Chinchilla FAQs
Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about chinchilla care. This is only a very brief overview, for more information on each of the topics, please follow the links to the dedicated page.
Q. Do chinchillas make good pets?
For the right person, chinchillas can make great pets. They’re intelligent, entertaining to watch, don’t have a strong odour and have a relatively long lifespan.
That said, they are definitely not the right pet for everyone and they do require a lot of commitment. If you are going to live and breath chinchillas, then all the commitment involved is definitely worth it. However if chinchillas are something you are only mildly interested in, you may find all the effort and the mess they create in your home very inconvenient - and therefore not something you want to commit to. |
The main disadvantages of chinchillas as pets and some of the most common reasons for re-homing are as follows:
- Chinchillas generally don’t like to be held
- They require supervised playtime, ideally daily for at least 1 hour
- They require a large multi level cage that must be kept indoors (minimum size 64 x 61 x 91cm/25" x 24" x 36")
- Mess - no matter how much you clean, inevitably their poo, hay, food & bedding will always end up the floor!
- They can spray urine at you if they feel threatened (females in particular)
- Their bite is very painful
- You need air conditioning in your home, chinchillas should not be kept in temperatures any higher than 21C/70F (this is the maximum, lower is better)
- Expensive vet bills - they’re classed as exotics so vets bills are automatically more expensive - expect to pay £/$100s if your chinchilla gets sick. Pet shops often don’t sell chinchilla safe items, so you may pay more buying from specialist retailers
- Long lifespan - chinchillas can live up to 20 years which is far longer than the average dog, making them a very long term commitment
Q. Do chinchillas make good pets for children?
Chinchillas generally do not make good pets for children. They are very fragile and typically do not like to be held . Due to the size of their teeth, they also have a very painful bite if they use it. Unfortunately there have been incidents of chinchillas being squeezed to death by well intended children who did not realise they were holding the chinchilla far too tightly.
Many chinchillas get re-homed after biting a child, or because the child got bored of having a pet that doesn’t want to cuddle or interact with them. These are all just basic chinchilla characteristics and would have been avoided had research on their care been done before getting a chinchilla. Chinchillas also live for up to 20 years, so even a very young child is likely to have left home and even have a family of their own by the time the chinchilla passes away.
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Of course children and chinchillas can co-exist in the same household, but it’s important to supervise any handling very closely and ensure your child knows to respect the chinchilla’s needs - i.e no loud shouting. You will also need to be fully responsible for the chinchilla's care, cage cleaning and expenses - pocket money will not cover these requirements.
Therefore if you are considering a chinchilla it should be because you want one, and not just for your child.
Therefore if you are considering a chinchilla it should be because you want one, and not just for your child.
Q. Are chinchillas easy to care for?
Chinchillas are not difficult to care for in terms of skill, however they are a big commitment in time and effort and can be expensive to care for.
Time wise, chinchillas require the at least 1 hour per day from you, which is in addition to their at least weekly cage out. The biggest commitment in terms of time, is supervising their daily out of cage playtime. This is very important for the chinchilla both mentally and physically, and is a direct influence on your pet's overall wellbeing.
Other than this, chinchillas require high quality alfalfa based pellets, timothy hay, safe chews and clean water daily. Sand baths should be offered on average 2-3 times per week.
Time wise, chinchillas require the at least 1 hour per day from you, which is in addition to their at least weekly cage out. The biggest commitment in terms of time, is supervising their daily out of cage playtime. This is very important for the chinchilla both mentally and physically, and is a direct influence on your pet's overall wellbeing.
Other than this, chinchillas require high quality alfalfa based pellets, timothy hay, safe chews and clean water daily. Sand baths should be offered on average 2-3 times per week.
Q. What sort of cage should a chinchilla live in?
Chinchillas need a large, multi level cage, that’s totally free from any plastic as this is very bad for them. The cage must be kept indoors and be well ventilated. For this reason, vivarium/aquarium style cages are not suitable. The minimum cage size for a chinchilla is 64 x 61 x 91cm (25" x 24" x 36"), however bigger is better. Just ensure there are no drops higher than 40cm/16” in between levels, as your chinchilla could hurt themselves if they fall.
Q. What do chinchillas eat?
Adult chinchillas should eat a diet of a high quality alfalfa based pellet and timothy hay. Chinchillas under 6 months also need alfalfa hay, along with pregnant females. Adult chinchillas should only be given alfalfa hay sparingly due to its high calcium content. Chinchillas do not need treats, should you choose to give these they must be off the safe list only and fed sparingly.
Q. Can chinchillas eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and raisins?
No, these are all very dangerous for chinchillas and not suitable in any quantity whatsoever. Feeding these causes serious health problems and ultimately reduces lifespan. Fruits and raisins are too high in sugar and can result in seizures. Nuts and seeds are too high in fat and can cause deadly fatty liver disease. Vegetables can cause fatal GI Statis (bloat). If you want to feed your chinchilla treats then please do so sparingly from the safe list only. Please remember it’s your responsibility to keep your chinchilla safe and this includes not feeding food that is harmful to them.
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Q. If chinchillas in the wild ate fruits and vegetables, then why can’t pet chinchillas?
Wild chinchillas originate from way up high in the Andes Mountains, where the climate is very cold and dry. As such, very little forms of plants and vegetation grow up there, and certainly not the fruits and vegetables we’re used to! Wild chinchillas’ diet would largely consist of a mixture of dry grasses and forage. As a result, chinchillas are not evolved to eat such rich, high sugar foods and feeding them this diet which is unnatural to them can prove deadly.
Q. Do chinchillas need to live in pairs?
Chinchillas are very social animals and would always live in large colonies in the wild, so it’s best to keep them in same sex pairs if possible. However if the chinchilla you choose is currently living alone, you have the choice of whether to get a same sex companion for them.
Bonding can be a slow process and is 50/50 whether it’ll work, so if you do have a single chinchilla you need to decide if you want to commit to a second and the additional work it involved - even if the bonding does not work out. As bonding 2 single chinchillas is never guaranteed, please do not break up a bonded same sex adult pair just because you only want one of them.
Bonding can be a slow process and is 50/50 whether it’ll work, so if you do have a single chinchilla you need to decide if you want to commit to a second and the additional work it involved - even if the bonding does not work out. As bonding 2 single chinchillas is never guaranteed, please do not break up a bonded same sex adult pair just because you only want one of them.
Q. Should I get my chinchilla neutered?
Neutering a chinchilla is a fairly high risk operation and so is not typically recommended as there is generally no need for it. Male chinchillas can be bonded with other male chinchillas, so there is no need to pick an opposite sex companion. In fact female chinchillas are known for being particularly territorial and have killed their male counterpart on many occasions before.
Opposite sex chinchillas should never be kept together or allowed to interact unless both chinchillas are pedigreed and you are an experienced breeder, or the male is neutered. If you do neuter your male, you will need to wait 8 weeks after the operation to put him back in with the female. After this time apart you may need to repeat the bonding process anyway, which is another reason why same sex pairs are recommended. As with any operation, there is always the risk the chinchilla may not survive the procedure, so this is something you should be aware of if you do decide to have your pet neutered.
Opposite sex chinchillas should never be kept together or allowed to interact unless both chinchillas are pedigreed and you are an experienced breeder, or the male is neutered. If you do neuter your male, you will need to wait 8 weeks after the operation to put him back in with the female. After this time apart you may need to repeat the bonding process anyway, which is another reason why same sex pairs are recommended. As with any operation, there is always the risk the chinchilla may not survive the procedure, so this is something you should be aware of if you do decide to have your pet neutered.
Q. I’d like to have baby chinchillas, should I get an opposite sex chinchilla?
No, you must not breed chinchillas unless both are pedigrees approved for breeding and you are experienced with plenty of money to pay for any complications, such as a C Section, should they arise. Only pedigree chinchillas should ever be bred as this means the chinchillas’ family lines have been tracked for any serious health conditions such as malocclusion. Breeding chinchillas without pedigree certificates is extremely unethical as you have no way of knowing what fatal conditions the parents could be carrying, even if they appear totally healthy. To knowingly bring a baby chinchilla (kit) into this world, aware of the fact it may well suffer from painful fatal conditions such as malocclusion and in turn devastate their owner, is very immoral.
Q. Do chinchillas like to be held?
Generally speaking, chinchillas do not like to be held. They are prey animals and are naturally very wriggly, have very delicate bone structures and overheat easily, which all mean being handled is something they don’t typically enjoy. Some chinchillas will always hate being held, whilst others will learn to tolerate it to a certain extent. A small minority will actively enjoy climbing onto your arms or lap for a cuddle.
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Q. Will my chinchilla get along with my dog, cat and other pets?
Chinchillas should not come into contact with any other species, including dogs, cats, reptiles or any other rodents. Not only is there the risk of the chinchilla being injured or killed by natural predators such as your dog or cat, other species can carry bacteria that is harmful for chinchillas. Aside from cats and dogs, rabbits, rats and reptiles are amongst some of the worst culprits for this. However, any other species can be carrying bacteria that is harmful for your chinchilla, so please ensure they never interact in any way. Of course you can have chinchillas as well as other pets, but you must take precautions to ensure they don’t come into contact. Just having cats and dogs approaching a chinchilla’s cage can cause them serious levels of stress and trigger illness or even death as a result of severe shock.
Q. Do chinchillas need playtime?
Yes chinchillas need playtime, which is a big factor you should consider before getting your pet. It is not fair to deny a chinchilla playtime just because you don’t have time for this. With personalities somewhat similar to squirrels, you should not keep a chinchilla continuously confined to a small cage. Playtime should be carried out in a secure playpen with room temperature lower than 20C/68F at least 4 times a week, for around 45 minutes per session. More is better, so if you’re able to let your chinchilla out for longer, or offer playtime every day then that’s great! Playtime should be on your chinchilla’s terms and never forced, they should have access to their cage at all times and be able to return to their cage when they want to. Playtime is allowing your chinchilla to exercise as they wish, not “exercising them”. You shouldn’t make your chinchilla come out if they don’t want to, and never ever force them to run or chase them.
Q. I heard prey animals don’t need or want any exercise, is this true?
No, there have been some damaging accusations surrounding the care of prey animals, with some deliberately mis-interpreting their needs to make their care and commitment easier. The flawed argument is that prey animals only move around if they’re being chased by a predator, to find food or to mate. As this is not relevant in captivity, some try to argue that the need for chinchillas and other prey animals to have sufficient space to move about is redundant. This is absolutely not correct, like any other animal (including humans!) chinchillas should not be denied the basic right to move around freely as they please in a safe environment. Having a sufficient sized cage (minimum 64 x 61 x 91cm (25" x 24" x 36") and regular playtime in a safe space is vital for a chinchilla’s well-being.
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Otherwise the same argument would justify keeping a dog permanently in a small crate, after all, pet dogs no longer need to hunt for food or go in search of a mate either! However in society we now realise this would be very cruel for a dog, and the same considerations should apply for chinchillas. Due to chinchillas not being kept as pets for as long as some other species, unfortunately means sometimes the understanding of their welfare can be behind the times in comparison. For instance rabbits used to be marketed as the perfect, cuddly companion for children and being prey animals, only requiring the tiniest of cages. Further research has since discovered that rabbits do require far more space to exercise and keeping them confined in a tiny space is not fair. The same principles apply to chinchillas - yes, provide hideouts so they feel safe and secure, but please do not deny them their right to burn off their endless supply of energy!
Q. I can’t afford air conditioning, can I use a fan for my chinchilla instead?
Sadly when it comes to chinchillas, there isn’t any substitution for air conditioning. Even in cooler countries such as the UK, air conditioning is mandatory as each Summer, temperatures will exceed 21C/70F. Fans do not reduce the temperature, they simply circulate the air in the room. Chinchillas do not sweat, so they do not benefit from any cooling sensation from the fan. Direct drafts are actually bad for them, so fans do far more harm than good. You can find where to buy air conditioning units here and check out our tips to keep room temperatures cool, helping to reduce the amount of times you need the air conditioning running.
Q. Do chinchillas get sick often?
Due to irresponsible breeding of chinchillas without pedigree certificates, which means their family history is unknown, unfortunately there has been an epidemic of a very nasty fatal condition called malocclusion. This is where the roots of the teeth grow into the nasal cavity and or eye sockets, and sadly there is no cure. Chinchillas from pet shops or irresponsible breeders are more likely to develop malocclusion as the condition is mainly hereditary and they often breed chinchillas who aren’t pedigrees, so have no idea of their family history. Seizures are also another fairly common health condition chinchillas suffer with, which can be caused by poor diet such as feeding dangerous foods such as fruit, vegetables, raisins etc, as well as being hereditary in some cases.
However irresponsible breeding aside, all chinchillas can get sick or injured at any time and as they’re classed as exotics, the vets bills are expensive. Before getting a chinchilla, you should find a knowledgeable vet in your area and ensure you have enough money put aside should your chinchilla get sick.
However irresponsible breeding aside, all chinchillas can get sick or injured at any time and as they’re classed as exotics, the vets bills are expensive. Before getting a chinchilla, you should find a knowledgeable vet in your area and ensure you have enough money put aside should your chinchilla get sick.