There are many chinchilla colors. Too many, that your head will ache by the time you’re done understanding what each color is. Getting to know all the colors is not be the most practical thing to do, especially if you’re itching to buy one right this moment.
The next best thing is to figure out the most important qualities you want your chinchilla to have. Once you know what you want, you can then choose the best color that fits your prospect. This way, you get the color you want without compromising on care.
A Long Lifespan
Did you know that chinchillas can live to up to 20 years? Sadly though, not a lot of chinchillas live long enough to reach that extent. In fact, it’s safe to say that chinchillas that live to their 20s compose about 2% of all chinchillas, whether they are kept as pets or live in the wild.
If you want your chinchilla to belong to that exclusive group of 2%, then you should pick one that has not been mutated and bears a standard color. A chinchilla’s natural color is gray with a white underbelly. At both sides of the standard chinchilla are faint white stripes. All the other chinchilla colors are a result of mutation and genetic deficiencies, so to speak.
A Rare Breed
Some pet owners just want their chinchillas to stand out from the crowd and buy ones that have rare colors. These chinchillas result from complex mutation schemes of heterozygous or homozygous chinchillas.
An excellent example is the blue diamond. Bred from a sapphire and violet pair of chinchillas, this chinchilla is rare because both of its parents bear recessive genes. Therefore, the resulting end, a blue diamond chinchilla, can get very sick or might not even survive at all. What makes this breed so interesting is its blend of silver and white, with its pinkish ears.
Another very rare color is the goldbar, which, as its name suggests, has the regal color gold. First born in 1995, the goldbar chinchilla has a golden appearance spread throughout its fur. Its eyes are crimson red and has a white underbelly.
A third rare color is royal blue. Although there are more chinchillas in sapphire than in gold or blue diamond, royal blue is nonetheless still a rare variation that only a few established breeders can produce. It results from a sapphire and a black velvet chinchilla.
Tantalizing Eyes
Some pet owners prefer chinchillas with unusually colored eyes. Aside from the regular black color, some chinchillas have eyes that look different. One such breed is the Sullivan beige color. They have bright red eyes, with a pearly beige color that has a matte appearance about it.
The pearly beige color is fairly rare, but if you really want chinchillas with red eyes, then the entire beige family should suffice. Whether you buy a homo or hetero beige chinchilla, its eyes will be red and will look just as beautiful.
Chinchilla colors are more than just colors. They are a vital aspect of chinchilla care, and one of the essential things that define what a chinchilla is, inside and out.