Chinchillas seem to many people like a combination of many different pets. Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, mice - somehow chinchillas seem to have a little bit of everything. So where do they fit in scientifically? Chinchillas establish their own family in the animal kingdom. The scientific name of this family is "Chinchillidae". This name and the chinchilla family itself were researched and established back in the nineteenth century, more specifically in 1833 by English zoologist Edward Turner Bennett. In the family of chinchillas three genera are defined. These include the "Actual Chinchillas" (Chinchilla) as well as the Lagidium and the Lagostomus. In this book, however, we want to deal with only one of these genera: with the "actual chinchillas". There are only two species within the genus - the long-tailed chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera, Edward Turner Bennett in 1829) and the short-tailed chinchillas (Chinchilla chinchilla, Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein in 1829). Both species are kept as pets in many countries. Chinchillas can be wonderful companions. Each animal has an individual character, yet most chinchillas build quite a trusting relationship with humans if you spend time with them often and treat them with respect. Therefore, they make ideal pets for adults - and even for slightly older children, if their guardians are supportive in caring for and keeping them. In addition, chinchillas are very social creatures, so they should not be kept alone. What else is there to consider? What living conditions should be created so that the chinchillas are happy and healthy? What are the requirements for the enclosure? What kind of food do chinchillas need? What diseases can they get? All open questions are answered in this book!.
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