Care Sheet

The following is information we have acquired over the years thanks to the knowledge of long-time chinchilla breeders and from our own experience. This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. There is a lot of research that must be done prior to owning a chinchilla. Chinchillas are a 15+ years commitment. Chinchillas are playful, inquisitive, virtually odor free animals. They are not typically cuddly and prefer to run around and play as opposed to being held. 

 A lot of misinformation exists on the internet, so please reference reputable breeder websites or Facebook pages run by breeders. 

Housing 

Wire cages are best for chinchillas. Ferret Nation (1" cage spacing), Critter Nation (1/2" cage spacing), Prevue Deluxe Critter Cages (Prevue Rat and Chinchilla Cage 495 Earthtone Dusted Rose, 31 x 20.5 x 40 IN), Oxbow Enriched Life Multi-Level Small Habitat  are good options. You can also purchase a cage from online retailers like KW Cages, Martin's Cages or Facebook Marketplace for a reasonable cost.  The Prevue cage or Oxbow cage is all metal and does not require modification to make it chinchilla-safe. In the Critter/Ferret nation cages, plastic bases can be replaced with metal trays (Bass Equipment sells them) and plastic ledges can be replaced with wood ledges. You may also choose to cover plastic ledges with non-pill fleece. Avoid very tall cages (for e.g. bird cages or ferret cages) as one misstep can lead to broken bones. We recommend cages no taller than 3 feet tall. Single story cages are safest. In multi-story cages, use plenty of wood ledges/shelves and hammocks.  Each cage should contain a water bottle, a sturdy metal feeder (gravity feeder) or ceramic crock, chew blocks, and an optional wooden house or  fleece hammocks/tunnels to sleep. Avoid pet store wire hay feeders that hang inside the cage as your chin's feet could become entangled and injured in the wire. Clean your cage every 7 days. Do not use fabric softeners on fleece as it can leave harmful residue’s behind.

Food

Chinchillas require a constant supply of pellets, and a handful of timothy or orchard hay at least 1-2 times weekly (2nd cutting is best). Do not mix any treats in with pellets. Chinchillas can also be offered alfalfa/timothy cubes with the required pellets and hay. Alfalfa is rich in calcium and great for growing chinchillas.

• Pellet Options: Mazuri, Oxbow Essentials (red bag only), Brytin Professional Chinchilla food, and Science Selective chinchilla food. Rabbit feed that is safe for chinchillas is Purina Show Rabbit Feed or Manna Pro Select Series Pro (or Sho) Rabbit Feed.

If you wish to feed a different brand of pellets, transition gradually (due to their sensitive digestive systems) by mixing the old brand with the new brand . When bringing a new chin home-continue on old feed (previous owners feed) for 1 week then follow the steps below. If your chin is already settled in your home and you wish to transition to a new feed follow the steps below.

Transitioning to New Feed

Week 1: Mix 75% old feed with 25% new feed

Week 2: Mix 50% old feed with 50% new feed

Week 3: Mix 25% old feed with 75% new feed

                                                                             Week 4: Give 100% new feed

Treats are optional. If you wish to give treats, they should be offered in moderation once the chinchilla is 6 months of age. If given too many treats, a chinchilla's digestive system can become disrupted. Chinchillas who are fed treats too often will not eat their regular food and not grow properly. They will not over eat but will choose treats over their regular food so they should not be mixed together. 

• Treat Options:  plain rolled oats uncooked, plain shredded wheat, plain cheerios, 1 raisin on rare occasion, alfalfa hay, apple tree sticks (washed and baked), dried dandelion leaves (pesticide- free and thoroughly washed), rose hips (dried)

• DO NOT FEED: seeds, fruits, nuts or vegetables (including dehydrated forms). Please avoid pet store treats as these products are often unsafe for chinchilla consumption. 

Water

Chinchillas are great at conserving water (this is why their urine is so concentrated). Purified/filtered water is preferred over tap water. Tap water can carry bacteria, chlorine and protozoa that are harmful to chinchillas. Do not give distilled water or reverse osmosis water.

We recommend glass water bottles as they are less likely to be chewed, however plastic bottles are okay too. You can place a metal washer (found in any home improvement store) on the end of the water bottle as a barrier between the cage and plastic bottle cap. Do not use bowls. Water should be changed once a week to avoid illness from harboring bacteria. The water bottle tip and bottle itself should also be soaked in boiling water or washed with soap and water weekly.

 Temperature

Chinchillas should be housed inside in a temperature no higher than 75 degrees. Ideally, the temperature should stay between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. They should be housed in an air-conditioned room or in your basement. Never take your chin outdoors in the sun. If temperatures exceed 75 degrees, chinchillas can suffer heat stoke and die because they cannot sweat to cool themselves down. Make sure your chinchilla is housed away from any drafts. When transporting your chin in the car, place their carrier on the backseat away from direct AC or heating. When transporting, cars must be equipped with AC in the summer months. It is optional to provide a cooling ledge (granite, quartz etc.) in your chin's cage.

Dust Baths

Chinchillas require dust baths at least 1-2 times weekly, but they do prefer more. Only purchase products labeled as chinchilla dust. Dust can be placed in pet store "dust houses", sturdy glass or ceramic bowls or a 1 gallon glass cookie jar that is large enough for the chinchilla to roll around comfortably. You only need about a 1/4-1/2 cup of dust in the dusting pan. Leave them to roll around for 10-15 minutes. After they have finished, you should sieve out the droppings or scoop out urine soiled dust so that their coat does not dirty next time. The dust can be used over and over again. We highly recommend "Chill Dust." "Blue Sparkle" dust is also a good choice. 

Exercise

Chinchillas do not require exercise and prefer smaller spaces as they are naturally burrowing animals. Wait until your chin is at least 6 months old to allow for playtime. Those first 6 months are a vital time for growth and development. Chinchillas less than 6 months are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and heatstroke with over exertion.  Exercise can be given for a maximum of 30 minutes daily. Any exercise or play time should occur in a chinchilla-proof room where chins cannot chew or injure themselves (avoid electrical wires, open toilet seats and any plastic).  Most people choose a bathroom, where the area is enclosed and the chinchilla can be monitored. Always monitor your chinchilla during playtime. Please NEVER use the plastic exercise balls ("Death balls"), as chinchillas overheat very easily! We do not recommend exercise wheels. They are unnecessary and can result in overexertion and heatstroke.

For chinchilla safe toys and items, please check out: Rhonda's Chinchillas or Chinchillacity.com

Handling

The correct way to hold a chinchilla is by the base of the tail, while supporting the chinchilla's body on your body. This will not hurt the chinchilla! It may be helpful in warmer conditions to pet your chinchilla in the opposite direction (from the base of the body up to the head) as this method cools the chin. When picking up a chinchilla, reach under its body gently, picking them up off the floor or cage. Grab the base of the tail and hold your chinchilla against you so that they feel secure. Never squeeze your chinchilla tightly. Please keep your chin away from other animals and small children- chinchillas are defenseless creatures.

safe wood & Bedding

Chinchillas are gnawing animals. Eating pellets and hay is enough to keep their constantly growing teeth in check. We still choose to provide wood ledges and chew blocks for our chins. Make sure the wood is untreated kiln-dried pine, poplar, aspen or research other safe wood options for chinchillas. Pumice stones are also acceptable (and last longer). We often provide apple sticks (apple tree branch cuttings that have been boiled and toasted in the oven) to our chins. Never keep plastic items in your cage, as chins will chew plastic. Too much plastic consumption can lead to impaction and death.  Kiln dried pine and aspen shavings are safe bedding options. Do not use "Care Fresh" or paper bedding as this can lead to impaction and death.

health & Wellness

Chinchillas are healthy, resilient animals and you may never have to take your chinchilla to the vet. Keep in mind- chinchillas are prey animals and hide illness very well, so it's important to be observant for even small changes in behavior. 

GI stasis or bloat involves slowing of the GI tract, which results in gas build up and decreased appetite. Droppings may become small and dry and eventually progress to no droppings at all. Symptoms include decreased appetite/thirst, fewer or no droppings, stretching motion and lethargy. GI stasis can be precipitated by stress or improper diet. This requires immediate vet attention. Your vet will prescribe gas drops, a gut motility medication and critical care food.

 Fur chewing can occur due to stress or genetic predisposition. Fur chewing does not affect the lifespan of your chinchilla, but it is best to eliminate any potential stressors, add chew blocks or toys and remove these animals from breeding. Always notify the breeder you purchased from so that they may evaluate and remove potential animals from their breeding stock. 

Malocclusion (misaligned or overgrown teeth/roots) can be genetic (typically before the age of 5) or environmental (lack of wood or chew toys), so if you notice drooling, wet fur under the chinchilla, watery eyes,  poor appetite, or weight loss, it is best to seek veterinary advice and again notify the breeder. Malo is sadly incurable, painful and often fatal, typically resulting in euthanasia. Vets will typically recommend routine teeth trimmings in maloccluded chinchillas, however it is important to evaluate for quality of life and to consider when treatment should be stopped. 

Ringworm (or fungal infection) can also occur in chinchillas when introduced to a new environment and is precipitated by stress. This is contagious but very treatable. Treatment is with antifungal powder added to the dust bath. 

Introducing Same-Sex Pairs

There are a number of methods used to safely introduce new chinchillas. Please quarantine a new chinchilla for at least 30 days before you introduce them to another chinchilla (fungal infections among other illnesses can appear due to the stress of a new environment). Keep in mind, not all chins will take to one another and it is best to have a second cage handy if this is the case. The method you choose should be based on your experience  and comfort level with chinchillas.

Our recommended method for introduction is the car ride method or smoosh method. Place your chins in a small carrier ( e.g. "You & Me Small Animal Pet Carrier (Large)" from Petco). Take a 30 minute car ride. Be sure to have another passenger handy in case the chins decide to fight. After the ride, leave the chins in this carrier for an additional 4 hours. Do this introduction method only once. Their permanent cage is then cleaned to eliminate any remaining scent and then all animals are introduced into the permanent cage.  More information on this method can be found online.

Another method is the cage within a cage method. Place one chin in the larger cage and the other in the smaller cage. Place the smaller cage inside the larger cage. Both cages should have access to food and water. After approximately 2 weeks, you may remove the smaller cage, such that both chins can roam freely in the larger cage.

Last updated~ 2/13/22