The breeding of animals at home should be approached seriously, even when the animal is small. The most popular pets include chinchilla. In order to properly maintain this animal, you must be able to determine its gender. These data will help not only in the selection of a pair, but also if necessary, determine the sex of the offspring.
How to determine the gender?
Determining the gender of such a beast as a chinchilla can be done in several ways. Namely:
- to size;
- by behavior;
- on the genitals.
It is immediately necessary to make a reservation that comparing the size of two animals is advisable only if they are of the same age. This primarily concerns the choice at the time of purchase at the pet store. Often, even the seller cannot confidently distinguish between the age and sex of the animals. Therefore, the size must be paid attention only when the age of the compared chinchillas is precisely known. So, of the peers, the female will have larger dimensions than the male.
It is also worth keeping in mind that sizes depend on the diet of individuals, as well as on health status. In the case when the animal is painful, receives unbalanced food and not enough vitamins, its size may be smaller than that of peers. An important role is played by age. If in one cage there is a male who is older than the female, then its size can be large.
The behavior of animals of different sexes can also be used to determine sex, as it has certain differences. So, in a pair of chinchillas, females play a dominant role, which can be determined by their greater activity and temperament of behavior.
It is worth paying special attention to the fact that in the process of mating, the male is not behind the female for the entire period. Often, female chinchillas irritate the male, mimicking his movements when mating.
Females of this species are distinguished by great curiosity, as well as playfulness. Thanks to this, their behavior is always more interesting to observe. Girls can also be called more frisky and sociable, which can be explained by their dominant role in the pack, whether it be the natural environment, a pet store or a home environment. However, this temperament has its drawbacks, which include excessive aggression during estrus, as well as low stress resistance of chinchilla girls.
Men, on the contrary, are always calm and affectionate. They are much easier to tame. Therefore, if you plan to have one chinchilla for a child, then the boy will be the best choice. However, passivity and lack of lively interest in the owner can disappoint the child.
Determining the sex of the animal by genitalia can be called the most difficult way, but at the same time the most accurate. The complexity of the genital examination is that the animal can decide what is in a dangerous situation and experience stress. In this case, chinchillas dump fur, which does not always please the owners.
In order for the chinchilla to not feel stress, during the inspection it is necessary to perform all actions with the utmost care and delicacy. Taking chinchilla in hands, it is necessary to stroke the animal. So he will be calmer and more comfortable. Then you need to gently grab the animal by the scruff and turn it upside down with its abdomen and its muzzle towards itself.
After that, it is necessary to slightly pull the skin in the place where the genitals are located. This will bare them and allow them to consider. When self-determining the gender of a chinchilla, it is worth knowing that to visually do this is quite difficult due to the similarity of their appearance. The only difference between the female and the male is the distance from the anus to the urethra. In males of this species, it is larger - about 4 mm. In females, the distance is insignificant - up to 1 mm. After the inspection, the chinchilla can be stroked again. An excellent solution would be a small treat at the end of the procedure.
Cubs
Due to the fact that the genitals of young animals of this animal are even smaller than in adults, sex determination becomes more difficult. However, it is still necessary to fulfill it.
Chinchillas are able to breed at the age of three months, however, for a female this can become a big stress. Therefore, the determination of sex and the resettlement of boys and girls of this species of animals must be carried out before the onset of three months of age.
In order to find out the gender of the animal, there is an alternative option - to show the animal itself or a photo of its genitals to a specialist. It could be:
- professional breeder;
- veterinarian.
In the case of transporting chinchillas to a veterinary clinic, care must be taken to minimize stress for the animals. To do this, you can cover the cage with a towel, and in winter, pre-place small pieces of fur and wool in it, in which the animals can hide from the cold.
Neighborhood of individuals
An animal such as chinchilla is considered to be flocks. The content of only one individual can lead to shyness of the animal, its apathy. To avoid these consequences, it is recommended to start a couple of chinchillas right away. If breeding of offspring is undesirable, then two females can be acquired. However, it is worth remembering about possible conflicts and the struggle for territory and a leading role in the pack.
Negative moments can be minimized if you introduce animals in a neutral territory, without marks and smells. To do this, thoroughly wash the cage from the secret of chinchilla with detergent. A good option would be to purchase a new, more spacious cage.
The best option for sharing is the neighborhood of two same-sex individuals that appeared in the same litter. Such animals will easily tolerate the proximity and smell of another secret. Chinchillas are great little pets that, with proper sex, will delight their owners with playfulness and tenderness.
For information on how to determine the sex of newborn chinchillas, see the next video.
