Take time for your baby chinchilla to get comfortable with its new home. Spend time near its enclosure, speaking to it and
gradually offering treats as your baby chinchilla moves toward you. Soon you can offer a treat on your palm and entice
your pet to crawl onto your hand. Slowly your chinchilla will become comfortable climbing on your arms, and you
will be able to gently pick it up and handle it.
Chinchillas are active animals that can jump as high as five feet, so choose a spacious enclosure that is at least 24”
tall and 24” deep. A multi-level enclosure provides more opportunities for your pet to jump and climb. The habitat
should have solid floors and tunnels or nest boxes where your pet can hide.
Provide a variety of chew toys to keep your pet stimulated and to keep their constantly growing teeth worn down.
Chinchillas are adapted to a cool, dry climate so keep the enclosure out of direct sunlight and away from drafts.
The temperature in your pet’s enclosure should not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but lower is preferable.
Chinchillas release excess heat through their ears, so if your chinchilla is getting too hot, you may notice the skin in
its ears becoming red, with visible red veins.
Paper or hardwood shavings are good bedding substrates. Avoid corncob and cedar shavings. Any soiled bedding
should be removed daily, and completely change all bedding weekly.Food bowls or hay racks are an important part of your chinchilla’s habitat. A removable dust bin will allow your pet
to clean its fur.
Thoroughly clean your pet’s habitat (including bowls, toys, hiding places) monthly with hot soapy water.
Completely disinfect the habitat by adding two to three drops of bleach to one gallon of water, then immerse or
wipe the cage, dishes, and toys with the solution. Thoroughly rinse all items with hot water to remove all traces of
bleach. Make sure no bleach smell remains before placing your chinchilla back into its home. Never use food
preparation areas to clean small animal habitats or anything in their habitats. If you clean the habitat in the
bathroom, disinfect the area completely afterwards.
baby Chinchillas are naturally clean animals with very little odor. In their naturally dry environment, they clean
themselves by taking dust baths a few times a week to absorb oil and dirt. Because of the density of chinchilla fur,
do not bathe your chinchilla in water. It can be very difficult for the fur to dry, which can lead to bacterial or fungal
infection. Allow your pet chinchilla to dust-bathe only in store-bought chinchilla dust.
WATER AND FOOD-
Chinchillas are rather active small pets and should be kept at a healthy weight—not obese, and not too thin. Your
chinchilla should have access to a high-quality commercial pelleted food, fresh water, and a high-quality grass hay
such as timothy at all times.
A chinchilla’s teeth never stop growing so you must provide items to chew to help grind their teeth and keep them
at a healthy length.
Children younger than five years old, people with weakened immune systems, and people 65 years of age and
older are more likely to get diseases spread between animals and people (also known as zoonotic diseases);
contact your health care provider for more information.
It’s a good idea to arrange a visit to the veterinarian on your way home from picking up your new chinchilla. The
veterinarian will make sure your little one is healthy and can answer any other questions you might have about
your new pet.
This information is designed as a basic guide. There are several books and online resources available with in-depth
information on chinchillas and their care. Contact your veterinarian for additional information.
BONDING WITH YOUR CHINCHILLA
Chinchilla owners have to earn – and keep – their pet’s trust. It may take weeks for your chinchilla to know you well enough to let you pick them up. You’ll see the best results if you move slowly, have lots of patience and visit with your chinchillas at the same time every day to create a routine. One frightening capture or grab could ruin your chance to make friends with this highly-strung pet.
First days
The first few days in a new home can be very stressful, so you should give your chinchillas time to get acquainted with their surroundings before you approach them. Remember, that they are naturally more active in the evenings and night. When you feed your chinchillas or change their water, approach their environment slowly and directly. Speak to your chinchillas in a soft, comforting voice, but do not try to touch them. It is best for them to get used to your voice while you’re still across cage bars from each other. With time, your chinchillas will be more comfortable and may come up to the side of the cage to greet you when you enter the room.
Get a chair and sit quietly next to the cage. If your chinchillas come over to see what you are doing, offer them a treat or a food pellet through the bars. Raisins are a favourite treat, but you shouldn’t feed your chinchilla more than one a day (split them in halves to spread it out). Your chinchillas will likely bound away when you move your arm to bring the food up to their level, but curiosity will bring them back to your fingers. Repeat this activity every night at the same time so that your chinchilla will begin to anticipate your visits.
Palm feeding
After a few days of feeding your baby chinchilla through the wires, open the cage door and place your hand on the cage floor, palm up. Make no move to try to catch your chinchilla. Allow him to approach your hand on his own. He will sniff your fingers, then bound away, and then return. Chinchillas are jumpy and energetic, but they’re also curious. After each session, reward your chinchillas for their good behaviour. Eventually your chinchillas will become more comfortable around you!
Handling your chinchillas
Your chinchillas will soon trust you enough to allow you to lift them out of their cage. Place one hand behind them and slip your other hand underneath your chinchilla’s body, supporting their full weight and lifting carefully. Hold your chinchilla securely against your chest or at your shoulder so they can look out behind you.
Never grab your chinchillas’ tail or a piece of it may break off in your hand. This is one of your chinchilla’s natural defence mechanisms. Your chinchillas will also release clumps of fur if scared or handled too roughly. If your chinchillas are running around, do not chase them but let them calm down and try to slowly approach them slowly and scoop them up in your hands.
