Chinchilla Care Guide

Get to Know Your Chinchilla

Basic Information

Common Name

Chinchilla

Scientific Name

Chinchilla

Distribution

Bolivia, Peru & Chili

Life span

15 - 20 years

Size

Up to 12” Long

Checklist for Your Chinchilla

Food

Timothy

Habitat

Chew toys and blocks

Treats

Bedding

Dust and dust bath

Food Bowl

Water bottle

Exercise wheel

Indoor playpen

Hide

Everything your Chinchilla needs, all in one place.

Shop Chinchilla Supplies

Feeding Your Chinchilla

Always provide fresh water.

Feed pellets specifically for Chinchillas:

Your chinchilla’s diet must consist of an endless supply of grass hay. This is critical for teeth and digestion.

Safe to Feed

Nuts & veggies

Mineral block chew

Hay cubes

Chinchilla Habitat

Caging should be chew-proof (all metal with a solid bottom or tight woven mesh)
Dust bath and a bath house is vital to a Chinchilla’s health. They will “bathe” in the dust to keep their coat soft and oil-free.
Nesting material is extremely important to Chinchillas – they love to play hide and seek!
Recycled Paper Bedding should be about 1” deep.
The cage should have a solid bottom (the same goes for exercise wheels).
The larger the cage, the better! A multi-level cage is better than a single level.
Keep the habitat away from direct sunlight and be cautious of extreme temperature changes.
Dust baths are essential to their healthy. Chinchilla dust should be used rather than regular sand which is too coarse. This can be always available at the bottom of the cage in a large bowl that can’t be tipped over.
Offer bathing 30 minutes every 1-2 days.

Handling Your Chinchilla

Chinchillas rarely bite.
Always pick up a Chinchilla by supporting its entire body. Squirming is normal at first, but make sure the entire body is supported – dropping a Chinchilla can cause severe injury.
Chinchillas are vocal! They purr when they are content
Chinchillas are very active at night and early morning and sleep most of the day.
Chinchillas can be housed together; they should have a companion if you cannot devote a large amount of time with them.
Chinchillas can be housed in average household temperatures, do not to exceed 80°F, as their thick coats make them prone to overheating, which could lead to fatal heatstroke.
Avoid getting them wet, their thick fur takes a long time to dry.
Chinchilla’s teeth grow continuously throughout their life. Chewing wears down teeth to an appropriate level. Provide wood chews and mineral chews to keep the teeth from overgrowing.

Common Health Problems

If your chinchilla is not eating or not pooping it needs to be seen by a vet right away. Sneezing and/or discharge from the eyes or nose are also problems that need veterinary attention.