Chinchillas

Question 1

Age

Answer 1

10-12 yo

Question 2

Weight

Answer 2

400-600g

Question 3

Temp

Answer 3

38-39

Question 4

Resp rate

Answer 4

40-80 breaths/min

Question 5

Pulse rate

Answer 5

100-150 beats/min

Question 6

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Where are they from?

Answer 6

Mountains of South America

Question 7

Suitability for young children?

Answer 7

Not suitable

Question 8

When are they more active?

Answer 8

Evening and night

Question 9

Which is larger: male or female?

Answer 9

Female

Question 10

What is their fur like?

Answer 10

Soft and dense, blue/grey

Question 11

What can happen to their fur if mishandled?

Answer 11

Fur can slip

Question 12

What are the 2 main species?

Answer 12

Lanigera & brevicuda

Question 13

Precocial or altricial youngs?

Answer 13

Precocial

Question 14

Where are their testes?

Answer 14

Testes remain in open inguinal canal or abdomen

Question 15

What supports their penis?

Answer 15

Baculum aka os penis

Question 16

How often can they carry young?

Answer 16

Seasonally polyoestrous

Question 17

How many mammary glands in females?

Answer 17

3 pairs

Question 18

What kind of ovulators are females?

Answer 18

Spontaneous ovulators

Question 19

Describe the female uterus

Answer 19

Has 2 uterine horns
Each terminates in a cervix

Question 20

Where are mammary glands located?

Answer 20

Laterally: young sit besides them when drinking milk

Question 21

How to proceed when handling?

Answer 21

• 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)

Question 22

Teeth formula

Answer 22

1 0 1 3
1 0 1 3

Total: 20

Question 23

Teeth are open or closed rooted?

Answer 23

Open rooted

Question 24

Describe oral cavity

Answer 24

Small and narrow

Question 25

Describe tongue

Answer 25

Continuous with soft palate

Question 26

Main food

Answer 26

Pelleted food
15% protein and low fat
High fibre: 30%
Good quality fresh hay
Fresh water

Question 27

Extra food

Answer 27

Veg and fruit in v small quantities twice a week
1/8 of apple, some carrot, celery

Question 28

Husbandry: how to organise them

Answer 28

Single, pairs or mixed

Question 29

When can males be neutered?

Answer 29

5-6 mo

Question 30

When can females be neutered?

Answer 30

6-7 mo

Question 31

How much space do they need?

Answer 31

At least 2 cubic metres

Question 32

What do they need in cages?

Answer 32

Height to climb

Question 33

What does the bottom of cage need to be?

Answer 33

Part wire to avoid damage to fur

Question 34

What litter do they need?

Answer 34

Plenty of deep litter

Question 35

What do nesting boxes need?

Answer 35

To be lined with hay, straw or shredded paper

Question 36

What do they need to clean themselves?

Answer 36

Dust baths

Question 37

Ratio of dust bath contents

Answer 37

Silver sand and fuller’s earth (9:1 ratio)

Question 38

Depth of dust bath

Answer 38

5-10 cm

Question 39

How long do they need to bathe in dust for?

Answer 39

30 minutes

Question 40

What does the dust help?

Answer 40

Absorb oil on their skin

Question 41

How often should they have a dust bath?

Answer 41

2-4 times a week

Question 42

Optimal temp

Answer 42

10-15

Question 43

Optimal humidity

Answer 43

70%

Question 44

What other things do they need in their cages?

Answer 44

Branches to chew
Ramps to climb
Drainpipes to hide

Question 45

What digestion do they have?

Answer 45

Monogastric herbivores

Question 46

Describe their caecum and give function

Answer 46

Long, coiled and sacculated
Breakdown of cellulose

Question 47

Stomach?

Answer 47

Large simple stomach