White Chinchilla

1 Species Overview

The white chinchilla, also called the velvet rat (rong shu), is mainly distributed in the Andes of South America. It is a chinchilla morph that likes a dry, cool environment. It is nocturnal, dislikes strong direct sunlight, and although gentle, it is also very timid.

Taxonomy: Chinese name Chun Bai Long Mao; kingdom Animalia; phylum Chordata; subphylum Vertebrata; class Mammalia; order Rodentia; family Chinchillidae; genus Chinchilla; species Chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed chinchilla). The pure white form is a color mutation of the chinchilla.

2 Physical Characteristics

The white chinchilla has an all-white coat and the same habits and temperament as the chinchilla. The chinchilla’s looks are very cute and popular with people; the pure white one is priced higher for its unique coat color.

Weight: male 400 to 500 g, female 450 to 800 g; body length 20 to 25 cm; tail 7 to 15 cm. The velvet rat looks much like a rabbit and a squirrel, with long- and short-tailed forms; small and plump, with a rabbit-like head and squirrel-like tail. It has large, bright eyes and many whiskers of varying length beside the nose, with keen touch. The white chinchilla’s ears are large, thin and blunt-rounded. The forelimbs are short with 5 toes, the hind limbs strong with 4 toes, and it is a good jumper.

3 Habitat and Environment

Keeping the white chinchilla follows chinchilla care; consider its habits. As a nocturnal animal that likes cool, dry conditions, keep it at 5 to 25 degrees C.

It needs space to stretch and move; too small a cage causes stress and a compulsive symptom like fur-chewing. Per Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department guidance: for one chinchilla a cage about 34 x 42 cm; for two, 42 x 60 cm; for three or more, 52 x 70 cm; cage height about 50 cm. It is not advised to keep three in one cage, and same-sex individuals should not share until they are known to get along, to avoid territory fights.

A dedicated chinchilla bedroom (house) is a worthwhile investment, especially for a newcomer needing a hideout to feel safe. Wooden and ceramic houses are sold; wood warms in winter, is more natural and comfortable and helps wear teeth, while ceramic comes in pretty shapes, looks nice and is easy to clean.

The white chinchilla loves to jump, usually over half a meter high; install a ledge in the cage for play and tooth-wearing, and sometimes rest. In a large cage, add a branch for climbing, but the wood must be safe; if self-collected, boil it to disinfect and kill insects, then sun-dry or oven-dry.

Normal droppings have no odor, but urine does, so lay urine-absorbing bedding: wood shavings, cat litter or paper grass in a cage with a bottom tray. Note that while pine shavings deodorize well, pine contains substances that can trigger chinchilla asthma, so unprocessed pine shavings are unsuitable.

The chinchilla’s temperature limit is below 32 degrees C, so cool it in summer; it is comfortable at 18 to 22 degrees C. Never place the cage where direct sun hits it. Keep the air flowing but do not put it right under the AC or in a draft, or it easily catches colds or diarrhea from uneven heat. Keep it off the hallway or busy spots; place the cage against one or two walls, not in the room center, but not against wallpapered or paneled walls it might chew. Put the cage on a chair or table for a wider view, not on the floor. Key points: quiet, dim, high, dry and ventilated.

4 Feeding Highlights

There are feeding taboos, especially with human food, which should not be given casually. In the wild the white chinchilla eats mainly herbs, cactus, hay and seeds. What should it eat in captivity?

Snacks like sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, raisins and dried fruit are favorites, but they cause many diseases. Seeds and peanuts are fatty; the chinchilla’s digestion of oils is limited, easily slowing gut movement and causing constipation or even obstruction. Dried fruit is high in sugar and disrupts digestion. Such foods are not recommended.