A chinchilla must be kept in a cool, dry area that is quiet during the day. Temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit can be fatal! We keep our chinchillas comfortable between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. If the area is too moist, they can suffer from fur fungus. Quiet is essential for them to rest comfortably throughout the day. The larger the cage, the better! Chinchillas love to run and exercise. A cage measuring at least 24″ x 24″ x 24″ is highly recommended. You could have a smaller cage as long as your chinchillas has plenty of out of cage play time!
There are a lot of choices when it comes to the cage materials. We recommend a wire cage with a solid bottom. A wire bottom can lead to sores and arthritis in the chinchillas feet. If the bar spacing is too wide, the chinchilla can actually get his or her foot caught in between the bar and break his or her leg. If starting with a baby chinchilla, the wire should be spaced no more than 1″ x 1/2; for adult chinchillas 1″ x 1″ 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.
Definitely, do NOT use cedar litter. Cedar litter contains toxic oils that can harm small animals by giving them respiratory illnesses! We use only non-treated kiln-dried white pine shavings. Another acceptable litter is Carefresh. It is recycled paper litter that absorbs well, but is rather expensive. Chinchillas have very little odor, in general, but still need to be cleaned on a weekly basis, if not more. 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 that the spacing is no more than 1/2″ x 1/2″. Chinchillas have long, skinny back legs and spacing more than 1/2″ x 1/2″ can lead to injuries and breaks. If using wood for houses and shelving, also be sure to use only non-treated kiln-dried white pine or other non-toxic woods (see safe woods). It is highly recommended to not use anything plastic inside your chinchillas cage. Chinchillas are constantly chewing and if they digest plastic, it can get stuck in his or her digestive tract.
We recommend cages from Martin’s Cages and Quality Cages, but they must be ordered from their web sites.