How chinchillas sleep day and night, what you need to know about sleep patterns

Chinchillas are highly valued for their silky and expensive fur. But it was he who almost caused their disappearance. In recent years, the popularity of this animal as a pet has increased greatly. And many new owners are faced with the fact that they simply do not know how to provide proper care for this animal.

In the wild, chinchillas are nocturnal animals.

In nature, chinchillas are nocturnal, so during the daytime they are less active and, as a rule, prefer sleep to wakefulness. Their owners must pay attention to how and how much the rodent sleeps, since sleep is also an indicator of the chinchilla’s general health.

Why does a chinchilla sleep during the day?

Under natural conditions, chinchillas sleep from sunrise to sunset. The nocturnal lifestyle is explained by the fact that at this time the main natural enemies of fluffy animals - foxes and tayras - sleep. When predator activity decreases, chinchillas wake up and leave their shelters in search of food.

It is worth noting that some predators (eagle owls, owls, buzzards) continue to hunt chinchillas even in the dark. However, at night, the furry animals, which are predominantly gray in color, blend into the surrounding landscape, making them almost invisible.

Description of the species

Classification

There are several erroneous beliefs regarding the question: what species does a chinchilla belong to? Many people think that a chinchilla is a squirrel, rabbit or rat. In fact, it is an animal related to:

• kingdom - Animals;
• tipu - Chordata;
• class - Mammals;
• infraclass - Placental;
• squad - Rodents;
• suborder - Porcupines;
• superfamily - Chinchilla-like;
• family - Chinchilla;
• family - Chinchillas.

The chinchilla genus is divided into 2 species:

1. Chinchilla lanigera - small long-tailed or shore;
2. Chinchilla Brevicaudata - short-tailed or large.

There are mutational species that differ in hair color.

Habitats

The homeland of the animals is South America. Long-tailed individuals are widespread in the mountains of Chile. Short-tailed - live in the Andes and northwestern Argentina.

The habitat of rodents is rocky areas, preferably northern slopes. You can meet a rodent at an altitude of up to 5,000 m. Animals choose narrow cracks and openings between stones as a home and can dig a hole.

Sleep duration

The daily routine of domestic chinchillas is not very different from the routine of their wild relatives. Because the tendency to sleep for long periods of time is inherent in furries at the genetic level.

On average, an animal's sleep at home lasts 10-12 hours.

However, this indicator can vary significantly depending on the age, health and character of the pet. For example, pregnant females, babies and adults can sleep 1-2 hours longer. And the younger generation and young animals are more active, and are awake from 12 to 14 hours a day.

Animal skeleton

The body structure of chinchillas provides them with reliable shelter and makes it possible to survive in rocky mountain conditions. The chinchilla's skeleton tapers when necessary. The need may arise when an animal hides in narrow crevices from predators and bad weather. There are 5 toes on the front legs of rodents, and 4 on the hind legs. The hind legs are longer and stronger than the front ones, which allows the animals to jump high.

How to determine the age of a chinchilla?

By external signs it is easy to determine the age of the animal. Determination is possible in several ways:

• By weight: at two months of age - up to 300 grams, at six months - up to 500 grams, per year - up to 800 grams.
• On the heels: young individuals have delicate skin on the heels. To determine age more accurately, the paws of an individual whose age is unknown can be compared with those for whom this indicator is known.
• According to the muzzle: with age, the muzzle becomes longer.
• In size: at 3-4 months a chinchilla is close to the size of a guinea pig, at 6 months and after the animal can be compared to a rabbit.
• By the color of the teeth: up to 2 months, the teeth are white, and when chinchillas grow up, the color of their teeth becomes orange.
• By sexual characteristics: in males, testicles appear by the fifth month of life; by the age of seven months, the genital organs are already easy to distinguish from female ones.
• According to the ear flaps: chinchillas with the beige gene begin to have flaps on their ears by the age of 5 months. There should be more than 2 of them per year, and in an adult at the age of 3-4 years, all the ears are covered with spots.

Places to sleep

From a physiological point of view, chinchillas can sleep anywhere. Their natural habitat is rocks. Therefore, in nature, animals sleep in crevices, where predators cannot reach them. If there are no ready-made shelters in the rocks within the range, chinchillas dig holes. In them they hide from danger and rest during the daytime.

When kept at home, naturally, fluffies do not have the opportunity to sleep in familiar conditions. In such a situation, the pet rests in a cage. Favorite places for chinchillas to sleep:

• in the house;
• in a hammock;
• on a bed of hay;
• directly on the sports equipment - in the tunnel or on the bridge.

The first days after moving, the fluffies usually sleep, huddled in the corner of the cage. When adaptation takes place, they choose another place to relax. Sometimes pets fall asleep right in the arms of their owner. This indicates complete trust and a relaxed state of the fluffy.

Advantages of an animal as a pet

When choosing an animal to live in a cage, many cannot decide for a long time which pet to prefer: a rabbit, a hamster, a rat, a chinchilla or a guinea pig. All these animals are small in size and are also very easy to care for. However, it is chinchillas that have the most impressive list of advantages. Among them are the following advantages:

• Despite their easy-going nature, chinchillas are very independent. When the owner is at work all day, the animal will not miss him too much and suffer from lack of attention.
• Chinchillas are completely odorless. The fur of these pets is anti-allergenic.
• Animals can be trained. They remember commands well if you don’t forget about training and treat them kindly.
• Chinchillas are very kind and tame pets. They will never just bite a person, unlike hamsters or guinea pigs.
• They are positive and energetic, move funny, constantly jumping and frolicking.

Don't forget about the appearance of these creatures. Surprisingly soft and plush fur, fluffy tail and cute face will not leave anyone indifferent. In addition, the animals have a cheerful and kind disposition. All this makes them ideal pets.

Sleeping positions

Chinchillas, like people, can sleep in the most bizarre positions, some of which even alarm their owners. In most cases, furries prefer to relax as follows:

1. Sitting . In this case, the chinchilla can simply fold its front legs or lean them on something in the cage. This position seems uncomfortable, but the pet feels quite comfortable in it.
2. On the side . It is believed that a chinchilla sleeping on its side experiences complete relaxation - it is absolutely happy and satisfied with life, and also understands that nothing threatens it. This position is a favorite for pregnant females.
3. Curled up . This is how young animals usually sleep. From the outside, fluffies look like little kittens. This pose also indicates a relaxed state of the animal.
4. Standing, resting your front paws on the bars of the cage . In such a case, it is safe to say that the chinchilla is tense. By falling asleep while standing, the animal does not exclude the possibility of an attack by a predator or other enemy. In this way, the fluffy is trying to save time - in case of danger, he can immediately run away.

If chinchillas are kept together, you can observe how the fluffy ones sleep tightly pressed against each other. This pose indicates a good relationship between animals.

Some pet owners are concerned that chinchillas sometimes sleep with their eyes open or half-open. However, this is quite normal. If your pet's eyes are slightly open, this indicates that he is simply dozing. Most often, a similar picture can be observed during a sharp change in weather conditions. Chinchillas are weather dependent and thus often react to changes in weather.

It is worth noting that if, in addition to open eyes during sleep, the pet exhibits additional alarming symptoms (convulsions, rapid breathing, inappropriate behavior), it must be taken to a veterinary clinic for examination.

Features of care

Chinchillas have long been tamed and feel comfortable in human society. They have a developed desire for socialization, so caring for their pet is more likely to become one of the pleasant worries than a duty.

Chinchilla diet

A balanced diet is the key to chinchilla health.
These animals eat hay, special food, nuts, barberries, rose hips, and dry bread crusts. They love fruits: plums and apples, and will not refuse raisins or dried apricots.

When purchasing food, you need to make sure that the expiration date has not expired, and also study its composition. Hay ensures the normal functioning of the animal’s intestines. In summer, the diet can be diversified with a small amount of hazel, nettle, birch and apple tree branches.

Food is placed in the feeder once a day in the evening between 17.00 and 21.00. The chinchilla also consumes chalk, replenishing the content of mineral elements in its body. You should limit the amount of high-calorie foods, the consumption of which causes obesity.

This negatively affects the reproductive ability of chinchillas.

Bathing

Chinchillas can only swim in sand

To maintain their fur in proper condition, the animals take sand baths. For such a procedure, they need a special container - a bathing suit. This is a plastic or tin container measuring 20x20x30 cm. The bathing suit is placed in the cage twice a week for 30 minutes. It is not recommended to leave the container for a longer period, as the chinchilla may mistake it for a toilet, and the sand will need to be thrown away.

In addition, frequent sand baths dry out the animal's skin. A chinchilla bathing is quite a funny sight. If possible, a transparent container should be used to allow the procedure to be observed. You can make the container yourself from a three-liter jar or pan.

The fur of these animals is highly dense, so it takes a long time to dry. Animals should not come into contact with liquid, as this can lead to their death.

Why does he sleep a lot?

On average, an adult chinchilla sleeps 10-12 hours a day. But sometimes the duration of sleep stretches to 14-16 hours. This is a big concern for novice owners. As a rule, there may be quite understandable reasons for furries resting too long:

• age up to 3 months or over 10 years;
• meteorological storms;
• phlegmatic temperament;
• unhealthy diet – containing a large amount of simple carbohydrates in the diet;
• too active games and, as a result, overwork the day before;
• stress or severe fear.

However, too much sleep can also occur due to pathological reasons. For example, a concussion as a result of a fall or other injuries, as well as certain diseases (anemia, vitamin deficiency, heart attack, stroke, neurological disorders, diabetes).

Therefore, if your pet previously slept normally, and then suddenly switched to a longer rest, you need to contact a veterinarian. Since some of the listed diseases can threaten the life of the animal. The specialist will examine the little patient and, if necessary, select the optimal treatment.

Interesting Facts

• These rodents have a well-developed cerebellum, which helps coordinate the movements of the animals. Therefore, they deftly cope with climbing rocks and other obstacles even at night.
• The chinchilla's whiskers - vibrissae - are also well developed. With their help, the animal gropes for food in the dark and hard-to-reach places.
• Chinchilla ears can detect an enemy at a fairly large distance.
• The animal's fur is unique - it is able to maintain the desired body temperature when the weather changes.
• Animals can reject fur if a predator grabs it. The new cover grows in a couple of months. The thick undercoat prevents parasites from settling on the animal’s body.
• Male chinchillas are easier to tame. The female can be offended if she is not the one picked up first.
• These animals are very clean. The animal does not make a toilet near the feeder and water bowl, and its feces do not emit an unpleasant odor.
• There is also no unpleasant odor from the animals themselves, since they do not have sweat glands on their bodies.
• Chinchillas are easy to train. Simple commands “sit” and “stand” can be mastered by any animal.
• They are nocturnal animals, so they sleep most of the day. No matter how much a chinchilla sleeps during the day, you cannot wake it up!

How to train yourself to sleep at night

Typically, a chinchilla's sleep pattern does not coincide with that of the owner and other family members. This brings significant discomfort to all household members. However, there is a way out of this situation - the fluffy one can be transferred to a “human” daily routine. There are three ways to shift your pet's schedule:

1. Organize active games for the animal immediately after waking up . This way he will get tired quickly and fall asleep in a few hours. As a result, he will sleep at night with all family members. It is worth noting that in order to develop the habit of sleeping at night, you will have to entertain your chinchilla in the evenings for at least a month.
2. Extend daylight hours artificially . In simple words, turn on the light in the room with the cage 2-3 hours before sunrise. This will lead to the chinchilla going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Accordingly, subsequent sleep will also occur earlier. Gradually, in this way, it is necessary to shift the furry's schedule until it completely coincides with the daily routine of the family.
3. You can “exhaust” your chinchilla by giving it the opportunity to walk around the apartment immediately after getting up in the evening . In this case, the cage will need to be closed so that the pet does not have the opportunity to return to its house and rest. After 3-4 hours of walking in open space, the animal will become very tired. After which you can open the cage. Fluffy will return home and fall asleep without his hind legs.

The listed methods can be used individually or combined. It is worth noting that in order to develop a stable habit of night sleep, consistency is necessary. Even if a chinchilla does not respond to such “training” for a long time, do not despair. Sooner or later, the pet will still get used to the new regime.

If you cannot retrain the animal, under no circumstances should you become irritated or scold your pet. Moreover, punish him. This will lead to a loss of trust on the part of the animal and a deterioration in relations with the owner.

Every chinchilla breeder should know how and how much a chinchilla sleeps and how to properly organize the pet’s sleep schedule so that no one experiences discomfort. The main thing is to act gently and consistently. This will help maintain a trusting relationship with the furry and a favorable psychological environment in the family.

Manifestations of aggression

When under stress, a chinchilla can become aggressive. We once bought a young female, brought her home, put her in a cage, and did not bother her for the first few days so that she could get used to the environment. The animal turned out to be wild; its previous owners did not tame it in any way. When trying to pick it up, the female stood up and shot out a stream of urine. Such an act is the highest degree of aggressiveness in chinchillas. We managed to gain trust with walks on the couch and pumpkin seeds.

Chinchilla bites are not aggressive. Firstly, the chinchilla, like a rodent, tastes everything, including outstretched fingers. Secondly, an attack on a larger creature with an attempt to bite is not typical of rodents. It happens that chinchillas bite each other, showing dominance. Just in case, when handling an animal, do not put your hands near its face.

Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract

Diseases of chinchillas associated with the digestive system are directly caused by violation of feeding rules. This is an axiom. This category includes the following:

• catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract;
• tympany;
• flatulence.

Catarrhal inflammation of the gastric mucosa occurs due to eating low-quality feed, for example, affected by mold, or containing toxic substances. Cathars are distinguished:

Both the first and second types of chinchilla disease have similar symptoms. Animals lose their appetite, feces become liquid, the animal’s fur loses its shine, and exhaustion sets in very quickly.

With acidic catarrh, stools have an acidic reaction, which is associated with fermentation processes and the abundant formation of organic acids in the intestines. The color of the stool is grayish-brownish with an admixture of gas bubbles. The animal defecates very often.

Alkaline catarrh is characterized by putrefactive processes in the intestines. Liquid feces have a dark brown color, a very unpleasant odor and an alkaline reaction.

Tympany (stomach bloating)

Occurs as a result of eating unusual food (for example, fresh cabbage) or a large amount of wet, easily fermented food. As a rule, excessive stretching of the stomach walls under the influence of gases leads to hypotension (weakened motility) or atony (lack of contractions) of the stomach.

The animal is depressed, the abdominal wall is tense and painful. Often the chinchilla lies on its side, moaning. The enlargement of the abdomen is clearly noticeable; when lightly tapping the abdomen, a characteristic tympanic (drum) sound is heard.

In addition to pain, the increased volume of the stomach exerts mechanical pressure on the organs of the chest and abdominal cavity, causing a sharp deterioration in overall health.

To treat tympany, use a solution of lactic acid (in a five percent dilution) at the rate of 3-5 ml per individual. The animal is forced to actively move, which promotes the release of gases. Taking medications orally in case of tympany is ineffective; injections of painkillers and antispasmodics are prescribed to relieve pain.

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Flatulence (bloating)

More often it occurs simultaneously with tympany and has causes and symptoms similar to the latter. Accordingly, treatment for intestinal flatulence is almost the same as for tympany.

Tympany and flatulence can lead to death, and quite quickly. If the acute attack has been relieved, the animal is prescribed a starvation diet for 12 hours, and then for three to four days, fed with a half dose of food, paying special attention to the composition and quality of the diet.

One of the problems associated with feeding is constipation. In this case, the feces become small and dry. The animal hunches over, strains, and sits for a long time with its tail raised. Often, constipation is caused by complete replacement of roughage with concentrates and lack of hay. To facilitate bowel movements, flax seed, which has a laxative effect, is added to the diet. Advanced cases of constipation lead to coprostasis (stagnation of contents in the intestines) or rectal prolapse. If you are unable to cope with constipation in your pet, it is better not to experiment and show it to the veterinarian.

Preventing constipation

Prevention is always easier than cure, as any doctor will tell you. Premium food contains additives that normalize digestion and help it, but if you do not have the opportunity to feed it to your chinchilla, then you need to do prevention yourself by adding components that are useful for digestion to the diet.

The main thing is not to forget that there should be an unlimited amount of hay in the cage; the chinchilla eats it only in the amount it needs. It pushes food through the intestines, and accordingly plays a very important role in digestion. Its absence can very quickly provoke constipation.

It is also worth remembering the list of prohibited foods to avoid digestive problems:

• Branches, bark and leaves of prohibited trees. The list is quite large, read it in a separate article. The main thing to remember is that you should not feed oak, coniferous trees or cherries.
• Fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. In fact, they can be given, but only in very limited quantities and you need to know what exactly is safe to feed.
• Limit the number of treats, especially nuts and seeds. They are very fatty and it is difficult for the chinchilla to digest them, since she has a weak liver.
• Do not give fermented milk products under any circumstances, they are very dangerous and cause bloating.
• Legumes are also prohibited as they cause bloating. It is forbidden to give peas, lentils, as well as leaves and stems of legumes.
• You should not give salty, fried, sweet and especially fatty foods. No food from your table should get into their cage, even dried bread.
• Beets, cabbage, fresh peppers.

This weather dependent fluffy

Experienced chinchilla owners, observing their behavior, came to the conclusion that the sleep of many of their pets - although not all - is also affected by the weather. So, on a rainy or windy day, an animal can doze with its eyes half-closed . They sleep more both when it is hot outside and when the humidity is high.

Pros and cons of the animal as a pet.

Dental diseases

The main problem in rodent dentistry is malocclusion (also called “hooked teeth”). This disease is caused by improper wear of the crowns of the incisors and is characterized by an incorrect bite.

The main causes of this pathology include:

• genetic predisposition;
• metabolic disorders in the body;
• absence of roughage and mineral stones for grinding teeth.

Since the incisors of rodents grow throughout their lives, the animals must constantly grind them down against something that is strong enough and at the same time does not injure the oral mucosa. When normal grinding does not occur, the incisors continue to grow and the angle of closure of the teeth changes. Thin sharp edges appear on the teeth - hooks that injure the oral mucosa and tongue. With this disease in chinchillas, the earliest symptom noted is drooling. If your pet's face and chest are constantly wet, and the fur around the mouth is sticky, you should pay attention to his teeth.

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In the early stages, the situation can be corrected by placing special mineral stones or unsanded branches of deciduous trees 2-4 centimeters thick into the cage. If the disease is advanced, you need to go to a clinic where the animal’s teeth will be trimmed using special dental equipment. If bite problems are associated with genetics or metabolic disorders, such trimming will have to be done once every three to four months.

External signs

• Chinchilla body length - 22-38 cm. Tail - from 9 to 17 cm. Whiskers (vibrissae) - 8-12 cm.
• The weight of an adult does not reach 1 kg. – on average 0.5 kg, more than 0.8 kg. they won't grow. The female usually weighs more than the male.
• Rounded head and short thick neck.
• The eyes are round, black, and the pupils are vertical.
• The length of the rounded ears is up to 6 cm. The ears have special membranes to protect the ears during sand baths.
• The fur all over the body is thick, and the hairs on the tail are coarse.
• The fur color is most often gray, but there are other varieties (black, white, beige, brown, pink, purple and others). The abdomen is white.

Feeding depending on the time of year

For the most part, chinchillas eat the same food at all times. With the exception of a few fresh grasses, twigs and berries, they feed on dried fruits, pelleted food and hay. In summer, in parks and playgrounds, you can mow fresh grass and dry it in advance for the winter - lay it out in a warm, dry and dark place, for example in a closet.

To make your chinchilla eat tastier, it is better to prepare grass and treats yourself. In spring and summer, plantain, hawthorn and linden flowers, rose hips, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, strawberries, currants, hazel branches, apples, clover, cornflower, mint, calendula and other herbs, fruits and berries are harvested. In the fall, they collect marsh calamus, parsley root, hawthorn berries, rose hips, Jerusalem artichoke, alder cones, viburnum, rowan and, most importantly, tasty and healthy for any rodent - carrots. Some berries can be used immediately, fresh, but generally it is preferable to feed the chinchilla dry, and storing vitamins for the winter won’t hurt.

Lifestyle

Chinchillas in the wild

These rodents are monogamous and prefer to live in groups of up to 10 individuals. The whole group sleeps during the day and is awake at night. An “observer” is allocated in the flock, who informs the rest of the community about the approaching danger. In the colony, the leading positions are occupied by females.

Chinchillas are vegetarians. The basis of their diet: plants, seeds, fruits, lichens and cacti.

They get a sufficient amount of moisture from succulent and green food, so they practically do not consume water. They can eat dew.

Animals are able to express their attitude towards something using sounds. If the animal is unhappy, it quacks or chirps. An angry rodent chatters its teeth and growls. A frightened individual squeaks.

The enemies of chinchillas are birds of prey and mammals. When danger appears, the animal can attack the enemy: it stands on its hind legs, releases a stream of urine and clings its teeth to the offender.

Chinchillas love to swim in sand, fine dry dust or volcanic ash. This way they manage to keep their fur dry, clean and silky. Hair renewal occurs annually during the warm season.

The average lifespan of an animal is 20 years.

How do chinchillas sleep?

The peak of activity in chinchillas occurs at night, and during the day the animals sleep. Rodents living in pairs or groups sleep in an embrace or one individual may perch on top of another.

Even the slightest noise can awaken the animal. Therefore, when keeping chinchillas at home, it is better to develop a clear cleaning and feeding routine so that the pets go to bed at the allotted time. During this period it is recommended not to make noise.

A pet living alone in a cage sleeps on its stomach or side. If the animal is lounging on its side, the owner can conclude that the chinchilla completely trusts him.