A tall and wide cage is the best, but tall is better than wide if you can’t get both. Chinchillas love to jump, so multiple levels are great for them. Try to get a tall cage because they can jump up to 6 feet (1. 8 meters) high. Glass cages are not good for chinchillas because the glass severely limits air flow.
If you choose a wire cage, ensure that there are no bits of wire poking out that your chinchilla could cut itself on if it does try to squeeze through the bars.
Proper nesting boxes can be purchased through pet supply retailers online and in some pet supply stores.
Chins have different psychology from cats and dogs, which are predators. They are prey animals, so they are always fearful of being attacked and eaten. Do not put a chinchilla’s cage in a spot where a dog, cat, or anything else can harm or injure it.
Do not allow them to be in high humidity, either. If you have a humid home, put them near a dehumidifier.
Some people use fleece fabric on the bottom of their chinchilla cages. If you do this, the fabric needs to washed weekly and you need to be careful to use only fleece and not other fabrics. [7] X Research source Also, never use cedar shavings as bedding, as the phenols in the cedar are very strong and cause serious respiratory, skin, coat and liver problems. They are also poisonous to chinchillas if they try to eat them.
Don’t ever use bleach or any other chemicals on the cage that could harm your chinchilla. If you are housing more than 1 chinchilla in a cage, that cage should be cleaned more than once a week.
You can provide timothy hay in racks and hay balls, but be aware that chinchillas are known for getting stuck in them. Providing hay gives your chinchilla necessary fiber. Chewing hay helps them avoid tooth overgrowth.
Most adult chinchillas should eat around 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of pellets every day, depending on what type of pellets they are given.
Never give fruit, vegetables, nuts, or other treats that are not listed as safe.
Remember to sterilize the water bottle when changing the water. The algae that grows in their water can cause liver problems or severe diarrhea, or even kill a chinchilla. [14] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source Chinchillas cannot handle some naturally occurring bacteria or parasites in water like humans, dogs, and cats can, so you need to be sure that the water you give them is clean.
Chinchillas have other defenses as well, such as losing fur, biting, and spraying urine. If your chinchilla is doing any of these things, you may be handling it too much.
It is very important that you don’t squeeze, especially around the upper torso. Chinchillas have what is known as a “floating ribcage” and you can cause severe internal injuries to it by squeezing that area. Make sure to be gentle with them to avoid scaring them.
Also provide your chinchilla with branches that can be climbed and gnawed on. Ensure that these branches are not cut from trees that have recently been sprayed with chemicals, or that are poisonous, such as yew, laburnum, and fresh pine. Recommended trees are sycamore and manzanita, as they provide straight wood that is quite resistant to the chinchilla’s sharp teeth. Apple tree branches are another good alternative that can be found quite easily.
The dust baths help the chinchilla get rid of excess grease in their fur. Do not get chinchillas wet. Their fur does not dry out like a normal animal, causing it to get damaged and moldy. Letting your chinchilla have too much time in the dust bath will cause too much dryness on the animal’s coat. However, too little dust bathing will cause their coats to build up oils, which can cause a disfiguring and deadly fungus to grow on their skin.
If you do let your pet out of the cage for supervised play time, it should be in a small room and the room should be chinchilla-proof, which means there are no wires, furniture, or other things for them to chew on. Keep in mind that chinchillas can jump several feet (nearly 2 meters) in the air and can squeeze through tiny spaces when you let them out of their cage. Chinchillas are nocturnal animals, so exercise time outside of the cage is best in the evening in a big area where they can run around.
Also, never use the giant hamster balls pet stores try to sell you. Instead, let them out in a supervised air-conditioned room, and allow your chinchillas to run freely.
Look at the clarity of the chinchilla’s eyes and for excess drainage from the nose, which can be signs of an infection. Also look at the state of the chinchilla’s feces. If the consistency changes dramatically, it may have a digestive problem occurring.
