Chinchillas are adorable little rodents that are full of energy, and bring tons of life and happiness to any family that is well prepared to have them. However, they're not the pet for everyone, as some people have found out in the past. Unlike some other small animals, chinchillas are fairly high maintenance, and require daily acknowledgment, attention and care.

Things to Consider

• Ideally, domesticated chinchillas can live for 15-20 years. Do I want a pet that long?
  
• Chinchillas have very sensitive bodily systems, and can require veterinary visits in the case that something goes wrong. Is there a vet near me who will be able to take care of my chinchilla? Am I willing to pay the possibly very expensive vet bills to keep this animal alive?
• Chinchillas chew on everything and can have serious dental problems if this need is not met. Am I willing to continually purchase quality and safe chew toys for my chinchilla? Is it possible to 'chinchilla-proof' an area of my house (e.g. a bathroom at the very least) so that my chinchilla will have a place to play outside of his/her cage? Will my housing situation allow for a few minor teeth marks on the baseboards if he/she happens to get to them (i.e. will I still get my security deposit back??)?
• Chinchillas require constant temperatures below 72 degrees, year round, and low humidity. Do I have an air conditioner/dehumidifier to satisfy this need? Will I be able to have a backup plan in case the power goes out (e.g. generators)?
• Chinchillas poo everywhere. Am I okay with cleaning up after my chinchilla pretty much constantly?
• Few chinchillas are truly lap pets; they tend to be big balls of energy until their later years, or even their whole lives. Will I be able to handle the fact that he/she will never really want to sit still?
• Chinchillas tend to be awake around sunset and sunrise, and some prefer, oh, say... 4am when there's work the next morning at 9. Will this schedule clash with my sleeping schedule (i.e. will any little noise he/she makes wake me up at 4am?)? Will I be able to keep the chinchilla in a room other than my bedroom?
• At the moment, there are very few airlines that will allow chinchillas on board. Will I be able to find someone trustworthy to maintain care of my chinchilla when/if I take a trip? If not, am I okay with only taking day trips for the next 20 years?
• In general, other animals can stress a chinchilla out quite a bit. Will I be able to keep my other animals (cats, dogs, birds) away from my chinchilla enough to protect his sanity?

Pros to Owning a Chinchilla (as opposed to some other small animal)

• Chinchillas have very little odor. Generally, odors associated with them are due to soiled bedding.
• They live so much longer than a hamster or gerbil!
  
• Chinchillas are incredibly soft (sadly, this is why they are endangered in the wild).
• Chinchilla poo is very easy to clean up (it hardens instantly if the chinchilla is healthy).
• Chinchillas come in many different colors -- grey (standard, med./light ebony), white (lots of shades), black (ebony, black velvet), shades of brown (tan, beige), violet-grey (violets) and even some mottled/spotted (mosaic, white ebony)!
• Chinchillas do not need any vaccinations and cannot get fleas/ticks!
• Chinchillas can learn their names, and come when called! (This requires patience and daily attention, but it is possible and very rewarding!)

Now that you're sold on the idea... What will you need?

Required:

• A good quality cage, such as a Martin's Chinchilla cage, Quality Cage Chinchilla cage or Marshall Ferret Mansion. Multiple levels are excellent! Big is good! NO PLASTIC in the cage at all!! Chinchillas CAN and WILL chew through plastic, and it can cause blockages in their digestive system! Minimum size: 24"x24"x24". Bar spacing should be 1" or less. Find one on eBay!
  
• A dust bath house. Since the dust bath should NOT be kept in the cage, this can be made out of plastic if the chinchilla is supervised while using it. Find one on eBay!
  
• Quality dust. Dusting regularly (at least once a week, more often in humid environments) will keep your chinchilla's coat healthy and soft. Recommended: Blue Cloud dust, which can be found from various sellers online, but unfortunately rarely on eBay.
• Kiln-Dried Pine or Aspen bedding. Where else will he poo?! This is not usually found on eBay either -- look for it at a local pet store or  farm supply store -- but read the label CAREFULLY!
• Quality chinchilla food. This should be pellets only, no seeds,nuts,berries,dried fruit,etc. Brands to look for: Mazuri, Tradition, Oxbow. Find Mazuri on eBay!
  
• Timothy Hay. This should be free-fed regularly, as it helps the chinnie's teeth and keeps them healthy! Find it on eBay!
  
• Water Bottle. This should be made of glass or heavy plastic. No open water in a bowl -- chinchillas can get fur fungus if they get wet!! There are also chew guards you can get to keep chinnie teeth from leaking the bottle! Find one on eBay (tell eBay to search title and description on this one!)!
  
• Food bowl/crock. No plastic!!! Ceramic or metal works best, some even have shelves attached! Find one on eBay!
  
• Safe chew toys! As always, no plastic. Do some research online to find some safe woods! Recommended: Willow, apple wood, pet-safe cardboard chew tubes... There are tons of these on eBay! :D
  

Optional/Recommended:

• An exercise wheel that is made out of metal (noooo plastic!) and solid -- no wire wheels, as chinnie legs can get caught and broken! Minimum diameter should be at least 12" (chinchillas are not tiny!). Find one on eBay!
  
• Treats. Treats should be fed very sparingly, if ever -- 2-3 a week will do, if even that much! Good treats are dried rosehips, as they're healthy, natural and high in vitamin C! UNFROSTED shredded wheat is good, once or twice a week!
  

NEVER:

NEVER put a chinchilla in a rodent exercise ball -- EVEN IF THE PACKAGE SAYS ITS OKAY. Chinchillas can overheat very easily in one of those balls, and die in a matter of minutes. They may be good for mice, rats, etc, but they are NOT okay for chinchillas EVER!

Further Reading:

y2jasmine's Guide (Chinchilla Raising)

chintastic_creation's Guide (Chinchillas as Pets)

steve2wilson's Guide (Pet Chinchillas - A Beginner's Guide)

Helpful?

If this guide was helpful, let me know by clicking 'Yes' below! If not, please check out some of the other guides to find some of the information not covered here!