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Lately, chinchillas have become very popular small pets. Young people especially like them. They have round bodies and big ears. Their fur is so soft it makes you feel happy! You see one and want to bring it home. But before you decide, learn some things. See if a chinchilla fits your life.

Chinchillas come from the Andes Mountains in South America.¹ They are night animals and rodents. They have gentle natures. They feel heat and wetness easily. They like being very clean. A chinchilla can live 10 years or more. It is a pet friend for a long time.

Chinchillas love staying clean. They roll in special bath sand each day. This removes oil and dust. Their fur stays clean and fresh. They poop quite a lot. But clean their cage bedding every one to three days. Then there is no bad smell. Sometimes, if upset, they throw poop from the cage. They are quiet and make little noise. They suit apartment living. They suit families who need quiet.

Chinchillas eat in a cute way! They hold food with their small paws. It is very heart-warming. They look up when they see treats while eating. It is too cute. Chinchillas are more independent than cats or dogs. But they still like being with people. Once they know you, you can pet them lots. Their fur is so soft you won't want to stop.

Chinchilla food is not complex. Their main food is often timothy hay or alfalfa hay. You can add a little cat food. They love eating, especially apples. They cannot resist apples. Their look when seeing an apple is very cute. Feed them for some time. They will remember you and become closer.

Chinchillas have thick fur. They rarely get parasites. They do not carry rabies. Feed them correctly. Keep the right temperature. They almost never get sick.

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But know some downsides of having a chinchilla.

Chinchillas need special surroundings. They are not good for dorms or shared rentals. Too many people and noise bothers them. They are night animals. Their night activity can disturb your sleep.

Be very careful with their diet, especially water. Water must be clean. Give them purified water best. Do not give too many treats. They are cute, but do not overfeed them. They remember well. Feed them at set times best. Then you can watch how much they eat.

Chinchillas are sensitive to temperature. They fear heat very much. Keep temperature under 25 degrees. Higher temperatures feel like wearing a fur coat on a hot street. This is very uncomfortable for them. Be extra careful in summer. They could get heatstroke. This can be deadly. They scare easily. But once used to you, they might even glare at you. To discipline them, tap their nose gently. Do not hit hard.

Chinchillas know time well. Let them out for exercise at different times daily. But no more than 30 minutes each time. Too long outside, or no outside time, makes them bite the cage. This shows protest. When they are out, watch for plastic and wires. They love to chew. Chewing these things is bad for them.

So, how do you pick a chinchilla?

Picking a chinchilla is like picking a cat. Look at a few things. Look at the face shape. A round face is good. Small ears are good. Eyes set wide apart are good. A short nose is good. A wide mouth area is good. Then their face stays round when grown. Many sellers pick up chinchillas for photos. They fluff neck fur to make faces look round. This is not natural.

The best body shape is like a pear. No clear neck. Shoulders are present. A round bottom like a gourd. Fur density matters too. It should be thick and dense. It should feel smooth. Each hair should be clear. Blow on it. If you see no skin, the fur is very thick. Good fur bounces back fast after you pet it. This means healthy fur.

For chinchilla types, first pick long hair or short hair. Long-haired ones usually cost more. But short-haired ones are liked too. Sometimes a good short-haired chinchilla costs more than a long-haired one. Chinchillas have four base colors. These are standard gray, silver-spotted, pink-white, and beige. Different gene mixes make many colors. These are dark brown, light brown, chocolate, gold, black pearl, blue diamond, and more. Chinchillas with multi-color genes cost more. They are harder to breed.

For price, short-haired ones usually cost less than long-haired. But it depends on quality. A good short-haired one may cost more than a normal long-haired one. Standard gray chinchillas are a bit cheaper. For a better-looking one, go to a professional breeder. Sometimes there are cheap chinchilla sales. Cheaper chinchillas might be older, like five or six years. If you do not mind, think about adopting one.

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Some notes for raising chinchillas:

Cleaning and Interaction

Chinchillas are naturally clean. But they need regular sand baths for healthy fur. Give sand baths a few times weekly. Change how often based on their activity and fur state. Buy special bath sand from a pet store. Do not use beach sand. The sand should be 2 to 3 centimeters deep. Then they can roll to remove extra oil and wetness. This keeps their fur dry.

After each sand bath, clean the dirty sand. This keeps their space clean. Do not bathe chinchillas with water. Their fur takes in water and dries slowly. Wet fur can cause a cold. In bad cases, this is life-threatening.

Interacting with Chinchillas

Chinchillas are nocturnal. They rest by day and are active by night. Play with them at night best. They have gentle natures and train easily. They seldom bite. But they scare easily. They move fast and do not stay still long. Be careful and gentle when with them. To pick up a chinchilla, support its chest with one hand. Support its bottom with the other hand. Never pick it up by the tail. When holding it, let it rest on your chest or lap best. If it struggles, lower it down quickly. This stops falls and injury. When with a chinchilla, sit on the floor at its level best. Then it may come to you. Let it come smell your hand. It will feel safer. Chinchillas get nervous easily. Be patient and gentle when with them.

When a chinchilla is out of its cage, watch its safety. They love to chew. Protect items like electrical wires and phone lines. Wrap them in spiral tubes. This stops chewing. Also, move house plants out of reach. This stops them chewing poisonous plants.

Chinchillas are hard to litter train. They may pee anywhere indoors. Be ready to clean. Keep harmful chemicals away. These are laundry detergent and bleach. Keep toxic food away too.

Raising Environment

Chinchillas need specific temperature and humidity. The best temperature is 18℃ to 25℃. Over 28℃, they can get heatstroke. In summer, keep your house airy. Use an air-conditioner to keep temperature right. Chinchillas are nocturnal. They are quiet by day and active by night. If you sleep lightly, get used to their sounds. These are jumping, tooth grinding, and cage biting.

Chinchillas look very cute. But they dislike being held too much. This is especially true when new. They need time to build trust. Forcing them can scare them. You might get bitten. When you start raising a chinchilla, buy some things. These are a cage, a ramp, bath sand, hay, and wooden toys. This will cost some money.

Source：

[1] Taildom: “Where Do Chinchillas Live? Natural Habitat & Environment”