When first purchasing a new chinchilla, we recommend that you leave him/her alone in his/her cage for the first three to five days. This helps your new chinchilla get used to his new environment. We also recommend that you sit next to his/her new cage and talk to him/her so he/she can get accustomed to you. You can open the cage, put your hand in it and let him/her smell you, but don’t take him/her out for the first few days. This helps familiarize yourself with your chinchilla so he/she is not afraid of you.
After the first five days, take your chinchilla into a small, chin-proof room is the best way to become friends. We often suggest going into the bathroom, with a closed toilet and no water in the sink or tub, and sitting down there with your new chinchilla. This is the best way to bond with your chinchilla. Let your chinchilla explore it’s surroundings and even you! You will notice that your chinchilla will probably run up to you and run away from you. This is common as chinchillas are very hyper. Please do not put your chinchilla in one of those plastic balls to run around in. Besides the fact that it is plastic, your chinchilla can overheat in one of these. Due to the fact that chinchillas can not sweat, your chinchilla can overheat very easily in one of these. Please also double check that no wiring or anything that can be chewed easily is in the same area that your chinchilla will be playing in.