How to Care for a Chinchilla

Chinchillas make wonderful pets. Recently, their has been a surge in chinchilla ownership. These quirky little creatures are fun to watch, but do have a few unique needs that need to be met.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dust Bath
• Dust
• Wood Blocks
• A Large Cage

1. Chinchillas should be offered a dust bath a few times a week. The dust can be purchased at most pet stores. Pet Smart now sells Chinchillas supplies, including the dust bath and dust house.
2. Chinchillas love to chew. As with many rodents, if they don't have adequate chew items available their teeth can become over grown. Wood blocks, pumice stones and other chew toys are sold at local pet stores and should always be made available to chinchillas.
3. Chinchillas don't drink much, but do need a constant supply of water. This should be offered in a water bottle, not a dish. If chinchillas get damp they can get a fungus and lose fur. You should also make certain that you change their water bottle daily even if they don't empty it, to prevent growth of bacteria.
4. Make sure that you offer your chinchillas a pellet based food daily. It isn't necessary to offer them a mixed food, because they don't eat much and the pellets are best for them. You can give them treats of dried fruits and vegetables, just make sure your chinchilla isn't filling up on them, more than their pellets. Raisins are a chinchilla favorite!
5. Chinchillas are active little animals and need plenty of room for exercise to be happy. Multi level cages are best, because they love to climb, jump and bounce around. The cage should also have an enclosed area, so they can hide away and feel safe.
6. You should also offer your chinchilla free time outside of their cage. You can do this either in a small animal playpen or in a room that has been checked for hazards. Your small animal playpen should be pretty big in circumference, so they have plenty of room to hop around. Chinchillas jump pretty high though, so make sure the playpen is tall as well. If you choose to let your chinchillas loose in a room, watch for things they might chew on like cords, food, chemicals and books. It is best to supervise your chinchilla during playtime.