Chinchillas Flashcards
Age
10-12 yo
Weight
400-600g
Temp
38-39
Resp rate
40-80 breaths/min
Pulse rate
100-150 beats/min
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Where are they from?
Mountains of South America
Suitability for young children?
Not suitable
When are they more active?
Evening and night
Which is larger: male or female?
Female
What is their fur like?
Soft and dense, blue/grey
What can happen to their fur if mishandled?
Fur can slip
What are the 2 main species?
Lanigera & brevicuda
Precocial or altricial youngs?
Precocial
Where are their testes?
Testes remain in open inguinal canal or abdomen
What supports their penis?
Baculum aka os penis
How often can they carry young?
Seasonally polyoestrous
How many mammary glands in females?
3 pairs
What kind of ovulators are females?
Spontaneous ovulators
Describe the female uterus
Has 2 uterine horns
Each terminates in a cervix
Where are mammary glands located?
Laterally: young sit besides them when drinking milk
How to proceed when handling?
- Fur can slip
- Dim lights & reduce noise
- Pick up calmly and quickly with minimal restrain
- 1 hand round pectoral girdle, other cupped underneath hind legs (to support animal’s weight)
Teeth formula
1 0 1 3
1 0 1 3
Total: 20
Teeth are open or closed rooted?
Open rooted
Describe oral cavity
Small and narrow
Describe tongue
Continuous with soft palate
Main food
Pelleted food
15% protein and low fat
High fibre: 30%
Good quality fresh hay
Fresh water
Extra food
Veg and fruit in v small quantities twice a week
1/8 of apple, some carrot, celery
Husbandry: how to organise them
Single, pairs or mixed
When can males be neutered?
5-6 mo
When can females be neutered?
6-7 mo
How much space do they need?
At least 2 cubic metres
What do they need in cages?
Height to climb
What does the bottom of cage need to be?
Part wire to avoid damage to fur
What litter do they need?
Plenty of deep litter
What do nesting boxes need?
To be lined with hay, straw or shredded paper
What do they need to clean themselves?
Dust baths
Ratio of dust bath contents
Silver sand and fuller’s earth (9:1 ratio)
Depth of dust bath
5-10 cm
How long do they need to bathe in dust for?
30 minutes
What does the dust help?
Absorb oil on their skin
How often should they have a dust bath?
2-4 times a week
Optimal temp
10-15
Optimal humidity
70%
What other things do they need in their cages?
Branches to chew
Ramps to climb
Drainpipes to hide
What digestion do they have?
Monogastric herbivores
Describe their caecum and give function
Long, coiled and sacculated
Breakdown of cellulose
Stomach?
Large simple stomach
