A bit about caring for Chinchillas


Chinchillas do require special care, and research should be done before bringing one home after you have made the decision this is the pet for you. They MUST be kept cool. Warm temperatures can quickly kill a chinchilla. They have very sensitive digestive systems, and must be fed quality hay and pellets. Some treats of the right kind can be given in moderation. Though they may want more, you can literally kill them with kindness. I had a friend who had a pet chinchilla, and his grandmother was to take care of their animals while he and his mom went out of town. Grandma felt bad that "Fester" was only allowed 3 raisins (which if you give raisins at all, is actually kinda high as is) a day. So, grandma spoiled him a little... A few days of this and Fester was very ill. After being poorly treated by a vet, Fester passed away.


This brings up another aspect of owning chinchillas: most vets are NOT experienced with chinchillas. Some vets will say they "do" chinchillas and exotics. This does not necessarily mean they are *experienced* with them. You need to know your stuff to be able to tell if a vet really DOES know about chins. Know of a good vet ahead of time in case of emergencies.


There are many types of cages used for chinchillas. Some are appropriate, some are not. The worst type used are aquariums. Aquariums are made to be leak proof containers of WATER. Could you imagine living in something so air tight with no windows or ventillation? I'd hope not! Mesh of 2" by 1" works well for young and adult chinchillas, but smaller mesh works better as even adults, in play, may twist a foot on the sides of a cage. 1" by 1/2" is necessary for babies to ensure that they do not escape or become stuck. Some people use cages with wire bottoms, but I prefer not to as this is hard on their feet. If you want to understand the difference, just take a look at the bottom of a chinchillas feet that has been kept on wire floors for a long time. Then look at a chinchilla that has been kept on bedding. When on wire for a prolonged period of time the feet may become red and hard. Deep pans are nice, I really like those that are at least 4", as less shavings fall out this way. I even have some cages set in tupperware tubs much deeper and NO shavings fall out of these. Bigger is better when it comes to cages unless you have a mother and babies. Expectant moms should be in a cage a bit lower with no ledges or items that a baby could become stuck behind or under. Babies can climb at a very young age, and may fall. If the cage is too high, mom could also go to the top and jump back down on top of a baby.


When it comes to bedding, there are many options now. Unfortunately, Cedar shavings are still out there..and popular due to their odor. The oils released from Cedar shavings are TOXIC to small animals. Some studies show pine shavings are also toxic, as they too contain these type of oils. However, there is great debate that if kiln-dried they are safe. Many breeders, ranchers, and pet keepers use kiln-dried pine with no ill affects. I personally use Aspen bedding as I am very allergic to any form of Pine. Having a sensitive nose, I just can't see being forced to live in and breathe even kiln-dried pine ( if I could stand it being in the house). Aspen is more expensive than Pine, which can be bought in HUGE bales made for stables for $6. For this reason most will stick with Pine, but you can get smaller bags of Aspen at Walmart for less than $3, or large bales from manufacturers such as L&M *shown below*.

There is also a product called "Carefresh", as well as many similar to it. Many use it, but I have heard of some chins eating it and causing impaction problems, even leading to death, so personally I'd not.


Water should be provided in bottles as a bowl would quickly be spilled. Of all the bottles available, this is the one I have come to prefer. They are made by Lixit, and come in a 8oz and 16oz form. I use all 16oz bottles. They are made from glass, which lasts longer, and all of the parts can be heated to sterilize them safely. Also, chinchillas often will find a way to reach through their cage and bite holes in the top of plastic water bottles."


As far as feed goes, three things are necessary: clean water, quality pellets, and quality hay. I use purified water because the city water here is known to cause problems in humans and animal alike. I feed loose Timothy hay. You can order it online at www.americanpetdiner.com . They have the best feed, hands down, whether pellets or hay, that I've seen. I do also feed alfalfa hay cubes to kits and and breeding females, and occassionally to the rest, that I get from a local feed store. I prefer to feed their pellets and have been very happy with the results. I am pleased with the ingredients and the fact that they do not contain corn. At the time, however, I feed Mazuri pellets, which are also a good feed. They can be found locally almost anywhere though, at Livestock feed stores or pet stores that carry Purina products. If there is a need in the future, I may start carrying it for anyone interested who can't find it locally. So if you have a hard time finding feed, let me know..I can get it for a very low price. Chins don't need treats, but many prefer giving them something by hand from time to time. I use a mix based on the Bob's Red Mill 5 Grain Cereal found at many Grocery Stores (and HEB for all of you Texans). There are some supplements out there that are very popular, but they contain calf manna and sunflower seeds. Calf manna is questionable. It can be good for nursing moms, but many believe pregnant moms, if consuming too much, have birthing complications. And sunflower seeds are very fatty, and most don't give at all, but if they do, very sparingly.


Chinchillas need something to chew on like untreated pine ledges or blocks, apple twigs are great This keeps their teeth from becoming overgrown. They also like somewhere to hide. Large PVC pipes work well as they are inexpensive and can be cleaned easily. And, chinchillas need to take dust baths. I prefer Blue Cloud, and many that show only use this as well. I've used Blue Sparkle in the past, but it just didn't to the job as well and many chins seem to have eye problems with it. I personally question what the sparkles are in it, and if it's necessarily good to have that in there. Super Pet makes a plastic "bath house", but glass cooking containers or fish bowls work well and cannot be chewed. Most chinchillas will urinate in a bath house if it is left in their cage, so normally it is better to only give it to them for a short period of time. This can be done daily or a few times a week.