Temperament and company
Chinchillas are gregarious: on their own they get lonely and stressed, so keep them in pairs. Companions are best introduced young, or bought as a pair already living together.
Chinchillas are active at night and spend much of the day asleep. Play and spend time with them in the evening, and let them rest in peace during the day. A chinchilla is a pet for many years, so before getting one, think about whether you can care for it for its whole life.
Housing
Chinchillas love to jump and climb, so they need a tall, roomy cage with shelves on several levels and a hideaway for each animal. The floor should be solid, and there should be room in the cage for a dust bath.
Chinchillas come from a cool, dry land, and heat is very dangerous for them. Keep the cage in a cool, well-ventilated place, away from radiators, direct sun and draughts, and on hot days make sure the room does not overheat.
Feeding
A chinchilla needs a lot of fibre: the bulk of what it eats should be good hay, available all day. Chewing it wears down the ever-growing teeth. Add a small amount of pellets made for chinchillas.
Give treats only now and then, and only a little. Clean water must always be available. Introduce new foods gradually so as not to upset digestion.
Handling
Chinchillas are fast and sensitive, so taming takes patience: sit by the cage, talk quietly and let the chinchilla come to your hand by itself. To lift it, support the body from below with one hand and the hindquarters with the other, and hold it close to you.
Never grab a chinchilla by its fur: rough handling or a fright can make it shed a clump of fur. A chinchilla is not a pet for young children to cuddle.
Everyday health care
A chinchilla's coat is very dense, and dust baths keep it clean: put in a bath house with dust made for chinchillas, let it roll, and take the bath out again before long. Ask your vet what bathing routine suits your chinchilla.
Check your chinchilla every week: clear eyes and ears, front teeth that are not overgrown, an even coat. Weigh it regularly. Find a vet who sees rodents before you need one.
What you will need
- A tall, roomy cage with shelves Cages · 923 products
- Bedding Bedding · 401 products
- Hay available all day Food · 2,670 products
- Pellets made for chinchillas Food · 2,670 products
- Bathing dust and a bath house Grooming · 118 products
- A heavy bowl and a water bottle Bowls & Feeders · 258 products
- A hideaway for each chinchilla
- A carrier for trips to the vet Carriers & Crates · 57 products
The links lead to product categories, never to a product or a brand. Not a recommendation.
When to see a vet now
See a vet straight away if your chinchilla stops eating or passing droppings, breathes with effort, is dull or lies limp after being in the heat. Chinchillas hide illness for a long time, so even a short spell off food means it should be seen.
Sources
Lifespan, weight, social needs and diet are taken from these sources. The text is our own.