Caring for Your Chinchilla
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Life expectancy: 10-20 years
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Herbivore
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Community-oriented
Chinchillas are native to Peru, Chile, and Argentina. With their inquisitive disposition, adorable looks and luxurious soft fur, chinchillas have stolen the hearts of small animal lovers. The common colour is grey, but colours can range from black, silver, white, brown and beige.
Chinchilla babies are born with all their fur, their eyes open and have the ability to eat food very soon after birth. When fully grown they measure approximately 12 inches (30 cm) in length. Females typically are larger than males.
Chinchillas are small and friendly and their simple feeding make them an ideal pet. Chinchillas will provide you with hours of entertainment, since they are natural acrobats that love to jump. They are a nocturnal animal and should be given a quiet, dark place to rest during the day should they wish to do so.
Housing Multiples
In the wild, chinchillas live in large colonies, so they’re best kept with a companion. Same-sex pairs can do well if they are introduced young (or in a mother–daughter pairing). If you are keeping two males, both should be neutered. Since they breed easily, males housed with females should also be altered. Provide a spacious enclosure with hiding spots to help reduce conflicts.
Handling
Handle chinchillas gently and avoid sudden grabs, as they can release patches of fur (“fur slip”) to escape. Approach with a calm voice and slow movements. They may nibble if your scent is unfamiliar, so let them smell your hand first. When ready, lightly hold the base of the tail while scooping them up with your other hand, then hold them close to your body to reduce stress.
Our pet counsellors are small animal lovers; because they are, they hold and play with all the small animals in our store. Our guests also play a big part in our small animal’s social skills. This is why Petland’s small animals are quick to bond with their new owner.
To provide a happy, healthy atmosphere for your chinchilla, Petland recommends the following necessary and fun accessories. We have listed them as your new pet’s 4 Basic Needs: Environmental, Behavioural, Nutritional, and Maintenance. When you meet these needs and provide a loving environment, your chinchilla can live a long and happy life.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Enclosure – Your chinchillas will need a place of their own where they can find security and quiet time. A large cage with two or three levels is important to satisfy their natural urge to hop and jump.
Exercise Pen – No matter how large the living quarters, your chinchilla will need physical and social stimulation, which no cage can provide. Take your chinchillas out daily with close supervision. Chinchilla-proof the area or use an exercise pen for safe play. Never leave your chinchilla unattended.
Hammock – Chinchillas love heights! A hammock satisfies their natural instinct to be up high. They may even find it cozy enough to have a snooze in. Please ensure your pet does not eat the material. If they do, remove the hammock and avoid similar items made of cloth.
Hiding Place – Every creature needs an area to call their own. Hiding places are necessary to reduce stress and help make them feel secure. We recommend at least two hiding places. Grass, wood, pet-safe plastic hide outs, or a nest box are all popular choices.
BEHAVIOURAL
Chew Blocks – A chinchilla’s teeth grow continuously, so provide safe chew toys to keep them worn down. Check regularly for malocclusion (an improper bite) that can affect eating, often seen when the lower teeth extend over the upper. If you notice this, consult your veterinarian.
Exercise Wheel – In the evening, a solid surface large wheel attached to the side of the cage is an excellent outlet for your chinchilla’s abundance of energy. It also helps to keep them in shape too!
Ladders and Branches – Your chinchillas will enjoy hopping and climbing. Wooden branches, ladders, and blocks (check out the bird department for more options) are a necessity in their home to encourage exercise. Provide lots of sitting platforms of different heights in the cage. Arrange the cage furnishings so that they are sturdy and won’t shift or fall when they climb on them.
Tunnels and Tubes – Chinchillas like to burrow and dig. Providing them with tunnels and tubes to hide and play in will satisfy their fun-loving nature.
NUTRITIONAL
When choosing what food to purchase for your new pet, keep in mind that small animals often get diarrhea when new foods are introduced too quickly or during stressful events like adoption. Stick to familiar foods, including the same pellet brand, to support digestion. When adding new items, especially fresh foods, introduce them one at a time and watch for changes in behavior, appetite, or stool.
Hay – Grass hay should make up most of your chinchilla’s diet and is essential for digestive health. It helps prevent obesity, dental disease, diarrhea, and boredom. Chinchillas under one year can also have alfalfa hay for its extra calcium and protein, but after six months it should only be given as a treat.
All grass hays, timothy, orchard, oat, and botanical (timothy with herbs), are nutritionally similar, differing mainly in taste and texture. Offering a mix helps prevent picky eating, especially since flavor and texture can vary with the seasons.
Chinchillas should have unlimited access to grass hay, and eat a pile about twice the size of their body every day.
Chinchilla Pellets – Pellets are formulated to contain a correct balance of all the essential nutrients that your chinchilla needs each day.
Juvenile chinchillas should be free fed pellets until one year of age.
Adult chinchillas should generally be fed about 1-2 Tbsp a day.
Fresh Foods – Dark leafy greens and vegetables are loaded with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, as well as water that provides essential hydration to your chinchilla. Dark leafy greens include romaine, kale, or green leaf lettuce. Vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, parsley, and pea pods make good choices. Fruits should be offered as a treat only.
Chinchillas should generally be fed 1/8 cup of fresh foods daily. Large amounts of green foods should be avoided, since they are difficult to digest and can cause health concerns. Should your chinchilla get diarrhea, contact your veterinarian.
Treats – Only offer 1/2 tsp of treats daily. Treats encourage interaction between you and your pet, and build a bond between you.
Moss Hollow Adapt – Using Moss Hollow Adapt, while minimizing stress, can help your new pet adapt to their new home by promoting relaxation from stress caused by the environment (Echinacea), offering a prebiotic for building gut flora (Burdock Root), easing diarrhea (Psyllium Husk), increasing palatability (Wheatgrass), providing a natural dewormer (Diatomaceous Earth), and nutrient-rich clay (Bentonite). This veterinary health product uses natural ingredients which can aid all small animals before symptoms emerge.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplement – In the wild, animals can choose the foods their bodies require. Even if you give your pet a variety of foods, you may not be providing them with certain vitamins and minerals that they need. Add the supplement to the drinking water or food according to packaging directions.
Mineral Stone – Make this available to your chinchillas at all times. This is yet another way that chinchillas can get calcium and other minerals they require. (Plus, it’s fun to chew!)
MAINTENANCE
Water Bottle – When your chinchilla is in their cage, use a large water bottle to keep their water clean and to conserve any liquid vitamins. Fresh water must be available at all times and replaced daily. When your chinchilla is outside their cage, give them water from a ceramic dish.
Keep water bottles clean to prevent bacteria and sediment buildup from supplements. Use a bottle brush with dish soap and water to clean both the bottle and the inside of the stainless-steel drinking tube.
Ceramic Dishes – Ceramic dishes are easy to clean, cannot be chewed, and are difficult to tip over. You will need three: one for pellets, one for fresh foods, and one for water during playtime outside of the cage. Avoid using a hay feeder as chinchillas may attempt to sit on it and could injure themselves when jumping off.
Substrate – Aspen shavings, paper-based bedding and/or a pet mat are recommended for your chinchilla, as substrates like pine or cedar can negatively affect your chinchilla’s sensitive respiratory system. Use a litter scoop to spot clean the cage regularly.
Cage Cleaner – Use a pet-safe cleaner, ideally one that is enzyme-based to break down stains and odours. Clean the cage weekly with the cleaner or hot water and mild soap, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Avoid bleach and other household cleaners, as they can irritate your pet’s respiratory system or cause even worse problems.
Dust Bath Powder and Bath House – Chinchillas need regular dust baths to remove excess oils and moisture from their fur. Instead of water, they use fine dust similar to volcanic ash. Provide about 2 inches in a bath house or ceramic dish 2–3 times a week for 10–15 minutes. Sift after each use and replace as needed.
Comb – Grooming your chinchillas will help to remove loose fur. Using a fine tooth comb every few weeks works wonders. Chinchillas will shed their coat about every three months, so this routine helps to keep their fur from flying!
Cleanliness and Safety
All pets can potentially carry diseases that may be contagious to people. Young children, infants, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly are at greater risk of infections and should use caution when in contact with pets or their environments. Regular cleaning of your pet’s environment with a pet safe cleaner may help avoid the spread of contaminants.
Hygiene procedures such as washing your hands before and after handling your pet and/or after having any contact with their habitat, is a necessary routine. Children should be assisted with hand washing and always have adult supervision when interacting with pets.
CHECKLIST
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Enclosure
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(Optional) Exercise pen
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Hammock
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Hiding place
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Chew blocks
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Exercise wheel
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Ladders and branches
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Tunnels and tubes
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Hay
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Pellets
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Treats
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Moss Hollow Adapt
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Vitamin and mineral supplement
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Mineral stone
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Water bottle
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Bottle brush
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Ceramic dishes
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Substrate
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Litter scoop
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Cage cleaner
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Dust bath powder and bath house
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Comb