BUZZ

Let me introduce you to my 11 year old Chinchilla called Buzz...

Chinchillas have many characteristics that make them great pets. However, they are not suited for everyone. I do not suggest them for children because they are small and fragile and if they are squeezed too tight - they will bite. I prefer them to all other rodents because of their lack of unpleasant smell and unusually long life spans.

Here are some facts about Chinchillas

• Fact 1 - Definition: Chinchillas are crepuscular rodents, native to the Andes mountains in South America which belong to the family Chinchillidae. It is remarkable for its fine fur, which is very soft and of a pearly gray color (I love hugging wee Buzzy)
• Fact 2 - Crepuscular is a term used to describe some animals that are primarily active during twilight, that is at dawn and at dusk
• Fact 3 - Chinchillas grow teeth almost continuously, throughout their lifetime
• Fact 4 - The Chinchilla has the softest fur in the world
• Fact 5 - The Chinchilla can jump up to 5 feet above their head
• Fact 6 - Chinchillas can spontaneously release a patch of fur to escape the clutches of a predator
• Fact 7 - A female chinchilla breeds twice a year
• Fact 8 - Chinchilla stats and facts
  • Weight: 400-500 grams
  • Length: 10-14 inches
  • Height: 5-6 inches
  • Habitat: Burrows or crevices in rocks
  • Lifespan: 10 -15 years (Buzz is now 11 and in good health)
  • Diet: the Chinchilla eats seeds, fruit, grass, small insects, frogs and bark
• Fact 9 - The predators of chinchillas include birds of prey, skunks, cats, large birds (not african grey parrots so far) , snakes and dogs
• Fact 10 - Because chinchillas are so small, it takes between 100 and 200 animals to make one fur coat
• Fact 11 - The chinchillas birth weight is 35 grams or more with an average of 2 kits per litter
• Fact 12 - The Chinchilla come in a variety of colors including white, black, beige, standard grey, sapphire and violet
• Fact 13 - The Chinchilla bathes in dust rather than water
• Fact 14 - The eyes of the Chinchilla are typically dark or ruby red in color
• Fact 15 - The collective name for a group is a Colony
• Fact 16 - Males are called Male (Buzz is a Male)
• Fact 17 - Females are called Female
• Fact 18 - The names given to babies are kits
• Fact 19 - Many people keep chinchillas as pets - they do not have fleas!