A new book

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Intro

Chapter 1. What are chinchillas?

Chapter 2. Chinchilla fur.

Chapter 3. What do chinchillas eat?

Chapter 4. How to care for chinchillas.

Chapter 5. Chinchilla cages

Intro

Chinchillas are small, rat-like animals that have become very popular as pets. Chinchillas are great pets if you are able to take care of them. But what is a chinchilla? and what do you need to take care of it?

Chapter 1, What are chinchillas?

Chinchillas are South American animals. They are about the size of a guinea Pig. They come in all different colors. They are native to the Andes Mountains. Chinchillas are originally from countries like Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, but are now only wild in Chile. Chinchillas live in small crevices or rocks. Though they may not seem agile, They can jump up to 6 feet high! They eat things like plant leaves and small insects.

Chapter 2, Chinchilla Fur.

The fur of a chinchilla is very unique. It cannot dry, which means it can't get wet. If their fur does get wet and is not dried manually, they will develop fungal infections that will eventually kill them. If for some reason your chinchilla gets wet, immediately get a hair dryer and dry the chinchilla on the cool setting. But how do they bathe? Chinchillas bathe in fine volcanic ash. You can buy a small plastic bin that they can climb in. If you put the dust in that bin, they instinctively roll around in the ash to bathe themselves.

Chapter 3, what do chinchillas eat?

Chapter 4, how to care for chinchillas.

Chinchillas eat different types of grasses and hay. They can also eat grass-based rabbit pellets. Their teeth continuously grow throughout their lives, so they eat rough things like hay to wear them down. Chinchillas can also eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some of those foods are carrots, kale, parsley, lettuce, collard greens, strawberries, pears, bananas and apples. But if you want to feed a chinchilla one of those, you will first have to break it up into small pieces.

Chapter 4, how to care for chinchillas.

Chinchillas should be fed about 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per day. Hay should always be available in case the chinchilla feels the need to wear down their teeth. water should be changed daily. Chinchillas should only be in the dust bath for 15-20 minutes once or twice a week. If they are in too frequently it could lead to respiratory problems in your chinchilla. They should be taken to the vet annually to make sure they are healthy.

Chapter 5, chinchilla cages.

A chinchillas cage has to be sufficient enough for your chinchilla to live in. Chinchilla cages must be on the larger side. Most cages even have a ledge that the chinchilla can jump on. They like to jump. For bedding in the cage , use kiln dried pine or aspen shavings. Kiln dried pine is safer than other woods because it kills all of the insects that might have been living in that wood. You will have to change your bedding 1-2 times a week.