There was a time I almost convinced myself that my Chinchilla was depressed because she was always sleeping so hard. so much so that I decided to get her out more after I noticed she was active at night.

If you are in my situation, you must have wondered if chinchillas hibernate as I did. Being nocturnal creatures, I have the understanding that chinchillas are more active at night, preferring to sleep during the day. But do they hibernate? After doing much research, here is what I found out:

Chinchillas do not hibernate, but they can get into a state where they experience reduced metabolism and inactivity, especially when the temperature varies greatly. This state is called torpor. So if your pet Chinchilla sleeps for ridiculously long periods with dropping body temperatures, it is not hibernating. They are in a state of torpor.

Torpor differs from hibernation in that it is involuntary, lasts only a few hours during the day, and is usually influenced by a lack of food and the outside temperature.

So torpor is a “temporary hibernation” and not as severe as hibernation. On the other hand, the former means a long-term, multiday state of dormancy for survival in cold conditions.

You will agree with me that these rodents can make fascinating pets. When they exhibit queer behaviors, the first thing is to detect whether they are happy or if they are going through metabolic complexities.

How long do chinchillas sleep?

How long a chinchilla will sleep depends on its age and health. On average, they sleep for between 10 and 14 hours per day when kept as pets. In the wild, chinchillas can spend up to 15 hours per day sleeping. When left alone, these rodents can snooze for 10 to 12 hours.

Chinchillas that spend longer periods sleeping could be an indication that they are battling with health issues, but if you keep one as a pet, it is important to make their sleeping area quiet and free from threats.

As you probably know already, they are easily alarmed by loud noises, so it can be a bit challenging to give them a peaceful day of rest since they naturally prefer to sleep throughout the day.

Can I alter the sleeping pattern of my chinchilla?

It is generally not a good idea to attempt to change the sleeping schedule of your chinchilla because it could be detrimental to their health. When you try to alter their sleeping pattern, it can result in stress and make them sick.

Since chinchillas are known to sleep from dawn until dark, you can reschedule their food schedule and care to fit that pattern. However, you can use the lightning sequence in the room where you keep the chinchilla to change the length of the day.

So when they see the 12 hours of light during the night and how it goes off during the day, they can stay awake per your own daily nighttime schedule. Ultimately, you want to do things that make the pet happy.

How to know a happy chinchilla?

Having studied chinchillas for three years now, I realized that you can tell if they have bonded with you when they sit on the floor and hop over you. They also make tiny squeaks and chattering sounds, which suggest that they are in a happy state.

For example, my Chinchilla pet bounces around excitedly all over the place whenever she’s happy. But then, a happy Chinchilla is healthy. So looking at outward behaviors isn’t enough.

How to know a healthy Chinchilla

Generally, when you see that your pet discharges fluids from its eyes, nose, or ears, it means there are health issues. Watery eyes are also a sign of health problems. But there are more things to look out for to be sure your chinchilla is healthy, especially when it comes to sleeping habits.

After going through Dr. Lucy Hale’s Chinchilla Care Guide on the Wellesley Animal Hospital network, I discovered that the lower and upper teeth of a healthy chinchilla are pretty even when the jaw is covered. If there is a sign of drooling, it could mean that your pet is having health problems.

In addition, exercise regular contact and increase handling time to make them good pets, especially when you notice that they cry or struggle to walk. Movements that are not slow and steady can frighten such chinchillas.

This may be a little abstract, but I always recommend people inspect the anal area of their chinchilla to check for moistness or diarrhea. That’s one effective way to be sure they don’t have a common gastrointestinal infection.

Parting thoughts

Hibernation in small animals goes beyond curling up and going to sleep. When a pet hibernates, it means the animal slows down its rate of metabolism and lowers its heart rate. The health condition also includes a reduced breathing rate and body temperature.

Fortunately, chinchillas do not hibernate, but they are known for their long periods of sleep. Still, a few health problems can be traced to chinchilla sleeping habits. For example, chinchilla insomnia, sleep apnea, and torpor, both of which are usually caused by mental and physical diseases such as stress and anxiety,

If your chinchilla is having trouble sleeping and you can’t figure out what the problem is, I recommend you take them to the vet to be sure of any potential health problems.