GEDNDER DETERMINATIO

(above: Left MALE; Right FEMALE)

First step in breeding is to determine the gender of your chinchilla.

Males and females have slightly different physiques, for example, the male chinchilla has a broader and larger head than the female, but its body is comparatively smaller.

The female chinchillas has six nipples in total which are found on her abdomen (belly), in two straight lines of three, but they are not always easy to see unless the fur is parted. The female has a urethral cone, sometimes called the clitoris, which is often referred to as a 'false penis' due to its appearance and to its similarity to the male chinchilla's penis. The distance between the urethral cone and the anus is very small indeed, and the vagina is in the form of a horizontal slit. This is often very difficult to detect, as it remains closed unless the chinchilla is on heat, when it will open and be much easier to see.

The male has large gap between the penis and anus -- usually bout 1 -1.5 cm.