You want adopt a chinchilla but would you first like to know more about its life expectancy? Would you like to know how long this animal lives or how to make it live longer? These are questions that we will answer in this article!
The origin of the Chinchilla
Originating in South America, the chinchilla is basically a wild animal. It was in the early 1920s that he began to be bred in captivity. At the time, the main reason was its silky fur. The happy owners like to have fun with it and also relax by just laying their hands on this fur.
Nowadays, this animal has been completely domesticated by man and seems to be enjoying this new situation. Its current life expectancy as a pet is proof of this. Let’s find out together how long can this animal live on average? , but also how to make your chinchilla live longer!
How long can a chinchilla live?
To begin with, it all depends on the species. When you take Chinchilla lanigera, it lives on average for 10 years (in the right breeding conditions). As for the other most common species of domestic chinchilla, some manage to last for 20 years. Those are animals pets who can stay with their owners for many years.
In 2015, a chinchilla named Réglisse made the front page of a local daily: he was 22 years old. From the data collected, researchers and scientists managed to establish an interval within which the life expectancy of a chinchilla lies. On average, the life expectancy of a chinchilla is between 10 and 15 years.. It is also important to know that living as a couple or in a group can help extend this life expectancy.
How to extend the lifespan of a chinchilla?
If you want your pet to stay with you for a long time, you have to remember to be strict about certain things. Firstly, think about keeping your pet’s living environment clean at all times. Then, give him hay that he can chew on regularly.
And the good news is that they are naturally resilient animals that rarely get sick. Unfortunately, around 90% of deaths are due to poor care of chinchillas by their owners. Very often this is because they are not aware of their needs.
When it comes to diseases, an unsuitable diet can lead to tooth decay. Fortunately, this disease is not common in chinchillas because if they are cared for properly, their teeth will never suffer damage.
Conclusion & Opinion
In conclusion, chinchillas have a relatively long lifespan (between 10 and 15 years as mentioned above) if we compare to other rodents and there are things you can do to help prolong it. By keeping their environment clean and providing them with hay to chew on, you can ensuring your furry friend stays healthy and happy for years!
And you, did you know what the life expectancy of a chinchilla was?
*Updated 23 July 2024