How to Care for Chinchillas

By eHow Pets Editor

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These fur-bearing relatives of the guinea pig and porcupine make excellent pets, though they're shy and easily frightened. Most live 8 to 10 years; some can live to 18.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Chew Toys
Chinchilla Cages
Rabbit Pellets
Dried Fruits
Fruits
Nuts
Vegetables

Step1

Have your new chinchilla examined by a veterinarian who specializes in small or exotic animals, and continue to bring her in for regular check-ups as recommended.

Step2

Feed your chinchilla commercially prepared rabbit pellets mixed with alfalfa and grass hay.

Step3

Give dried fruits as treats, but in moderation. These supplements should make up only 10 percent of the entire food intake.

Step4

Supply a water bottle, and change the water daily.

Step5

Provide a wire mesh cage, with or without a solid floor, of at least 3 by 3 by 3 feet'more than adequate for one chinchilla during playtime.

Step6

Be sure the cage is located in a cool, dry, and draft-free area, preferably in a temperature range of 60 to 70 degrees F. Keep your chinchilla's cage indoors to provide better temperature control.

Step7

Allow your chinchilla supervised evening romps outside her cage. Use a leash designed for small animals like rabbits and chinchillas if you take her outside.

Step8

Provide your pet with a dust bath twice a week by mixing nine parts silver sand with one part fuller's earth, or buy a specially prepared chinchilla dust-bath mixture.

Step9

When holding a chinchilla, grasp her at the base of the tail with one hand and support the body with your other forearm. Hold her gently, close to your body. Rough handling can cause hair loss. Note that chinchillas may urinate when annoyed or nervous.

Step10

Provide chew toys for her such as wooden blocks and other items designed for chinchillas.

Tips & Warnings

Care for your chinchilla conscientiously. Poor nutrition, boredom and hot temperatures can lead to serious medical problems.
Some chinchillas can develop health problems due to an over-growth of molars. Regular veterinary checkups are essential.

Comments

ChinxLover said

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on 4/27/2008 This article is ALL, I repeat ALL WRONG! I AM a chinchilla BREEDER! I know what I'm talking about. Rabbit pellets are for RABBITS ONLY! ALWAYS Feed your chinchilla either Tradition or Mazuri. Never Kaytee or rabbit food. Alfalfa is too sweet to be given daily, so only once a week. Timothy hay should always be avalible. Treats should only be given once daily, not ten percent. Wire for the cages ramps and ledges should be 1"x1/2", no bigger than 1"x1". Dust baths should NEVER contain sand. Dust baths should be given 3-4 times a week depending on the humidity of your area. Only dust can get between the fur and absorb the oils. Sand just sticks there and agitates their skin. Infact, I'm going to write an article now to right all these wrongs. It's ridiculous!

beri said

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on 12/22/2007 Never feed chinchillas rabbit food! No matter where you get it from, if it has hormones or not, it's still not going to be nutritionally balanced for chinchillas if it was designed for rabbits. Ever since I got my chinchilla, I've been feeding her Mazuri Chinchilla Diet, because that's what the breeder I got her from recommended. I'll admit that Mazuri isn't easy to find, most pets stores only have it in stock part of the time, and it's pricey, but I knew all of that BEFORE I got my chinchilla, so I put up with the hassle to keep her healthy. I've also heard that you really should get a solid floored cage for chinchillas, because wire mess cages can hurt their feet, or worse, their legs can get caught and break.