If you've never experienced them, chinchillas make easy, friendly, and low-maintenance pets.
Chinchillas are classified within the rodent family, and usually originate from South America. Chinchillas typically have dark or ruby red eyes and come in a variety of colors such as, black, white (albino), grey and tan.
Upon purchasing the friendly and child-like chinchilla at your local petstore, you will find there are some basic requirements to maintain a healthy pet of this kind in your home.
First, use the salespeople at the petstore as a resource. Ask them how you cage and maintain your newly purchased pet. Generally, the salespeople who work with animals are pretty informative and helpful and will tell you upfront what needs to be purchased.
For starters, you have to buy either a wire or coated wire cage (the size of a cat cage or larger). Your wisest choice would be to purchase a cage that the chinchilla can grow into. A cage with levels is highly recommended, as the chinchilla enjoys exercise; the levels provide them with a challenge and the ability to change positions. Large exercise wheels are also beneficial to the chinchillas health - (See supplies).
Maintaining the pet in the house:
A chinchillas cage should be placed in a temperate area of the home, avoiding such things as basements, drafts, or other animals. The cage should never be put directly on the floor if other animals are present. The chinchilla is easily frightened and requires a lot of quiet, especially in the daytime.
Maintaining the right supply of food:
The chinchilla can live on three basic things: hay, pellets and water. The quality of these items depends upon one's budget; higher grade foods are recommended for the optimum health and performance of the chinchilla, but not required. The chinchilla requires a serving of grass or hay daily. You can find the hay in the small animal aisle of your favorite pet store. The hay comes in bulk or in small bags and is usually cut or whole-Timothy and Alfalfa are good choices. Pellets may be picked up in this aisle, as well. Try not to substitute chinchilla food with other small animal food such as: guinea pig, gerbil, hamster or rabbit food.
Other supplies used to maintain your pet:
Consider some of these extra supplies in the care of your pet: hay balls/tents, wood chews, dried corn, rose hips, small animal treats, small animal litter, exercise wheels/balls, and water bottles (not actually a necessity-a small bowl/dish will do in place of this). Avoid chewable materials and plastics; chinchillas love to chew! Newspaper takes care of lining the cage, as opposed to small animal litter.
If maintained well, the life expectancy of a chinchilla is 10-15 years.
