Chinchilla Care Sheet
Chinchillas, with their exceptionally soft fur and funny antics, have made this member of the rodent family a favorite pet of numerous people for decades – you probably know someone who had one. The wild color, grey with white tummy termed Standard, is the color most people think of when “chinchilla” is mentioned. Many color variations have appeared since the first wild grey chinchillas were domesticated. There are now white, beige, ebony, mosaic, and several colors variations in between.
Natural History:
Chinchilla lanigera,long-tailed chinchilla, make their home in mountain rock crevices and small
caves of the Andes Mountains of
Chile.
The dry, cool climate is one of the reasons the chinchilla lanigera has
developed such a soft coat of fur, each hair follicle contains 60-80 hairs. It
is because of their soft fur, the long-tailed chinchilla have been hunted almost
to extinction since the late 1800’s. This species is still on the Critically
Endangered Species List in the wild due to over hunting and loss of habitat.
Commercial breeding for their fur began in the 1920’s. Every chinchilla seen to
day has been captive bred.
Size and Longevity:
Chinchillas can range in size
from 20 cm to almost 40 cm, with a tail length of 7 cm to 15 cm. Their silky
fur is very dense, around 60 hairs per follicle with a length of about 24 mm
(about 1 in) and tail hairs about 35 mm (1½ in). Because of their dense coat,
chinchillas are not susceptible to parasites, such as fleas or mites. They are
surprising lightweight for such a large looking animal, only about 700 grams. A
chin’s fur makes them look bigger than they are. The
average life span of a long-tailed chinchilla in their natural habitat is about
10 years; domesticated chins may live 15 – 20 years.
Housing:
Chinchillas love to bounce, hop, and rest on
ledges and shelves – the higher the better. Unfortunately, this can make for a
mess as droppings and bedding can be flung everywhere. Also, not everyone has
space for a ‘high-rise apartment’ in their home. A shorter cage with high solid
sides keeps most of the unwanted mess (droppings, bedding, hay) in the cage. Be
aware that some cages that say they are good for ferrets and chinchillas,
are not appropriate for chins. Most of the ferret cages have a mesh bottom that
is uncomfortable for chinchillas to stand on, plus their small toes can get
caught in the holes resulting in serious injuries. Your chin’s new home should
be placed in a cooler part of your house. Because of her dense fur, it
is very easy for your chin to get overheated – heat kills chins! Using a
piece of marble placed in the refrigerator for your chin to stand on during the
warmer months will help.
Bedding and Furnishings:
There are many differenttypes of bedding that can be used for your chinchilla. Pine shavings is a
common choice for most people, it is cheap and readily available. Others like
aspen shavings, it absorbs more moisture and has less wood dust. Another
choice, is recycled paper bedding. People with allergies find this is a great
bedding for their chin, as there is no wood dust. Never use cedar bedding
for your chin! Cedar reacts to your chin’s urine and can cause severe respiratory
problems. We recommend you change your chin’s bedding once a week. Chinchillas
like to urinate
in the corners of their cage, so it is very easy to spot clean the corners in
between full cleanings.
Chinchilla's teeth, like all rodents, continue to grow. Because of this, they need to chew on things to keep them worn down, plus chewing helps relieve boredom. Pumice stone blocks, unprocessed wood, cuttle bone are all good things for chins to chew. Some cardboard boxes, devoid of paint, glue, tape, stickers, would also work. You chin can also use the box for sleeping in, playing on, or chewing a ‘back door’ through it. Be careful where your boxes come from – make sure no chemicals, or other possibly poisonous materials were stored in the box, as the residue could harm or kill your chin. After cleaning the cage, move the furnishings around (try and leave the water bottle in same place so your chin can find it easier) – put in new boxes, move the wooden house to the other side of the cage, exchange out different toys, move sitting ledges – chinchillas are very curious animals, and love to explore new places and things.
Nutrition:
Your chin needs a good
quality chinchilla pellet food. Other types of rodent food, rabbit, guinea pig,
rat, etc., do not have the essential nutrients your chin needs to be healthy
and active. Your chin will also want timothy hay as a necessary part of his
diet. Sweet timothy hay helps keep her digestion working properly. Chinchillas
have very sensitive digestion tracks – treats, such as raisins, dried fruits
(with no sulfur dioxide!), fresh apple slices, should be given sparingly
as too many could lead to runny stools or constipation. And
of course, always provide fresh water. Clean the water bottle regularly to
remove water deposits, and to prevent algae from growing in the bottle.
Handling:
Dust baths are essential to a
chinchilla’s health and well being. Chinchillas should not get wet – their fur
too dense to dry properly. That is not to say you cannot give your chin a water
bath if he gets into something sticky for example, but you will have to
thoroughly blow dry her with a hair dryer on low warm setting. The sound of the
dryer is going to be very stressful for your chin, be sure you and your chin
have properly bonded. For a regular bathing, a dust bath is best as it removes
dirt particles and oils that collect on his fur. Also, chins just love to roll
and play in the dust! Your chin should have a bath at least every other day
during the warm months of the year (this helps
keep chins cool – remember heat kills chins!), and about once a week
during the cooler months.
You should also give him a bath after holding him for any length of time, this
will remove the oils from your hands which would give your chin a “matted hair”
look.
Most chinchillas are very independent. Because of this, chins, for the most part don’t like to picked up. Some will chitter at you, or run around the cage in a game of “catch me if you can”. Sometimes you can entice her with a piece of hay, or a treat, then pick her up (a kind of “you do something nice for me, I’ll let you pick me up”). If you go into the cage to pick up your chin, you must pick them up, or she will learn how to misbehave and could turn into a problem chin. After you pick up your chin, give them a piece of hay (or a treat if she has not had one today), and take to somewhere your chin would want to go, like a dust bath or a “chin proof” room to play in. Soon, your chin will realize that you are the means to Fun Places.
Chins love to explore new places, and exercise is good for her. Have a “chin proof” room available for you chin to play in. Cover any exposed wires, block any small spaces where you don’t want her to go, throw old sheets or blankets over low furniture so she won’t crawl under it and get stuck. Place large wooden blocks, chin safe boxes, and other toys in your “chin room”, then sit on the floor or a near by chair and watch him as he investigates. You may have a treat ready in case he comes to you for an ear scratching.
When you get Home –
Locate a an appropriate place to put your new
chins home. It should be situated in a cooler part of your home, away from
drafts (head colds can kill chins in just a couple of days!) Place a layer of
bedding on the bottom of the cage, about 1 inch thick (a thicker layer only
traps more moisture). Arrange boxes, hides, and things to play in around cage
in a manner that your chin cannot hurt himself if it falls or is knocked over.
Place the food dish somewhere away from the corners and the sides of the cage
(chins like to do their ‘business’ in the corners of the cage), and the water
bottle in the same vicinity, but not over the bowl in case of leaks. You can
also leave chin safe chew toys strune about the cage for your chinchilla to
play with. After everything is in place, put a small handful of timothy hay
near the full food dish. Now, your new chin’s home is ready for her to move in.
Talking softly to your chin, and moving with slow, sure movements, take your new
chin out of his carrying box, and place him in his new home. Make sure the
doors are secure, then sit back and watch as she explores her new surroundings.
In the Weeks to Come –
Talk to your chin often. In a
soft, cheerful voice, greet your chin, tell him about your day, offer him 1
treat, say anything you like. This is to get your chin to recognize your voice,
and associate you with pleasant experiences. Limit handling your chin to just a
few minutes for the first few days, gradually extending the time to a length
that is comfortable for you and your chin.
Additional Supplies and Information
Please contact Exotics & Aquatics Pet Store
We have all the necessities your new Chinchilla's needs, and we will gladly answer any questions you have.