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Chinchillas are quiet pets that are relatively easy to care for. They can live for over a decade and have beautifully soft fur. However, they are frightened around loud noises and sudden movements, which makes them better suited to being a pet for adults and older kids rather than young children.
These are highly athletic rodents that can jump up to 6 feet in the air and their athleticism means that chinchillas do need regular exercise. Ideally, this should be provided out of the cage, typically in a separate run. The small pet also needs a high-fiber diet and, unlike most other pet species, chinchillas benefit from regular dust baths.
The 12 Chinchilla Essentials
Housing Supplies
1. Chinchilla Cage
Chinchillas are not only active but are also very athletic. They can jump up to 6 feet in the air, which means providing a single level in your chinchilla’s home won’t provide the physical enrichment or exercise that they need. Having multiple layers in a cage means that they can leap from level to level and run up and down the ramps. Additional levels also make it possible to add more accessories and items to the cage.
The Yaheetech 52-in Small Animal Pet Cage is made of painted metal and has three front doors that offer easy access for your chinchilla and for you. It has five tiers with easy-access ramps that prevent slipping. The cage has castors on the base, so it is easy to wheel around from one location to another.
2. Chinchilla Shelves
Chinchillas are not only active but are also very athletic. They can jump up to 6 feet in the air, which means providing a single level in your Chin’s home won’t provide the physical enrichment or exercise that they need. Having multiple layers in a cage means that they can leap from level to level and run up and down the ramps. Additional levels also make it possible to add more accessories and items to the cage.
CrazyCritterThings Kiln Dried Pine Leaping Ledges Small Pet Habitat Accessory is a pack of 10 kiln-dried pine shelves that can be added to a chinchilla cage to add extra layers and levels. The pine is durable and safe, and each ledge includes the hardware needed to hang it from the cage bars.
3. Chinchilla House
Chinchillas usually sleep during the day and, while they are used to sleeping in daylight, in the wild they would burrow or find a naturally dark place where they are secure from threats and where they can sleep without being disturbed. In captivity, chinchillas need a similar spot to rest.
The Kaytee Chin-Hut Small Pet Hideout is a plain wooden house made from pine. It doesn’t use glue or screws, so it is safe for use in a chin cage. Its size should be ample for any chinchillas without being too large for the cage.
Food And Feeding Supplies
4. Food Bowls
Chinchillas need a high-fiber diet that consists primarily of hay. Hay should be readily and freely available throughout the day. They can also be given a small amount of pellet food, but you should choose a pellet designed specifically for chinchillas to ensure that it has the right nutritional composition. Beyond this, you can feed very occasional treats consisting of certain green vegetables.
The Ware Slide-N-Lock Small Animal Bowl can be attached to the cage bars, so it doesn’t slide around the cage, get knocked over, or get damaged. It will hold up to 2 ½ cups of food.
5. Water Bottle
Like any living animal, chinchillas need water to survive, and your chinchilla should be given free access to fresh water throughout the day. While some owners do offer water in a bowl, bowls are easy to knock over which not only gets the cage and bedding wet but also depletes the water in the bowl and prevents your little rodent from being able to drink water. It is important to note that chinchillas should not be doused with water, made wet, or given a bath, and therefore, bowls for water are considered inappropriate for them.
The Choco Nose No-Drip Small Animal Water Bottle attaches to your chinchilla’s cage and has a no-drip nozzle. The larger 13mm nozzle is suitable for chinchillas and the bottle will hold up to 12 ounces of water at a time.
6. Chinchilla Food
Chinchillas need a very high-fiber diet that will consist mostly of grass hay. But you should also feed them chinchilla pellets. The pellets should be considered a minor addition to their diet, and it is best to consult your veterinarian on how much pellets should be offered to your pet.
Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Deluxe Chinchilla Food is a pellet option for chinchillas. It is meant to supplement a hay diet and should never be fed as a replacement for hay. It should only be fed in moderation.
7. Hay
At least three-quarters of a chinchilla’s diet should consist of good-quality hay. Hay is not only high in fiber, which is essential for chinchillas, but the constant grinding also helps keep teeth short and manageable.
Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay is pure hay and Timothy hay is high in fiber while being low in protein and calcium, which makes it an ideal choice as chinchilla food.
8. Chews
Chewing hay helps grind down chinchilla’s teeth so that they don’t become overgrown. Another way of helping manage teeth length is through the provision of suitable chew toys. But the chew toys should be safe and natural, and they shouldn’t pose any risks to the chinchilla’s teeth or mouth.
The Oxbow Apple Stick Bundle is a bundle of around 15 apple sticks. The sticks are natural and also provide enrichment for your pet.
Comfort Supplies
9. Dust Container
Rather than bathing in water, chinchillas bathe in dust or sand. It helps keep them clean and most chinchillas love to get in and bathe in the dust. This means that you will need to provide a dust bath, as well as the dust itself.
The Kaytee Chinchilla Dust Bath House is a plastic house with a roof and a section at the bottom that can be used to hold sand. It measures 9 inches wide and nearly 9 inches long so is a suitable size for any chinchilla.
10. Bedding
Bedding in a chinchilla cage acts to keep chinchillas comfortable while providing a soft layer on the bottom of the cage that protects the chinchilla. The bedding can also absorb urine, therefore preventing smells from getting out of the cage and into the house and making cage cleaning easier. Chinchillas tend to do best with paper or similar materials.
Carefresh Special Edition Small Animal Bedding is made from recycled paper fibers, is soft, and retains ammonia odors for up to 10 days, preventing nasty smells from getting out of the cage.
11. Chinchilla Carrier
There will be occasions when you need to transport your chinchillas from your home to other locations, especially the vet. No matter how friendly your chinchilla is, and how much they trust you, it only takes a loud noise or other surprise, and they will try to make a break for it. Using a carrier ensures that your chinchilla is safe in transit and that you can easily carry them.
The Frisco Top Entry Two-Toned Small Pet Carrier is a suitable size for chinchillas and can be closed securely to prevent escape. It has foldaway handles for better storage, and it has a clear top so that you can see into the carrier to make sure your chinchilla is well.
Toys and Entertainment
12. Chew Toys
Chinchillas are active and athletic. They need toys, as well as opportunities for physical exercise. The toys you choose should be safe and they should be appealing, although different chinchillas will have different preferences when it comes to what they want to play with.
The Frisco Trio Balls Small Pet Chew Toys are made from wood, wicker, and reed grass, and all of these materials are natural and safe even if your chinchilla decides to eat the balls rather than play with them.
Summary
Chinchillas can make great pets, although they are better suited to adults and older children rather than young children because they are very athletic but also quite shy. To ensure your chinchilla grows up healthy and has the physical and mental enrichment they need, you will need to buy and use the right accessories and supplies. Above, we have included the essential chinchilla supplies to ensure that you have everything you need for your journey into chinchilla ownership.
Featured Image Credit: Geshas, Shutterstock
