Chinchillas
Your chinchilla can live up to 20 years. Be sure you are willing to care for this animal for that long before you buy!
Chinchillas were discovered by Spanish explorers high in the Andes Mountains in South America. They are used to a dry climate with cold weather. These animals are in the rodent family, although they are larger than your standard hamster or gerbil. Chinchillas are soft, active, fun and make good pets to a responsible owner. They will learn their own names and are a joy to watch.
Chinchillas were originally gray, although you will find different colors today, such as beige or soft black. Interestingly, they have no toenails. They do have three toes on each front foot, and four on each back foot. In the Andes they would hop from rock to rock. The chinchilla is delicate and should only be allowed to sit in your hand. A young child can easily injure a chinchilla by squeezing it too tightly, so always have your children supervised when interacting with your chinchilla.
Never use a fish tank for your chinchilla habitat. Your cage should never be smaller than 3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. It is always better to have as large a cage as you can afford because chinchillas are active and like to run around. Cages with several levels are wonderful for chinchillas. Be sure to include one or more houses for your chinchilla to call home and feel safe in. Your chinchilla will chew any plastic placed in the cage.
The mesh squares in the bottom of the cage should never be larger than 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. If the holes are larger, a chinchilla will get his foot caught and either break or chew it off. Always place several platforms over the bottom mesh so your pet will have a solid place to sit. Continued contact with the wire will hurt your chinchilla’s feet. If you have a cage with a solid floor, be sure to clean it daily. Never use cedar or pine shavings for bedding, as they are dangerous for your chinchilla – however you can use aspen pine shaving that have been kiln dried. We highly recommend Care Fresh bedding for all rodent cages.
Your chinchilla is used to a cool and dry climate. They do not do well in temperatures over 67 degrees, so be sure to place your chinchilla away from direct sunlight. Temperatures over 70 degrees can kill a chinchilla. Clean water is a must for your chinchilla, and should be changed daily. Heavy duty glass water bottles are best, since a chinchilla will chew threw a plastic one. Make sure the stem or drinking part of the bottle is very thick so the chinchilla will not injure himself chewing it.
Chinchillas must clean themselves at least twice a week in a dust bath. Kaytee or Blue Cloud brands are a good choice for your pet. Purchase a covered dust bath, which will keep the dust down a bit in your house. Place this in your chinchilla’s cage and enjoy watching him roll and scratch in it. When your chinchilla shakes after his dust bath, the dirt and oil is removed, keeping his coat clean and soft.
Food should be given in stainless steel or ceramic bowls, which are chew proof. Feed chinchilla food only. Do not offer fruits and veggies to your chinchilla. You may offer an occasional piece of dried fruit such as papaya, pineapple or raisin – but regular fruits and vegetables can give a chinchilla fatty liver disease. Your chinchilla requires lots of fiber in his diet. Place a hay rack in the cage and keep timothy hay in it at all times. Nuts and seeds have too much fat and oil so do not offer those. Additionally, chinchillas cannot process sugar, so keep all sugar – including natural sugars from fruit – away from them. As herbivores, chinchillas cannot eat any dairy or meat products.
Your chinchilla requires daily exercise and needs plenty of toys to keep busy. Keep an exercise wheel sized to your chinchilla in the cage, and be sure it is a SOLID WHEEL. Never use a wheel that has bars, mesh or spokes in it. These wheels will catch a chinchilla’s tail or foot, injuring your pet. Your chinchilla will enjoy a daily romp outside the cage as well. Place him or her in a “chinchilla proofed” room, making sure there is nowhere for him to get out or get stuck in. Supervise this outside time to be sure your chinchilla remains safe.
Chinchillas love to chew, and should be given plenty of things to gnaw on. You can place toys that were made for large birds in the cage that have wooden blocks and large, choke-free bells. You can purchase safe wood blocks and pumice stones at the pet store as well.
Chinchillas can be territorial – especially the females. If you will be able to provide your chinchilla with quality daily interaction for the life of the animal, it is alright to purchase one chinchilla. If you feel your chinchilla will need company, purchase two at the same time, preferably males.
