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welcome | facts | choosing | feeding | looking after | care | links | leaflets As we said at the very beginning you must be committed to providing the very best for your chinchilla. It is amazing how many people don’t think it’s necessary to interact with their chinchillas once they bring them home. But it is, and it is something you need to consider BEFORE you buy your pet. Click on a link below to find out more about looking after Chinchillas: |
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In the wild chinchillas spend the majority of time foraging for food and keeping out of the hot sun and cold nights, so you need to provide plenty of room for your chinchilla to eat, sleep and run around. Chinchillas should be kept in pairs of the opposite sex, ie: a male and a female. Unlike rabbits, chinchillas are slow breeders and, when they do, they only have 1 or 2 kits. Pairs of same sex animals should NOT be kept together, but could be kept next to each other in two cages. Chinchillas need to be kept indoors and careful thought must be given to where their cage will be kept. The temperature in the room should be constant, away from direct sunlight and draughts, and out of reach of any other pets. Chinchillas need good, secure, roomy housing with a sleeping compartment. They should be kept in a large wire cage with a plastic base. Buy the largest one you can afford because they will spend most of their long lives in this cage. Never keep chinchillas in a wooden hutch as they will gnaw their way out! The minimum sized cage for a pair of chinchillas should be 30” long x 30” wide x 36” high (70cm x 70cm x 90cm). Don’t forget they will need somewhere to use their Bathing Sand every day as well. You need to put your cage in a room where there is a constant temperature
which must NOT reach more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) as
they become stressed and could even die. In the UK, chinchillas should
never be housed outside because of the fluctuations in climate. However,
in the Spring and Summer months, it may be possible to allow your pet
to exercise outside, as long as you have a suitable, secure run, or
perhaps an aviary. But always bring them back in at night.
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Chinchillas cages need cleaning out regularly to ensure that they stay in the best of health. Here are some tips to help you make sure you keep your gerbil’s cage clean and hygienic: Every day Once a week Chinchilla dust baths must be cleaned out regularly,
especially if you have more than one chinchilla and even more especially
if you keep the dust bath permanently in the cage. The chinchillas
should be encouraged to bathe every day to keep their coats in good
condition. |
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There are many types of bedding available for chinchillas but the best are the natural products which have been dust extracted, as this reduces irritation to the eyes, nose and respiratory system. To find out more about suitable bedding
products, click here.
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Chinchillas should have a sand bath every day. Place a
high quality sand, into a high sided
box or cat litter tray, and let your chinchillas roll around in it. They
will thoroughly enjoy themselves and the sand will help to keep their
coats healthy by removing excess oils. Always remove soiled sand immediately,
and change all the sand once a week. Chinchillas must not be bathed in
water as their coats absorb water and are very difficult to dry out.
Water in the fur may cause hypothermia which, in turn, could prove fatal.
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It is extremely important that your chinchilla has the opportunity to exercise every day. Exercise is essential to: maintain high levels of fitness Anyway, your chinchilla will love running around and playing. He will love safe branches to climb on and gnaw, as well as platforms. You can make him some tunnels out of drainpipes or terracotta chimney liners. Flower pots are great for hiding and exploring and cardboard or wooden boxes give him something to hide in that he can chew as well. Hide some small pieces of food or Treats in his play area to encourage him to forage. Chinchillas are naturally very active and inquisitive animals. They like to keep themselves busy and, when allowed, spend the majority of their time running around and investigating their surroundings. If you have a “chinchilla-proof” room, they will love this large space to explore and run around in.
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To ensure that your chinchilla becomes tame and affectionate it is important that you handle it frequently and correctly. Picking up a chinchilla incorrectly could lead to your chinchilla being permanently frightened and may lead to it becoming aggressive. Remember that most small animals are prey in the wild. So, if they are approached from above they will see a large shadow and become scared. They might run and hide or try to attack you. Before attempting handling, make sure that your chinchilla is awake and alert. Let him decide when he is ready to come to you. Your voice is a very good method of introduction as it will make him aware that you are near him. Always approach your chinchilla on the same level. Crouch in front of him and let him come to you, presenting the back of your hand to sniff. Gently put your thumb behind the forelegs with your fingers over his back and lift with one hand whilst supporting the weight of the chinchilla by scooping up the rump with the other hand. Gently place your chinchilla on to your lap or hold against your chest. You should NOT try to lift your chinchilla by the tail or ears (as professionals often do) as this can cause pain or the tail to break off. If your chinchilla is handled roughly, or receives a shock or other trauma, he may shed his hair. So, always approach him quietly and gently.
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Chinchillas will gradually shed all their fur every 3 months. Sometimes they may need assistance to rid them of the hair. Always groom them before they have a dust bath as this will help the dust reach right down the hair to the roots. Handling your chinchilla every day gives you the perfect opportunity to check him over. Check the eyes to ensure they are bright and sparkling (dull eyes can be a sign of illness). Also check the ears and nose for any unusual discharge, and the bottom for signs of diarrhoea. If you see any problems, consult your vet immediately. (Also see the next section called “Is my Chinchilla well?” for more details on signs of illness and behaviour.)
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We touched briefly on pairing chinchillas at the beginning, but it needs explaining in more detail. It is better to keep at least two chinchillas, as they do enjoy companionship of others of their kind. However, you must ensure that certain rules are adopted before you buy two or more. You must have a cage that is large enough to accommodate more than one chinchilla. Chinchillas should never be kept in single sex pairs as they will fight – sometimes to the death – but you could put two cages next to each other. You can only keep a male and a female together, but this obviously result in litters. However, Chinchillas are not prolific breeders and only have one or two kits at a time. Both need to be young and reared together (but from separate litters) or they need to be kept in two cages to begin with and very gradually introduced to each other before they can be put into the same cage.
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A Chinchilla is fairly expensive to buy and if you are buying 2 as we have recommended, you have already committed yourself to quite a large expense. However, chinchillas are considered “exotic” pets and, although quite hardy creatures, you must be prepared to pay for veterinary treatment if it becomes ill. |
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If you do decide to breed from your female chinchilla, you will need to give her twice as much food as normal whilst she is pregnant, as the demand for nutrients during this time is much greater. Once she has had the litter she will need three times as much food as normal whilst she is lactating (feeding her babies herself). Do not be tempted to touch the kits for the first week as the mother chinchilla may reject them.
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When chinchillas reach the senior stage of life, it is important to consider changes in their environment and diet. Older animals tend to be less active, especially in colder weather, and will have lower energy requirements. Their food intake should be reduced to prevent obesity and give them plenty of Supreme Choice Hay to keep them healthy. Encourage your older chinchilla to continue exercising to maintain a good level of fitness which will help fight off disease. You may find he requires more help than normal with grooming, but this is just a good opportunity for a longer cuddle!
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If you want to go on holiday, you must ensure that someone is prepared to look after your pet properly whilst you are away, or that you can afford to pay to place him in boarding. |
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