Breeding chinchillas

Question
Hello

Are chinchillas hard to breed? are they harded to breed then hamsters or guinea-pigs?

Will any pair breed?

How do you tell male from female in young chinchillas?

How old do they have to be before they are bred?

Can a fawn and a grey be bred together?

Is a cage 3x2x2 feet large enough for a pair?

Could they babys live with there pernants permantly?

How long do breeding chinchillas live?

Are breeding chinchillas mean?

How mant times a year can they be bred safely?

What are the risks for the female?

Are they normaly good mothers?

Do chinchillas cost a lot to house and feed?

Thanks  

Answer
Hello,
I don't really think they are that difficult to breed. I've never bred hamsters or guinea pigs so I have no basis of comparison there.
Some pairs will breed and some won't. It depends on the temperments.
Males have a space between their anal and genital region, females do not, unless they are in heat and then the vaginal opening is visible. You can tell them apart from birth.
Reccomended breeding age is 10 months. I prefer to wait a year.
I'd advise studying up on chinchilla colors. There are some lethal genes and such to know about. There is no such thing as a "fawn" chinchilla. Perhaps you are referring to a beige? I've got a mutation directory at chincentral.com
That cage size is okay, bigger would be better. Be sure that the spacing of the mesh is no bigger than 1 x 1/2 inches, otherwise the babies WILL get out.
Male babies should not be kept around the mother and females should not be kept around the father. They will interbreed and this is too close of a relation to produce healthy offspring.
Breeders have about the same lifespan as non-breeders. 10-15 years, give or take a few.
Pregnant females can get a bit snippety at times but they generally keep their personalities when breeding.
2 litters per year is what I do, 3 is okay. Any more than 3 can wear down the female.
I've never had any breeding-related emergencies with my females. Possibilities are hemorrage, babies stuck, babies die, and such. I have more details on my webpage.
Chins take excellent care of their offspring. The males help out as well.
They don't cost too much to house and feed. The shocker is the vet bills. A good chinchilla vet is hard to find and usually charges their weight in gold. I spent 2,000 dollars on a rescue, she had 4 surgeries in 3 months. That's not the norm however, she was a rescue.

I'll take it from your questions that you are considering buying to breed. I'd suggest first buying one, a female would be best, from a reputable source. After you get her, take her to a vet and have her examined for tooth problems and heart murmors. I wouldn't get a pair right off the bat if you've never had chinchillas before.

Happy chin hunting! See pictures of my spoiled rotten critters at chincentral.com