Checking out your chinchilla

Chinchilla Facts

1. Chinchillas come from the Andes in South America.
   
   

2. Fully grown chinchillas are about 12 inches long and the females are bigger than the males!
   
   

3. Chinchillas are more active at night between dusk and dawn.
   
   

4. The average chinchilla lives between 10 and 12 years although some have been known to live to over 20.

What type of cage does my pet chinchilla need?

Chinchillas need a nice big cage so that they can move around a lot.  They also like cages which are tall with different levels. 

The floor or the cage should be covered in a thick layer of paper, hay or straw which needs to be changed frequently.

Chinchillas aren’t usually aggressive and often like to live with at least one other chinchilla to keep them company.

Your chinchilla will appreciate some wood in their cage to chew on and needs a dust bath available at all times which he or she will use to groom themselves. 

What should I feed my pet chinchilla?

Your chinchilla should eat good quality grass hay and it should be available for them 24 hours a day.  You can also feed grass pellets alongside the hay especially during cold weather.

Your chinchilla will need access to clean fresh water at all times.

Any more chinchilla questions?

Just ask the team at your local Vets4Pets practice and they will be happy to help.