Random question about show quality chinchillas

[e.murphy518]

I will start off by saying I have no interest in showing my chinchillas, they are purely pets. I am just curious about show quality chinchillas.

I was just thinking about it and I am wondering what characteristics make a chinchilla 'show quality'? Like is it their fur appearance/texture? or face shape?

Pictures would be helpful I am just curious to know what a show quality chinchilla would look like versus a pet chinchilla. What color mutations can be involved in shows? When do you stop showing a chinchilla?

I am curious because I honestly know absolutely nothing about chinchilla shows, and I would like to know more :thumbsup:

 

[javachin]

Show quality chins are judged on their fur quality, color, brightness, density, overall conformation of the chinchilla, size, etc. Its hard to take photos of these qualities, but ones that are more obvious in a photo would be a chin that has narrow shoulders, for example. They look "wedgy," and don't quite look like a blocky ball, if that makes any sense. I'm sure other people can chime in with the differences as well.

 

[AZChins]

Technically all chins are show quality because all of them could potentially be shown! It's how well the chins place at show that can give people an idea of the quality of their chins.

A successful show chin will have really nice fur, a nice blocky shape and good clarity. There's probably tons of pictures on the internet of show chins, or maybe even on this forum.

 

[Snickers]

I show my chins but they are my pets first. I only go to shows to get comments on them. I don't separate them into individual cages like everyone else does to keep their fur nice not damaged by cage mates, plus I play with them.

 

[jags]

The best way to see the difference is to see them in person. There are several shows within a few hours of you that you may want to attend just for the learning experience.

Show chins can be pet chins and pet chins can also be show chins. In the end quality is what we are after both in fur quality and temperament.

 

[6Dusters]

Your Questions:
What color mutations can be involved in shows? When do you stop showing a chinchilla?

The color's of animals at the shows are the following:

White, Sapphire, Violet, Beige, Standard (Naturalle) Ebony, Black Velvet. They have been putting Blue Diamonds in with Sapphires at the shows I have been too.

It's a bit difficult for me to break it down even further with the MCBA classification prior to the show as I don't breed white. The judge and animal handlers will break the animals into the same colors and phases. They also break them down into age groups and sex. They do not mix the sex's of the animals. It will be all young males, all young females, older males and older females.

When separating the color phases for the MCBA, they will move them into groups of light, medium, medium dark, dark, extra dark. And the white will be classified and separated into groups as well. Sorry I don't know all the white classifications. And I know I am going to miss something here. Just giving you a vague reference. Only the judge and animal handlers are present. The audience and breeders are not in that area. After the animals are classified, the show begins.

You can show animals at any age. I think most would agree the first year or so is the best time to show. Longer than that, the blacks and beige tend to turn a bit rusty looking on the tips of the fur. That isn't good for showing. It is called oxidation. And we all wish our animals are in prime when showing. That is when the fur is at its best.

Pets can enter the show as well. Breeders and ranchers will spend several months preparing their animals for the show. A pet may or may not have anything done to them before the show. I try to talk to the pet people at shows. They have many questions. While some may never breed or show again. I'd like to think I have the opportunity to inspire someone to be a future chinchilla breeder. Perhaps that person will feel more comfortable and find a mentor.

You can find some really nice photos down in the "Show" postings. Tiffany took some nice ones at the SEC show this year and put up a link. Most people will post several photos after the show is complete. The shows are so spread out across the nation. I know making it to California isn't possible for me. But I like to see the photos and look at what people are working with.

 

[e.murphy518]

Thanks everybody! all great info! I will probably try to make it to a chin show at some point just to check it all out, I am interested to see what it is like in person

 

[ChinChiq]

I highly recommend checking out a show as well! I too am a pet owner who will never breed and I went to a show in PA just to see what it was like. Everyone there was very nice and a few of the breeders let me sit with them and explained what was going on during the judging. I learned so much about chins in general, got to see all different colors close up and had a really good time! I will probably try to go to the same show again next year if I can.