Basic Information

When you are looking for a home for your animals, be sure that you do not locate them in an area that is damp (like a wet basement which can promote a fungus that causes fur loss), too close to a heat source, or directly in front of a window. Temperature within your chin area should not exceed 75 degrees in the summer nor drop below 50 degrees in the winter. They may need to be kept warmer than the minimum in the winter if you are on wire bottomed cages and babies are expected.

Animals like a nice, clean cage and good breathable air. Although many owners prefer a very large cage, it is not necessary (usually an 18x18x24 cage is sufficient for 1 to 2 chins). Chinchillas should be kept in an area separate from any other livestock so that diseases are not transmitted.

Since chinchillas are rodents, their teeth are continually growing. They need something to gnaw on to prevent their teeth from growing too long. A pine board or pumice stone should be kept in their cage for this purpose

Chinchillas like to hide, it is recommended to have a "hide box" in their cage, this can be a box (shoe box), wooden box, larger coffee tin container, fish bowl, ect....Since Chinchillas, came from dry, desert-like areas where there is basically no water, they prefer dust baths. This bath is referred to as "dusting" or "sanding". The animals extremely fine, dense fur can get very greasy from a natural oil called lanolin whose purpose is to keep it from matting

Dust baths may be offered anywhere from once or twice a week to once a day. No set time is required although, if left in the cage, they may think it is a bathroom! You will notice that generally when the bath is offered to them, they will immediately jump in to clean themselves. Within a few minutes they will be thoroughly clean and after that it is just used to play in.