Chinchilla Care Guide: Housing, Diet, and Daily Care

Chinchillas are wonderful and charismatic pets—however, they’re delicate in many ways and need careful attention to be sure they are getting proper care. 

Chinchillas require love, attention, and care every day, including fresh food and water, cage cleaning, and playtime. 

Typically, this care can be accomplished in an hour or two per day. Chinchillas are relatively long lived for rodents, and in many cases, involve a 10–15-year commitment.

Read on to find out everything you need to know to properly care for your chinchilla.

Chinchilla Handling and Socialization

So, do chinchillas like to be held?

Unfortunately, many chinchillas prefer not to be restrained or held. They're generally very active animals, and do not want to sit still for extended periods of time.

If you do pick up your pet, pick your chinchilla up much as you would a football, cradling their body in your arms and preventing your chinchilla from kicking out with their hind legs.

While supporting their rear end, cradle the front end—wrapping them in a towel can help.

Chinchillas have a delicate skeleton. Never grab a chinchilla by the tail or limbs and be careful not to hold them too tightly.

Chinchilla pet parents should be able and willing to provide the proper housing, diet, daily exercise, and routine veterinary care.

As social animals that require daily care, chinchillas are not ideal for people who travel often and are frequently away from home.

In general, chinchillas are not appropriate pets for children to be responsible for, since they are delicate animals that are also very fast at times. Additionally, their signs of illness can be very subtle and easily missed by a young caretaker. 

Although many children enjoy spending time with chinchillas, they should always be supervised by an adult.

Chinchillas can be housed in pairs of the same sex or opposite sex. They should not be housed with other animals, and they especially should not be housed near rabbits. Rabbits can carry a bacteria called Pasteurella, which can be fatal to chinchillas if they are exposed.

Chinchillas enjoy daily interactions with their family. This provides both exercise and helps your chinchilla bond with you. If your chinchilla is barking or showing aggression don’t try to handle them.

Chinchilla Habitat and Enclosure

Chinchillas are social and friendly animals and like to be around their pet parents.

Ideally, you should house your chinchilla in an area where you spend a lot of time, like your living room.

Avoid placing their enclosure in direct sunlight or a drafty area. The optimal temperature for chinchillas is between 55–70 F and should never reach higher than 80 F.

Humidity should be below 40–50%.

Enclosure

A single chinchilla requires a minimum enclosure of 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet.

The ideal habitat has wire sides no more than 1 inch apart with a smooth, flat bottom (not wire, such as a plastic tray) to prevent pressure sores on their feet. The habitat should have multiple tiers, ramps, and shelves for climbing and playing.

Disinfecting and Cleaning

Cages should be emptied and cleaned at least weekly with soap and water.

Bedding should be replaced weekly. Food bowls and water bowls should be cleaned daily with soap and water. The cage should be spot cleaned once a day to remove and feces, wet/soiled bedding, and leftover food.

Bedding

Provide 1–2 inches of high-quality paper bedding or crumbled paper.

Wood shavings should not be used because they can be ingested and may cause an intestinal blockage (chinchillas cannot vomit).

Cedar shavings may cause skin and respiratory tract inflammation, so they should also not be used.

Bowls

Chinchilla pellets can be provided in a ceramic or stainless-steel dish. Free-choice hay can be provided throughout the enclosure or in a hay trough.

Chinchilla Diet and Nutrition

Food

You can offer 1–2 tablespoons of chinchilla pellets per day, preferably in the morning or evening. Water and hay should be always offered in an unlimited supply.

Hay

Chinchillas are herbivores and require an unlimited, continuous supply of high-quality hay such as timothy, oat, meadow, orchard, or any other low calcium hay.

Alfalfa should only be provided to young chinchillas or nursing mothers because the high calcium can cause bladder stones.

Water

Your chinchilla requires unlimited fresh clean water every day from a bowl or bottle.

Treats

Some chinchilla-friendly treats including low-calcium vegetables such as rose hips, marigolds, and calendula.

Small amounts of fruit such as apples can be offered occasionally, like once a week. You can also offer high-fiber treats like apple wood sticks.

Treats should be no more than 1–10% of your chinchilla's diet.

Supplements

Chinchillas who are fed a healthy diet do not require vitamins or supplements unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.

Foods to Avoid

Chinchillas should not be fed chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol. These are toxic to chinchillas. Seeds nuts and dried fruit should also not be offered because they are high in sugar and fat.

Grooming Chinchillas

Chinchillas require dust baths at least a few times a week.

They also should be brushed with a soft-bristled brush in the direction of their fur.

Do not bathe your chinchilla or get them wet because their fur takes a while to dry, and the skin can become inflamed.

Chinchilla-safe dust is very important for your chinchilla’s coat health to keep it clean and oil-free.

Allow your chinchilla to have a dust bath for at least 30 minutes outside of their enclosure. Since dust baths can cause conjunctivitis, do not leave the dust bath in your chinchilla’s cage.

A dust box should be about 6 inches by 6 inches by 9 inches with 1–2 inches of dust.

Chinchilla Exercise and Enrichment

Chinchillas should get daily exercise in their enclosure and outside of their enclosure.

Flat 15-inch exercise wheels are a great way for them to exercise inside their habitat, which should also include lots of ramps and levels for them to run around and climb on.

Veterinary Care for Chinchillas

Annual Care

Chinchillas require annual checkups with your exotic veterinarian to make sure they are healthy and thriving in your care.

Signs of a Healthy Pet

Signs of a healthy chinchilla include:

• Eating and drinking well

• Healthy fur

• Bright eyes

• Walking and climbing without limping

• Breathing comfortably without nasal discharge

• Acting active and playful

When to Call the Vet

 Signs that you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian include:

• Soft/loose stool

• Not eating or drinking well

• Fur loss

• Breathing difficulties

• Lethargy

• Eye or nose discharge

• Drooling

• Limping

• Weight loss

• Overall decreased activity

If you have any concerns, it is better to be safe and consult with your veterinarian right away.

Common Illnesses in Chinchillas

• Dental disease

• Barbering

• Fractures

• Fur rings

• Urolithiasis or urinary calculi