A chinchilla is a great pet and friend. They love attention, their fur is indescribably soft and they are very entertaining.
Unlike most other animals they don’t have dander which is a concern for allergy sufferers. However, when thinking about purchasing a chinchilla their life span must be taken into consideration. They live 15 years or more. Chinchillas do best when living in pairs. However, as long as a single chinchilla is given lots of love and attention it can live alone.
The chinchilla is a type of rodent and is originally from South America. Colors of the chinchilla vary from white and beige to grey. They are primarily nocturnal therefore they are most active at night.
Chinchilla care:
The habitat for your chin should be the largest your room can accommodate. Chinchillas like to run around and jump. Therefore, it should have platforms or perches for them to jump on as well as a hide out where it can sleep, rest and feel secure. At Appalachian Tails, you'll oftentime see our chinchillas running around the store in a runabout ball...which lets them get plenty of excercise while remaining safe. our chinchilla must be kept indoors and the habitat should be in a room with a constant temperature as they are sensitive to heat and can become overheated. They can tolerate cool temperatures better than hot however, temperatures where the habitat is kept should not get higher than 75 degrees and it should not be in a drafty area.
Your chinchilla should be fed pellets specially formulated for chinchillas. Other pellets such as those for other pets should not be substituted. Chinchillas require hay made of timothy grass which aids in their digestion. Small quantities of organic leafy greens (no pesticides) such as red leaf lettuce, chard or parsley are a nice treat however these should be given in small amounts. Store bought treats specially made for chins can also be used as treats.
Fresh water should be provided and available at all times. A water bottle is good to use as a bowl can easily be tipped over. Chews such as store bought sticks or blocks are necessary as they will add fiber and keep your pets teeth in good condition.
Dust bath: Taking a dust bath is a natural behavior! Chinchillas love it, have fun rolling around in it and it‘s fun to watch. Your chin should be given a dust bath weekly. It removes oil, dirt and moisture from its fur and makes your pet happy. If you've never seen this before, ask us to show you at the store...its a blast to watch how much they love it.
A clean cage is a good cage. Soiled bedding should be removed daily and it should be completely changed weekly. Monthly the entire habitat, water bottle and food dish should be cleaned.
As with all animals, please give your chinchilla lots of attention and love and keep it where it can interact with the entire family.
Thanks for reading and see you soon at Appalachian Tails!