Chinchilla Habitat Guide

What home should I have prepared for my chinchilla?

Cage Conditions and Dimensions

Suggested cage, 7.5 cubic feet, all metal, $52
Cage: Large Small Animal Sugar Glider
Chinchilla Ferret Rat Mice Cage
K705h

A chinchilla cage can have many different combinations of dimensions, as long as the dimensions add up to more than 6 cubic feet of space (length (ft) x width (ft) x height (ft)= Cubic feet of total space in cage), just make sure the cage isn't too short in height and too skinny in length/width. Besides dimensions, composition of the cage must be sturdy. Cage walls should comprise of metal bars, whilst the floor should be metal mesh or a solid metal plate (NO PLASTIC!!!). In cages with plenty of upward space, platforms are a great addition for the cage, just as long as its metal. Plastic is not recommended because chinchillas can easily destroy it given enough time and is unhealthy to ingest. Plastic platforms are only meant to temporarily stay until metal platforms are installed. Also have room for accessories such as marble slabs and wooden perches (again, no plastic allowed). (Pro tip: later ramps can be removed when chinchillas are used to jumping, so chinchillas can leap from platform to platform given their superb agility; but permanently kept platforms should be metallic, NOT PLASTIC!). 

Water Dropper, KAYTEE Brand,
Comes with cage attaching equipment

Marble slabs are also a must, because in hot temperatures, chinchillas seek a cold surface to sprawl across to cool off; so getting this will help keep your chinchilla comfortable (1 slab per chinchilla). Wooden perches are also a good way for chinchillas to amuse themselves and wood is edible by chinchillas, so if chinchillas do develop a chewing habit: wood perches are a healthy option. There must also be room for a food bowl (no plastic) and a leaky water bottle (dropper). Chinchillas cannot get wet, so no water bowls; instead get a leaky water bottle so when chinchillas are thirsty, they can press their tongue against the bottle nozzle to drink the oncoming water droplets to hydrate. Leaky water bottles can also be purchased with attachment gear to the side of the cage, so the nozzle can fit through the bars and attach to the cage to be secured. 

Environmental Conditions

In terms of atmospheric conditions, the cage should be placed in a room where people are not present too often to reduce body heat and humidity (preferably someplace dry and cooler). The thermostat should be cooler than 71 degrees Fahrenheit to keep them comfortable. You can till if a chinchilla is becoming overheated if they seem constantly exhausted and their ears are turning a shade of red. The cage should be cleaned out daily to preserve good sanitation given their potty routine. Pest control should be kept up to code, just a huge suggestion to keep chins happy. Lastly, avoid going overkill on chemicals to clean chinchilla cages, as the exposed chinchilla feet are kind of sensitive to that. Chemicals can be extremely effective, just avoid using too much.

North Star Rescue. "A Guide to Pet Chinchilla Cages." North Star Rescue. North Star Rescue, 2014.             Web. 16 Mar. 2016. http://www.northstarrescue.org/pet-care-information/pet-chinchilla-care/145-a-guide-to-pet-chinchilla-cages


Poli, Mirella. "TIP OF THE MONTH !" Introducing Chinchillas. Mirella Poli, 2008. Web. 26 Feb.              2016. http://www.chinchillachronicles.com/introducing_chinchillas.html