Chinchillas come in a variety of fun and interesting colors. Some are rare, while others are common. No matter their color, all chinchillas are adorable and fun to interact with. But with all the different available color variations, it is worth taking the time to appreciate them. Here are 11 chinchilla colors that are sure to impress any animal lover.
The 11 Chinchilla Colors
1. Gray Chinchilla
This color of chinchilla is sometimes referred to as a standard chinchilla because they are the most common kind. Their fur might vary in hue from exceptionally light to so dark, it looks like they have charcoal or black tips. Their bellies are snow white. While it is possible for average gray chinchillas, show chinchillas never have red or yellow tinting.
2. Chocolate Chinchilla
Achieving a chocolate coat requires generations of breeding ebony and beige chinchillas together. As each generation is bred, the babies develop darker and darker fur until it looks just like chocolate. Some chocolate chinchillas develop darker spots on their bodies, while others may have chocolate fur that fades away into silvery gray tones on the tail.
3. Black Velvet
These chinchillas have the Touch of Velvet, or TOV, gene, which gives them a velvety look and feel. They can be black or charcoal, but it can take a couple of years for them to develop their dark-colored veil. Their bellies should be pure white, as should their jawline. Their ears may be just as dark as their bodies but could be gray or silver in color.
4. Pinkwhite
This color chinchilla is a combination of the white and beige gene. They are typically born snow-white all over, but their fur can darken as they age until they appear more beige in color. Show pinkwhite chinchillas maintain their bright white coat even through adulthood. Their ears and tails may have a little gray coloring that is barely noticeable.
5. Beige Chinchillas
Beige chinchillas are considered to come in three different hues: light, medium, and dark. Some have a light blue tint that makes them appear somewhat gray. They typically have tiny dark brown spots (sometimes called freckles) on their ears, which are always pink. They have white bellies that taper off into their beige fur.
6. Pastel
The pastel chinchilla is also commonly referred to as light tan. Their fur is actually a cross between beige and ebony, which gives them a light tan hue that happens to look pastel in the sunlight. Like their full ebony counterparts, these chinchillas typically feature darker brown bellies and backs.
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7. Ebony Chinchilla
Ebony chinchillas look like a gray or standard chinchilla, but they end up with darker fur that looks more charcoal. Unlike standards, this color chinchilla does not have a white belly. Instead, their belly is the same color as their body and tail. However, their ears might be a little lighter in color than their overall body.
8. Violet Chinchillas
Violet chinchillas carry a recessive gene that is passed on by both parents. Their fur is gray and features a distinctive violet hue that gives them their unmistakably unique look. Their coloring and texture are even by nature, so no spots or freckles should be found on their bodies. Like many other colors of chinchillas, these little creatures have crisp white underbellies.
9. Sapphire
The sapphire color is a recessive gene that creates a clear fur shaft. The fur shaft illuminates the blue fur and makes it look sapphire. Their fur may feature barring, which is a pattern that makes them look speckled. However, show sapphire chinchillas feature smooth fur with no noticeable patterning in play.
10. Blue Diamond
This colored chinchilla is the result of breeding violet and sapphire chinchillas with one another. They have a beautiful vibrant blue coat that shimmers in the sunlight. Some feature silvery undertones, but most are darker in color. Their bellies are usually light gray. Babies may be born with light fur that looks gray but darkens up and turns brilliantly blue as they age.
11. Ebony Mosaic
This color is really a mix between white and ebony, or charcoal. They can be any color between white and ebony by the time they become adults. Some ebony mosaic chinchillas are born dark-colored, but they lighten to a bright white as they grow into adulthood. However, some babies are born pure white and stay light in color throughout their lives, even if they do darken a little. Others are born light and darken significantly, looking almost black, as they age.
Final Thoughts
With all the different chinchilla colors available, you are sure to find one that you find fascinating and irresistible! We happen to think that all chinchillas are adorable, so it is tough to pick a specific color. Do you have any color preferences? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
- Related read: How Many Babies Do Chinchillas Have in a Litter?
Featured Image by: Luniaka Maria, Shutterstock
