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Chinchilla

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Chinchilla	1	2	3	4	5
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Chinchilla's are cute, very soft, easy to care for and can be tamed easily, making them an ideal pet.  One difference between a chinchilla and other small animals is the need for a daily dust bath to keep them healthy.   Their lifespan can be from 10 - 15 years, if given proper care, as compared to other small animals that only live a couple of years.  Chinchilla's require a lot of attention.  The more you handle them, the tamer they become.  Be prepared to spend quality time with your chinchilla out of its cage.   To keep your chinchilla bonded to you, it is better to keep them alone.  If you plan to have two together, introduce them very carefully.  Chinchilla's do not always get along.

Housing:  Chinchilla's are excellent jumpers and need room to romp around their cage.  We recommend a bi-level or tri-level cage with shelves for sleeping and playing.  Wire cages work well as long as you cover at least half of the flooring to prevent foot injuries.  Large aquariums work well also.  We recommend Carefresh bedding material to be used throughout the cage.  Chinchilla's like to hide and have a place to retreat for a snooze...be sure to provide an enclosed hiding area such as a goldfish bowl, plastic ferret house, etc.   Use a hanging water bottle to prevent spillage.  

Diet:  Feed the highest quality food you can afford.  Since chinchillas are common pets now,  you can find chinchilla food at your local pet stores.  Rabbit pellets are not a proper diet for chinchillas.  Since chinchillas are grazers, provide a quality chinchilla pellet (which helps to keep teeth healthy) and loose timothy hay available all the time.  You can supplement their diet with treats such as cheerios, bread, and a raisin or two, in moderation.  

Toys:  Chinchilla's are avid chewers.  Be sure to provide plenty of chewing material such as wood blocks, toilet paper rolls, gnaw stones, etc.  Bird toys can make great chinchilla toys.

Dust Bath:  A daily dust bath is a necessity for chinchilla health and condition of their coat.  You can purchase chinchilla dust from any local pet store.  Do not ever wash your chinchilla with soap and water.  They are excellent groomers.  Provide an enclosed bath house such as a goldfish bowl or chinchilla bath house so that dust does not go everywhere.  Your chinchilla will roll around in this dust house vigorously.  Remove the dust bath house after about 15 minutes.

Exercise:  Chinchilla's are jumpers and require time outside their cage to stretch their legs.  You can also provide a chinchilla wheel for added exercise in their cage.  Make sure the wheel is not a wire wheel which can cause leg injuries.  Provide a solid wheel.

Below are links with additional information on chinchillas:

http://www.chinworld.com/

http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/

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