Environment and Caging. A Chinchilla must be kept in a cool dry area that is quiet during the day. Temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit can be deadly!! We keep our chinchillas comfortable between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. If the area is too moist then they can suffer from fur fungus. And quiet is essential for them to rest comfortable during the day. The larger the cage the better! A cage measuring at least 24"x24"x24" is recommended. You could have a smaller cage as long as your chinchilla has plenty out of cage play time. There are a lot of choices when it comes to the cage material. We recommend a wire cage with a solid bottom. A wire bottom can lead to sores and arthritis in the chinchillas feet. If starting with a baby chinchilla the wire should be spaced no more then 1"x1/2" ; for adults 1"x1" is sufficient. Make certain to rinse the cage with a solution of water and vinegar to remove any packing or galvanized dust before placing your chinchilla into its new home. DO NOT USE CEDAR LITTER! This litter contains toxic oils that can harm small animals! We use only non-treated kiln dried white pine shavings. . Chinchillas have very little odor. Once a week cleaning should be sufficient for cages housing one chinchilla. Chinchillas love to jump and it is good to either have shelves or a house in their cage.. If your shelf is made out of wire make certain the spacing is no more then 1/2"x1/2". Chinchillas have long skinny back legs and spacing more then 1/2"x1/2" can lead to injuries and breaks. If using wood for houses and shelving be certain to use only non treated kiln dried white pine or other non toxic woods.(safe woods listed under CHEWS)

WATER Chlorinated water can be harmful to your Chinchilla. Filtered water is a must. The best filters will filter to 0.05 microns. Be certain the filtering system states that it filters out Guardia. Wash out your chinchillas bottle with hot water and brush regularly. Chinchillas are very sensitive to bacteria.

FOOD A high quality Chinchilla pellet is the staple diet for your pet. We recommend and use PANR and Mazuri. . Both provide essential nutrients and are milled regularly to ensure freshness. Most Chinchilla pellets sold in pet stores are past their freshness date. Although they may claim a longer shelf life the pellets start losing nutritional value after 3 to5 months. Please check the bottom of the bag for the mill date and only buy enough to last your pet 3 to 5 months. Chinchillas love to munch all day and night. Make certain that pellets and hay are available to your pet at all times. We use both loose hay and hay cubes. It provides your chinchilla the extra roughage that they need and satisfies the munchies!

CHEWS Chinchillas teeth grow constantly. They crave and need something to chew to wear down their teeth. Chews should be available at all times. Some safe woods are apple, pear, willow, red willow, bamboo, mulberry, ocotillo, yucca, pecan, cottonwood, and choia. Also they enjoy natural pumice stone and cuttle bone. Be certain any wood that you give to your pet has been listed as safe, has had no contact with pesticides, and is clean and dry.

DUST Chinchillas take baths in dust. No water needed! It is very comical to watch you pet roll around in their dust house. In the wild chinchillas roll in volcanic ash to take oil and dirt out of their coats. There are many products that simulate this natural cleaning. We recommend Blue Sparkel Dust and Blue Cloud Dust. An enclosed dust house is also recommended. You should dust your chinchillas 2 to 3 times a week. More or less depending on how humid your area is.

TREATS Chinchillas, like most animals and humans, for that matter love treats. Be certain to give only one or two treats per day or your pet may refuse to eat its regular food. Treats are a good way to train your chinchilla. Start by taking its treat and breaking it into very small pieces. As you give each piece say your pets name. Before you know it your chinchilla will come when called. You can also use this method to get your chinchilla to sit in your lap and go back into its cage! Good treats to give your chinchilla are: a pinch of whole oats, 1 square of non frosted mini wheat (adds fiber and helps with soft stool) 1 sm Cheerio, and rosehips to name a few.

PLAY TIME Play time is best in the evenings when your chinchilla is more active, but they will not turn down a romp out of the cage no matter what time of day or night it is. Be certain your chinchilla has gotten to know you and its name before giving this out of cage time. Also crawl around on your hands and knees to look for any dangers that your chinchilla could get into such as wires, wooden furniture legs that they may chew , and small spaces that they can get caught in. It is best to use a play yard that is big enough for you and your chinchilla to fit into. Or another alternative is to bring your chinchilla into the bathroom, after you have chinchilla proofed it, of course! Provide your chinchilla with his dust house , and some wooden boxes to jump on (see safe wood under CHEWS) They also love to crawl in and out of the tunnels that are made for ferrets. Chinchillas are very curious and love to play!

CONSISTANCY IS KEY Chinchillas are creatures of habit. They like to be fed, have their out of cage play time, and be dusted on the same schedule each day. If you are late they will be waiting for you! We feed our chinchillas fresh pellets and supplement every morning. In the evenings when they are more active fresh pellets, hay, and a treat are given. Then it is play and petting time!