Chinchillas are active climbers that need a tall cage on several levels, a daily dust bath and a cool, dry room. RSPCA and RVC keep them with at least one other chinchilla.
Pet
Chinchilla
How many
Your cage against each minimum
As an Amazon Associate, What Do Pets Need earns from qualifying purchases.
Cage size
RVC’s minimum is a multi-level wire cage of at least 2 x 2 x 1 m (6.6 x 6.6 x 3.3 ft), with solid flooring. VCA’s housing page gives 3 x 2 x 3 ft for one chinchilla and 3 x 2 x 5 ft tall for a pair, while its rodent page gives 4 x 4 x 3 ft for one. RVC’s floor is the biggest of them.
RSPCA uses a large metal mesh cage with solid wood flooring too, as long spells on wire mesh can damage their feet. The MSD manual keeps the wire openings no wider than 1 x 2 in on the sides and ½ x ½ in on the floor.
Company
RSPCA keeps a chinchilla with at least one other friendly chinchilla, as a male and female pair or a single-sex group. RVC also keeps them in pairs or groups, while VCA says they do well alone or in pairs.
Temperature
RSPCA keeps chinchillas indoors at 10–18 °C (50–64 °F), well ventilated, dry and free of draughts, and says hot, humid, draughty or dirty conditions can make them ill. RVC gives 10–20 °C in low humidity and warns of heat stress over 26 °C. VCA keeps them below 27 °C (80 °F).
Dust bath and wheel
RSPCA gives a shallow tray of clean fine sand or chinchilla dust every day to keep the fur in good condition.
A wheel should be 15 in (VCA, MSD manual) or at least 38 cm across (RVC), with a solid running surface. See wheel sizes by pet.
Everyday food
Good-quality hay makes up most of the diet, there at all times (RSPCA). The sources differ on pellets, from 1–2 tablespoons a day for each chinchilla (RSPCA) to a teaspoon at most (RVC). RSPCA gives only small amounts of dried fruit and root vegetables as treats, and RVC avoids muesli mixes.
What to get
On the list
What to get