How to Care for a Chinchilla

The chinchilla is one of the easiest small pets to care for at home. The pet owner must provide a cage that is large enough and has room to jump. Feeding the chinchilla a proper diet is easy since all of the food can be found at any pet shop. Chinchillas are quite curious and social animals, so they tend to bond quickly with their caregivers. They are nocturnal by nature though, so not the pet for everyone.

Chinchilla Supplies
Chinchillas need a multilevel cage with room to run and jump. The smallest cage recommended is 36"x30"x24", or a two tiered rectangle about three feet long. The cage must be made of galvanized steel so the chinchillas can't chew their way out. Use a metal pan in the base as well. Do not have any plastic or plastic coated objects in or near the chinchilla's cage. The cage must also be elevated so you don't lean over it, scaring the pet. Make sure the cage doors are secure and large enough to fit your hand and your pet comfortably.

*Other chinchilla supplies you will need include:
Ceramic food bowls (more than one for multiple pets or large cages)
Large water bottles (more than one for multiple pets or large cages)
Sleeping house
Dust house or bowl
Chinchilla dust
Wooden blocks for chewing and playing
Metal hay rack (not plastic coated)
Non-treated Aspen wood chips and tree limbs (Do not use limbs or wood chips from outside since they may contain bacteria or mold, so purchase them from a quality pet shop)

Also find a veterinarian in your area that treats chinchillas. Call around and ask if they specifically treat these pets. Watch a video about how to care for a chinchilla here. Be sure to pet proof your home's wires if you intend to let a chinchilla roam free.

Chinchilla Food
The chinchilla's diet is about as basic as they come for small animals. Hay is the primary source of food, along with fresh roughage daily. Timothy hay is the best quality. Make sure and check the package for freshness. Avoid alfalfa due to the high calcium to phosphorus ratio.

Provide daily chinchilla pellets to supplement the hay. Laura Smith, in an article for the Purdue Veterinary School, suggests a formula of "16-20 percent protein, 2-5 percent fat and 15-30 percent fiber."

Nuts and dried fruit are treats. Chinchillas don't need them daily or in their food bowl, but they are a great way to socialize your pet. Raisins and dried cranberries were the way to my chinchilla's heart. These are easy to handle treats too. Do not give more than about a tablespoon worth of treats per day. Monitor daily food intake and output and adjust the diet accordingly.
*Never feed a chinchilla avocado, it's poisonous to them. Call your veterinarian immediately if the chinchilla's appetite changes suddenly or if they develop diarrhea.

Dusting a Chinchilla
Put a small amount of chinchilla dust in a large ceramic bowl or bath house. Place the dust bath house or bowl in the cage daily for a short period. Remove the dust when the pet leaves the area. Don't leave the dust house in the cage or the pet will soil in it. Purchase quality dust for your pet's coat to remain as soft as possible.

Handling a Chinchilla
As the pet adjusts to you and its new surroundings, place a treat in the palm of your hand in the center of the cage. Soon the chinchilla will sit in your hand and eat the treat. Slowly stroke its fur while speaking in soft tones. Continue to move slowly until the chinchilla is completely comfortable with you handling it.

To pick up a chinchilla place one hand flat, palm-side up in the center of the cage and wait for the pet to jump on himself. With your free hand, place your thumb at the base underside of the tail and gently wrap it around your index finger to prevent a sudden jump out of your hand. Do not ever pull the chinchilla's tail. Carry the pet for very short periods until it gets used to the process.

Owning and caring for a chinchilla is not that different from a pet rabbit. I found my chinchillas to be more social than my rabbits. It depends on how much you handle each pet. Since the chinchillas were smaller I tended to hold them more often.

Sources:
Feeding the Pet Chinchilla