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What Is A Chinchilla?:

Chinchillas are rather small, very soft rodents. They are approximately the size of a small rabbit with rounded ears like that of a mouse and a bushy tail like that of a squirrel. Chinchillas originally came from high up in the Andes Mountains of South America in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. Because of their fur, which is so dense that up to 60 hairs can grow out of one follicle, chinchillas were hunted and pelted until the 20th century, when hunting of wild chinchillas was banned in South America. However, chinchillas are still bred in captivity for use in the fur trade and, more recently, they are quickly becoming popular pets. While gray chinchillas, like the one pictured above, are the only color found in nature, chinchilla ranchers have worked to make mutation colors such as beige, white, black, violet, and sapphire. Chinchillas are noctural, intelligent, and quick!

Before You Buy:

There are many factors that you should consider before bringing this exotic animal into your life. We recommend that you do a tremendous amount of research and think about some of the things that you might not have already thought of. Before you buy a chinchilla, consider the following:

• Chinchillas can live to be over 20 years old. Are the next 20 years of your life fairly stable? (i.e. You're not going to be going to college, planning an extended stay over-seas, etc.)


• Consider issues such as time, space, temperature and humidity. Chinchillas are nocturnal and need out of cage exercise. If you rent, chinchillas may not be permitted where you live. Chins must be in an environment that is never above 75°F/23.9°C. The temperature (in °F) plus the percent of humidity should never add up to more than 150. For example, if the humidity is at 80%, the temperature would have to be 70°F or less.


• Find an experienced exotic vet near you who has experience with chinchillas, having treated them before. You should have information on experienced chin vets during all hours of the day. In other words, know your] vet's hours of operation and know where to turn if your vet is unavailable. Check out the vet's office to see if it is clean, if you can stay with your chinchilla during treatment, etc. It's best if a vet is continually studying or learning (or is at least willing to do so) and who may be using online vet forums.


• Other animals in your home that may pose a threat to a chinchilla.


• The ability to purchase necessary supplies may be limited. While availability is growing, it is still sometimes necessary to order chinchilla supplies online, adding the expense of shipping to the cost of maintaining these animals.


• Chinchillas may not be the best pet for children. Since chinchillas are nocturnal, daytime noise should be kept to a minimum, which might be difficult when children aren't in school. Another consideration is the delicate structure of a chinchilla. Because of their bone structure, chins may not be suitable for children, as they are more likely to accidentally squeeze them too hard or injure the chinchilla when trying to catch it. Very young children who are still learning to walk might accidentally fall on the chinchilla when it is out of the cage, causing serious injury or death to the animal.

The Pros:

• Chinchillas are fantastic. Flat out. There's really no more that needs to be said.


• After the initial setup fee, normal maintenance costs aren't too high, for the most part.


• Some apartments don't allow pets but have no problem with caged animals. Chinchillas might be a good "alternative," if you've done a lot of research and feel it's the right pet for you.


• Chinchillas are incredibly entertaining and intelligent. I spend hours and hours just watching mine, whether they are in their cages our out of their cages for playtime. (Dust baths are especially fun!)


• Once you know what your doing, taking care of chinchillas is pretty easy, especially if you learn from other people's experiences. (Examples: plastic floor mats help tremendously if you have your cage(s) over carpet, a Shop Vac can save you a LOT of time cleaning up, pull out trays are one of the best inventions ever, etc.)


• If you're like me, you enjoy an animal that has a unique personality. Chinchillas are each very individual. Finding the perfect chin for you is a fun challenge.


• Chinchillas have thick, fabulous fur that prevents you from being exposed to their dander. This is a fabulous thing for many people who have allergies. (In some cases, there are people who are allergic to their very fine hair, though, so I recommend being around chinchillas before purchasing to see if they have any affect on you. Additionally, you may still be allergic to some of the "chinchilla supplies" such as fresh hay and dust.)


• Unlike many rodents and critters like ferrets, chinchillas do not smell. As long as you keep their cages clean, their urine will not cause unpleasant odors.


• Some people may look at this as a pro and others will look at it as a con, but keep in mind that chinchillas can live for 20 years or so. You'll want a fairly stable life to ensure that you won't be finding your chinchilla a new home in a few years because you're moving to another country or living in a dorm or some such. (I look at it as a pro! I get to enjoy my chinnies for longer than I would most other rodents.)


• They are addictive. It's hard to stop at just one or two.

The Cons:

• Chinchillas require temperatures of no more than 75°F. This means that, regardless of where you live, you need to make sure you have air conditioning incase Mother Nature decides she'd like it to be hot outside. This also means that, in some areas (like Arizona, where I am), your electric bill is going to be VERY high for a good portion of the year. There are also humidity restrictions, which may be difficult for people in places where there is a high level of humidity.


• Finding experienced chinchilla vets is NOT easy. I would not recommend even purchasing a chinchilla if you cannot find an experienced and preferably recommended chinchilla vet before you buy. Also keep in mind that vet bills tend to run pretty high, especially in emergency cases, as you're paying for more of a "specialist" or "exotic" service.


• You can just about kiss your vacation time good-bye. I've gone on very few trips since purchasing my first chinchilla, as it means I have to get a house/pet sitter whom I trust completely with the lives of my animals. This is because I do not feel comfortable having someone come in, say, once a day to feed them, as there could be something that happens five minutes after they leave, like the air conditioner breaking, and it wouldn't be discovered for nearly 24 hours later. If you have someone you trust, this can be easier. It can also be easier if you have a good breeder/owner near you who is willing to help. (Example: I will take care of people's chinchillas in my own home while they are on vacation for a minimal fee.)


• Along the same lines, chinchilla do require a lot of time, especially if you really want to bond with them. And, if you're looking for an animal that is fuzzy and cuddly, chinchillas probably aren't for you. Many chinchillas do not like to be held. However, with a lot of patience and some effort on your part, you can generally get your chinchilla to bond with you to the point where they don't mind being picked up, though they may never like being held. (Chinchillas absorb heat through your body and cannot regulate their own body temperature, which is why many become uncomfortable and do not like being held for long periods of time.)


• If you don't REALLY do your research, and a lot of it, you're likely to waste money buying items that you can't or shouldn't use. When I got my first chinchilla, I bought a cage from Petco that said it was for chinchillas. I brought it home and found out that the cage was actually NOT chinchilla safe and I could never use it for a chinchilla. Many people don't find this out until after they have been keeping their chinchilla inside and can no longer take it back.


• Some people may look at this as a pro and others will look at it as a con, but keep in mind that chinchillas can live for 20 years or so. You'll want a fairly stable life to ensure that you won't be finding your chinchilla a new hom e in a few years because you're moving to another country or living in a dorm or some such. (I look at it as a pro! I get to enjoy my chinnies for longer than I would most other rodents.)


• They are addictive. It's hard to stop at just one or two.

Cage Requirements:

There are several different styles and sizes of cages available for chins. As a general rule, you should use a cage with wire flooring (except on the bottom floor pan!) no bigger than 1/2" by 1/2", if you have wire flooring at all. A high quality cage would be at least 24" (width) by 14" (depth) by 24" (height) for one chin. However, even bigger is definitely better, as it makes for a happy, healthy pet. Having a slide-out pan can save a great deal of time during clean-up. If you are using a wire cage, it is important to provide solid surfaces for your chin to rest. This can be done with pine shelves and ledges or marble tiles, which also provide an excellent means for your chin to cool down. Many people find that they are able to build their own wonderful chinchilla cages from a combination of melamine, pine, and wire. This may be an option for you!

Inside The Cage:

You'll want to get a water bottle that doesn't drip and that cannot be chewed, a food dish, and pine "houses" (note that pine ITEMS aren't usually dangerous as they are usually kiln dried) for hiding and chewing. Toys such as pine blocks, lava rocks, and pumice act as a means to keep teeth nice and filed. Rotating toys can encourage chewing. Some single chins do well with having a stuffed animal, such as a Booda buddy to snuggle with, but be careful of fabrics, as many will unravel and can be swallowed, causing blockage. Ledges and levels add to the fun of cages and hammocks can be very relaxing. Chins love to jump and climb! Make your chin's cage a fun place to be. Use your imagination while keeping safety in mind.

Feeding:

Finding a good, nutritious chinchilla pellet can be hard. When I first brought home Frankie, I fed him "Charlie Chinchilla" food - big mistake! It's packed with treats, nuts, and barely any pellets. I then ordered Mazuri Chinchilla Diet from an online chinchilla store. After I began to introduce the pellet in gradually with Frankie's old food, he began to pick the Mazuri out of the store-bought feed. It's important to check and see what kind of hay is included in your pellet. Because Mazuri is an alfalfa based feed, I free feed timothy hay to my boys as well. Having loose hay always available is extremely important! Hay is also a source of nutrition, as well as a way for the chins to keep their teeth down. The best advice on what kind of hay to feed your chinchilla depends on the base of your chinchilla pellet. For example, if you feed an alfalfa based pellet, you would free feed timothy hay. And if you feed a timothy hay based pellet, then you would free feed alfalfa hay. Chinchillas should always have fresh hay and pellets available in their cages. I personally choose to make sure there is always an adequate supply of fresh pellets in the cage. Their dish should not be overflowing with pellets, but I make sure that the bowl is filled at least 1/4. In the morning, I pick out hay, bedding, and anything else that finds it's way into the bowl during the night.

Treats should also be kept to a minimum. The usual treat suggestion is one treat per day at about the size of a raisin. Chinchillas love raisins, and other dried fruit with no added sugar. My boys personally go nuts over dried papaya and apple. Un-dried fruits are too moist for chinchillas and can cause diarrhea. Nuts and sunflower seeds are not to be given to chinchillas. The fat content is way too high for them. Human food as well as fresh fruits and vegetables should never be fed to a chinchilla.

In addition, chinchillas must always be provided with fresh, clean water. Water bottles seem to work best instead of a water dish in the cage. Chinchillas can get their fur wet, which can turn into a fungus, or tip the dish and dirty the cage much quicker than with a water bottle.

Purchasing a Chinchilla

The easiest and best way to buy a chinchilla would be to buy directly from a chinchilla breeder. You can be assured that you're getting a wonderful animal and know the health history of the animal. When purchasing from a breeder, you can expect to pay from $75.00 and up for standard chinchillas and mutations.

Chinchillas are also found in pet stores. However, if you purchase from a pet store, you often are not given the correct and important information regarding your pet. For instance, because I purchased Frankie from a pet store, I don't know his actual age or his family history. I have no way of knowing if he will potentially develop dental problems. Also, because I don't know his history, I can't breed Frankie. By breeding a chinchilla with no known history, you run the risk of passing on health problems to new litters of chins.

Another option of buying a chinchilla would be to adopt or rescue a chinchilla. Chinchilla shelters and rescues are located across the country which offer an alternative to chinchillas being turned into humane shelters. Adopting from a chinchilla rescue would give a chinchilla a new chance at life that he or she might not otherwise be able to have. A side note about rescuing/adopting: These chinchillas might need more attention and require attentive care due to side effects from being mistreated, possible illness, or defects (such as a chinchilla with three legs or half of a tail). Therefore, adopting or rescuing chinchillas are recommended for people who already own a chinchilla and are able to estimate the care of a needy chinchilla. Regardless, every chinchilla needs love, attention, and affection, no matter where you purchase your pet.

Health and Fur Care

Chinchillas have teeth that are continually growing. Therefore, it's extremely important for them to always have chew treats and food available to help them keep their teeth at a level that allows them to eat and function healthily.

Because a chinchillas fur is so dense and thick, they require dust baths at least twice a week. The dust will help to remove oil and keep their fur coat shiny and healthy. Never, ever bathe a chinchilla in water! They run the risk of fungus that can be passed to other chinchillas.

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