Chinchillas

Chinchillas are very active and interactive pets. These animals have soft, plush coats, big ears and unique personalities and are gaining popularity in the United States as pets. They are amusing, don’t usually bite, are curious, have no odor, and are very affectionate. They enjoy being played with, petted, and will often greet their owner with a soft chuckle!

Chinchillas are strictly herbivores. Their daily diet includes a pellet made specifically for chinchillas as well as hay for roughage. They can also eat leafy greens like dandelion leaves, bok choy, kale, cilantro, parsley, and leaf lettuce. Treats may be given occasionally.

Chinchillas will need a food dish for their food, a hay rack for their hay, and also require a salt wheel, water bottle, and a fish bowl for their dust baths. They also need a house to sleep in inside of their cages. For exercise they need a large solid surface wheel to run on. They enjoy chew toys and branches to climb on too.

Chinchilla cages should be at least 36”x24”x24” tall, and the bigger the better to provide room to move around. Solid floors are the safest for legs. For bedding it is best to use aspen shavings or pet litter made of recycled paper or organic pellets. Chinchillas tend to use one corner for the bathroom and you can put a litter box there. Chinchillas do not tolerate heat and must be kept below 80 degrees F. For this reason you should also keep their cages away from direct sunlight and windows.

Give your chinchillas a dust bath twice a week outside of the cage. This process tend to throw a lot of dust around so be sure to wear a mask to avoid breathing it in. Clean their cages and accessories weekly and be sure to scrub all parts of the water bottle.

One thing you’ll want to know is that chinchillas do not like to be held as much as they like to jump into your lap when they feel like it. They do not have claws and cannot scratch. It is important not to hold your chinchilla when he does not want to be held. Forcing him to do so can adversely affect your bond. Chinchillas live an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years though they may live for up to 20 years!