furniture or even wires! Such behaviour is not what human beings like, but it just is a consequence of not keeping chinchillas in ways appropriate to their species. Chinchillas want to move freely whenever they feel like it and gnawing is one of their basic needs. It is up to us human beings who keep pets with us to avoid such conflicts of interest. The inquisitive chinchillas should always have an extended habitat at their disposal with many hiding places where they feel safe and where they have enough gnawing material to satisfy their urge to gnaw.

Mood barometer

The body posture of the chinchillas already tells stories about their state of health. When taking up and when curiously sniffing each other as well as when cleaning assiduously their pelage, they are cheerful and lively. You may then gently approach them. If, however, they stand up straight and take a position ready for defense, then they want to threaten and impress enemies (also the human hand) and possibly put them to flight. Don't be surprised of a bite or a urine splash in this situation! If they move back in a corner, then they are afraid and want to be left alone. Young chinchillas like to take a submission posture in front of grown-up animals. "Standing up on their hind legs" always means increased attention and then the chinchillas mostly are in a good mood.

Psychology of animals

Chinchillas are nocturnal getaway animals. They are programmed in a social life within the clan and can only show the whole spectrum of their behaviour in association with animals of the same species. Since they are practically defenceless against enemies, they have learned to flee in two shakes of a bee's knee and to hide in critical situations. On the other hand they are very inquisitive, need an extended habitat and want to be busy. Whoever realizes this understands already a great deal of the chinchilla psyche.