Chinchilla Care Sheet

Housing:
Choosing the correct type of home for your pet is a very important decision you have to make. It is important that he has a home where he feels happy and is safe and comfortable. House your chinchilla in a wire cage inside your home. Chinchillas love to jump and climb so be sure to choose that cage that offers shelves. Ferret cages are an ideal choice. When purchasing a cage, bigger is always better. The smallest cage normally recommended for chins is 10 cubic feet for one chin and 5 cubic feet per additional chin in the same cage. Chins also like to jump and hop on things. I recommend buying a cage with shelves or ledges in it. Never use wire shelves or ledges as they will get their feet/legs caught in them and they will break them. Chinchillas are native to a cool climate and have very dense fur to protect them from the cold. This fur will cause them to overheat quickly. Aquariums do not offer enough ventilation and can cause overheating even if kept in a cool room. Chinchillas need to be kept at temperatures above 60 degrees and below 80 degrees. They are nocturnal meaning they are most active at night. If you are a light sleeper you may choose not to place the cage in your bedroom.

Accessories:
Your chinchilla cage will need a water bottle and a food dish attached to the side of the cage. If you use a food bowl on the floor your chinchilla may use it as a potty. This may need to be switched for an attaching food dish on the side of the cage. Glass water bottles are the best choice since chinchillas chew. Speaking of chewing, please provide you chinchilla with the best possible dental health by providing them with pumice bites. These are available very reasonably on e-Bay. Type in keyword pumice bites.
Your new chinchilla will need a dust bath a few times a week. If you are in dry climate, giving daily baths may cause your chinchilla to get too dry. Just watch your chinchilla’s fir carefully for flaking or for incessant scratching. This may be a sign that baths should be cut down. Take a container that is large enough for your chinchilla to roll around in and fill it with about an inch of Chinchilla Dust. I recommend Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust available on line or by special order at feed stores. The manufacturer is Leach. Place it in the cage for 15-20 minutes and let your chinchilla roll around in it. This removes his excess oils and keeps his fur looking thick and beautiful. Chinchillas do most of their sleeping during the day and prefer to have a house of some sort to sleep in. This can be a box made out of pine.

Food:
Chinchillas have a very delicate digestive system and can't handle a sudden change in food. Diet changes should be added gradually over a week's time. Your Chinchilla will be happy and healthy if he is fed correctly. He should have access to pellets at all times. Make sure that the pellets are fresh and that you keep them in an airtight container. I recommend Purina Rabbit Complete in a green bag. If you cannot find this (order from feed store) the next best food is Mazuri Chin Chow. Kaytee Chin Chow is another good choice.  Please always remember, chinchilla food should be green pellets with nothing extra.  Timothy hay is acceptable in small quantities and check regularly to make sure it is not causing diarrhea. Lower amount given if soft stools appear after hay offered. Chinchillas should not be given watery foods such as lettuce. This can cause serious diarrhea, which can be fatal. Chinchilla love treats, but remember that they are 'treats' and should not be given in excess. You can purchase various natural healthy treats for your Chinchilla. Some are in the form of dried grasses, often with Alfalfa, dried berries, fruit etc. Be careful if buying animal mixes that contain nuts and sunflower seeds. Your pet will readily eat and enjoy them, but caution must be exercised that he does not over indulge on treats that have a high fat content. Also, you can give raisins, which are the number one treat for Chinchillas. One raisin a day is a good amount. Treats should be limited to 1 teaspoon per day maximum and should never include products with corn or sulfer dioxide.

Play Time:
A Chinchilla is very social and needs to interact with you every day but will be scared when you first bring him home. The first day leave him alone to get used to his new home. On the second day talk to him softly and place your arm inside the cage. Don't try to hold your new pet or take him out until he has begun to trust you. Use treats to get him to come to your hand. It may take a few days but with patience your chinchilla will soon be meeting you at the cage door. Once he has learned to trust you its OK to take him out to play. Remember your chinchilla will chew on anything so keep him away from electrical wires, plastics, and your favorite furniture. If you play with your chinchilla in the bathroom be sure to close the toilet. He can easily jump that high and many chinchillas have gotten a surprise swim that way! These animals need lots of exercise, so they need a giant wheel to exercise.