Question:
I Recently purchased a new female chinchilla from the pet store. They had a hard time sexing her, however, with a little research I was able to do so without a problem... However they were not able to give me even an approximate age, is there any way to guess how old she is, or when she could be ready to breed with my male chinchilla? I have read quite a few differing weight requirements, but I'd like to get a personal opinion from you guys if I could.
Thank You,
Rainy


Answer:
weight is a good way to tell but if you dont have any background info on her and shes from a pet store she shouldnt be bred anyways


Answer:
Originally Posted by Brandy
weight is a good way to tell but if you dont have any background info on her and shes from a pet store she shouldnt be bred anyways

I do know that they both came from professional breeders so I do have THAT background info. They are in perfect health as according to my vet (a well known vet for "exotic" animals). The female did come from a different breeder than the male, since they told me that the one who bred the male (whom I got a year before) would not send them females at all so they go through a different breeder for females. I just don't know the females age, however my guess is that she is somewhere around 9 months.



Answer:
There is no surefire way to tell how old the chin is. Weight can give you somewhat of an idea I guess but it's definitely not a garantee.
I would have to agree with Brandy on this one and say that if you do not have lineage for your chins and even if they look like they are in perfect health, they should not be bred. Malocclusion and heart mumures are both common inherited ailments that only show up later in your chin's life. Unless you have health records on the parents and grandparents, there is no way for your to tell if this problem runs in the family lines. There is also often a big difference between what pet stores tell people and what actually occured. (I've been there and done that) I've also seen pet stores tell people the chins came from a breeder only to find out later they came from a breeding mill. Not very good Personally, this situation would be too much of a risk for me to want to breed the chins.


Answer:
If you know the chinchilla came from a professional breeder, is there any way in which the pet store can contact the breeder?
It is good you know your chinchilla came from a professional breeder but you need to know more information than that if you want to breed her.


Answer:
Oops I also forgot to add that a female should be AT MINIMUM over 500 grams before breeding.
Her pelvis should also be open enough. You can tell this by doing the "thumb test". Here is where the breeders on the board can correct me if I'm wrong but I thinkthat' if you can comfortably fit you thumb between the pelvic bones, your chins should be able to pass kits.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Denise
If you know the chinchilla came from a professional breeder, is there any way in which the pet store can contact the breeder?
It is good you know your chinchilla came from a professional breeder but you need to know more information than that if you want to breed her.
I was actually just thinking that, I don't think the pet store would have any problem giving me their breeder information, then perhaps I could get lineage for her, or at least know she didn't come from a mill.


Answer:
Chinchillas do not come from a "mill". They can come from a breeder or a rancher. If you are referring to a rancher, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a chinchilla coming from a reputable rancher.


Answer:
Mills are the work of da debil!


Answer:
Originally Posted by Solarsis
Oops I also forgot to add that a female should be AT MINIMUM over 500 grams before breeding.
Her pelvis should also be open enough. You can tell this by doing the "thumb test". Here is where the breeders on the board can correct me if I'm wrong but I thinkthat' if you can comfortably fit you thumb between the pelvic bones, your chins should be able to pass kits.
something I did not want to think about before noon! Hehe thanks, I'll keep that in mind as well. though I have to figure out what 500 grams is, in ounces.