The Lowdown on How to Care for Chinchillas

When adopting a pet, one of the main considerations should be whether or not you have the knowledge to take care of it. This is especially true when adopting a more exotic pet.

Chinchillas are small rodents native to South America. They make wonderful pets for people who have the right information on how to care for these fluffy creatures.

Here are just a few tips on how to keep a happy, healthy chinchilla:

1. Not for children

Children don’t always understand boundaries when it comes to pets in general, but chinchilla’s tend to have more boundaries than a puppy. Since chinchilla’s are small rodents, noisy children might frighten them. Chinchilla’s aren’t afraid to bite what they see as a potential threat, so it’s better for a family to adopt a chinchilla when the children are older and more responsible.

2. The Habitat

Chinchilla’s love to run around and play, so a big (at least 16″ x 18″ x 16″), wire cage with a solid base is best. Wire bottom cages can hurt a chinchilla’s feet, and glass tanks have poor ventilation, so it is best to avoid these.

Keep the cage away from heat sources and brightly lit areas. Chinchilla’s are very temperature sensitive (nothing above 78 degrees F), and are mainly nocturnal. Make sure the cage is away from cold drafts as well.

3. Toys

It is recommended to get your new furry friend an exercise wheel to place inside the cage. A wheel with a solid floor will prevent foot injuries. Try to find one that isn’t squeaky, since your chinchilla will mostly run at night!

It is highly advised to buy toys for your chinchilla and not use wood or sticks from outside. Some types of wood are poisonous to chinchillas, according to Chinchillacare.org, and you never know which piece may have come into contact with harmful chemicals. To keep your chinchilla safe, buy certified chinchilla toys.

4. Cleanliness

Chinchilla’s are very clean animals, and they like their homes to be clean too. Make sure to clean out their cage well. Bedding should be changed weekly. All water and food bowls and anything that may smell should be washed with soapy water and dried completely before returning it to the cage.

5. Dust Bath Time

Chinchilla’s are never to be bathed with water. Instead chinchilla’s roll around in dust to keep their fur clean. Pet stores should have dusting powder available for your chinchilla. Place the dust in a dust bin and let your chinchilla roll around at least twice a week. The bins can be reused, but dust should be replaced.

6. Hiding Places

Chinchilla’s like to hide in cozy, dark spaces, so make sure to provide them a secure place to hide. This could be a chew-proof tunnel or box.

7. Food

The food in the cage should be in a spill-proof container. Water especially should be in a stoppered water bottle, so the water won’t spill out and wet the bedding. A hay rack is also a good way to provide clean, dry hay to your chinchilla. Make sure the rack itself also stays clean and dry.

There is much more work put into taking care of a chinchilla. These seven tips are just the beginning! Make sure you are fully prepared to handle the needs of a chinchilla before adopting one. For more information on how to care for a chinchilla head over to Chinchillacare.org.

Does anyone else have a chinchilla? Let us know about their care routine and about how fluffy they are in the comments!