The sleep habits of your chinchilla are important when it comes to ensuring that it stays healthy and happy.
When you know what is normal for your pet, you will have an easier time caring for them. Spotting abnormal behavior of any kind could save their life.
How much do Chinchillas Sleep Each Day?
The average chinchilla will sleep for 11 to 14 hours every single day. These animals are most active during the early morning and late evening. This is one of the reasons that they are so easy to care for.
Reasons for Abnormal Sleep Habits
If you’ve noticed that your chinchilla has been sleeping more or less than it should, there are a number of possible explanations. It is important that you explore some of these potential reasons.
1. Stress
If a chinchilla is very stressed out, you might notice that it isn’t sleeping very much, if at all. There are many things that could cause your pet to become stressed, such as another pet in the house. If you have a big dog that is always nosing around your chinchilla’s cage, it could make them extremely anxious. One common sign of stress with these animals is pacing back and forth in their cage.
2. Illness
It’s also possible that your chinchilla is sleeping more or less than usual because it is sick. They could have some sort of infection, bacterial or fungal. These infections are not uncommon among chinchillas. If you notice any other signs of illness, you should get them to the vet right away.
Some of the common signs of illness among chinchillas include:
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal droppings
- Lethargic behavior
- Labored breathing
- Not drinking water
3. Discomfort
Another possible explanation for your chinchilla’s abnormal sleep habits is that they can’t get comfortable. This could be due to poor bedding material, or even the size of their cage. They might also be in pain for some reason. It is possible that your pet got injured and is experiencing severe discomfort, which is preventing them from getting adequate sleep.
How to Make Sure Your Chinchilla gets Enough Sleep
There are plenty of different things that you can do to ensure that your pet gets all the rest it needs on a daily basis.
1. Choose the Right Place for Their Cage
It is imperative that you keep your chinchilla’s cage in an area of your home that doesn’t get a lot of regular foot traffic. They could have a difficult time sleeping if there are people or other pets constantly making noise nearby.
You also want to make sure that your pet’s cage is not getting too much light during the day, as this is when they typically sleep. If the cage is by a window, it should have blinds that you can close. Excess light is one of the most common reasons that these animals have trouble getting enough sleep each day.
2. Make Sure They Get Enough Stimulation
Chinchillas are very active and playful creatures, so they need regular stimulation every single day. If they are not receiving enough stimulation, their sleep could be negatively impacted.
You should put multiple toys in your pet’s cage that they can play with while they are awake. It’s also a good idea to spend at least a little bit of time interacting with them every day. This will help to ensure that they get a proper amount of rest during their normal sleep hours.
3. Choose the Right Bedding Material
The material you pick for your chinchilla’s bedding is also important. Dried pine shavings make for excellent bedding material. You should avoid any materials that are abrasive or rough. Inadequate bedding can easily cause sleep problems with these animals, so it is important to keep that in mind.
4. Keep them on a Healthy Diet
The food that you give your chinchilla each day will also play a crucial role in their sleep habits. A majority of your pet’s diet will consist of hay. Timothy hay is a particularly good choice for these animals, as it is very nutritious.
You can also give your pet the occasional vegetables, but it’s important that you know which ones to avoid. There are certain foods that are toxic to these animals. If you are regularly feeding your chinchilla one of these foods, they are likely to experience constant discomfort.
5. Maintain a Predictable Schedule
You’ll want to make a point of maintaining a predictable schedule with your chinchilla. This means feeding them, playing with them, and doing other things at the same times each day. These animals don’t do well with an erratic schedule.
Even a seemingly minor disruption in your pet’s schedule can cause them to become very stressed, which may lead to a lack of sleep. This is why it is so important for you to do everything around the same time each day with them.
When to See a Vet
If you notice that your chinchilla is sleeping significantly more or less than usual for more than a day, you should take them to the vet. This sudden change in behavior could indicate a serious problem, so you don’t want to ignore it.
Conclusion
- Most chinchillas sleep between 11 and 14 hours every day.
- If your chinchilla isn’t sleeping more or less than usual, they could be stressed or anxious.
- There is also the possibility that your pet’s sleep habits have changed because it is ill or has an infection of some kind.
- Physical discomfort can also affect a chinchilla’s sleep habits.
- Make sure that you keep your chinchilla’s cage in an area of the house that isn’t very noisy during the daytime hours.
- Their cage shouldn’t have lots of natural light shining on it in the daytime.
- Choose a comfortable material for your chinchilla’s bedding, such as dried pine shavings.
- A healthy, well-balanced diet can go a long way towards helping your pet get enough sleep each day.
- If you notice a change in their sleep habits for more than a day, you should take them to the vet.
