First-Time Chinchilla Owner? Essential Care Guide & Fun Facts

Congratulations on your new pet! Here is all the info you should need about getting started with your chinchilla. https://www.petco.com/shop/PetcoContentDisplayView?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&path=/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/chinchilla.html To address some of your other questions, you should not need to cover her cage at night and try to avoid spraying perfume/air fresheners around her as it could irritate her respiratory tract. Best of luck. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

If you would like to get one, I strongly recommend you research their needs and care first so you know what you are getting into. They can also live up to 15-20 years, so you need to be prepared to take care of one that entire time. Finally, they can never get wet.

Chinchillas can be entertaining pets but if they are not handled when young they can be flighty/jumpy and difficult to catch, so keep that in mind, in particular with children of younger age (also, some young children may injure a chinchilla by grabbing roughly). Because of this, younger children should always be monitored closely around a small pet like this. Some chinchillas can be potty trained if started at a young age, but usually only for urine, not for bowel movements. Most chinchillas will choose a corner of their cage to use the bathroom and you can place a litterpan in this area along with some soiled litter to encourage use of the litterbox.

Hello! Great questions you have about your chinchilla! Thanks for asking! As for food, you should provide both pellets and hay. There are many different commercial pellets available for chinchillas that you can buy at most pet stores. The pellets are designed so your pet can easily eat them and include the correct amounts of protein, fat, and roughage. About 2 tablespoons of food a day is recommended. Of course, some eat more or less than others. My favorite brand of food for chinchillas is made by Mazuri. http://www.mazuri.com/MazuriChinchillaDiet.aspx Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of his daily diet. It also helps keep their teeth healthy. Hay should be available at all times. Timothy hay is a good choice. I would avoid alfalfa hay as a daily part of the diet but you can use it sparingly for a treat. I like Oxbow brand hay: http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/products/type/detail?object=1530 Your chinchilla should always have

Be patient. Allow him to acclimate to you gradually. Start by simply sitting next to his cage for ever increasing periods of time. Move slowly and talk softly around him. Progress to placing your hand in the cage, again for ever increasing periods of time, until he gets used to you. Wash your hands thoroughly before to remove all scents of food or treats. End each session with a small treat or reward. Do not attempt to hold him or force him to do anything. If he is curious about your hand in the cage, let him smell you and crawl on you. If he nips or bites, take your hand away and try again after he settles down. He will soon begin to realize you are the one providing food, water, toys and treats and then will begin to respond to your presence.

Pet Coach has a couple of great articles on guinea pig care, and I will post them below for you. I hope this helps. https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-new-guinea-pig/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-best-way-to-care-for-and-feed-your-guinea-pig/

Thanks for reaching out about Charlie. Stop by slow, calm motions to decrease fright. Offer treats by hand, if you are able to approach him. If not, leave where he can gather them. If he warms up to you, allow him to jump over you, pet him gently, and don't try to force the relationship. Give it time. Good luck.

Chinchillas are sociable creatures. They will not do well if they do not have plenty of stimulation and interaction. The best is always company of their own kind as we cannot really play and act and "talk" like a chinchilla. So it may be best to get it a friend, ie keep two chinchillas rather than one alone. Chinchillas love company and love to play, sleep and cuddle up together. If you intend to keep one chinchilla on its own,you will need to give him plenty of attention and stimulation providing suitable chinchilla toys.

Hi there! Great question! Most chinchillas don't really enjoying petting but they do like scratching. Chinchillas groom each other with their teeth in more of a scratching/nibbling motion so that is what they are used to. When you handle your chinchilla you want to mimic that behavior. They like that and will respond to human touching much better if you do that as opposed to petting. Hope this answers your question. Best wishes!

The transport of animals on an airplane is subject to many different rules and regulations, and ultimately depends on the airline that you choose. Some airlines are more lenient than others. I would speak to the airline you would like to take and also to the TSA to find out any special regulations in terms of what will be needed for transport. In terms of your animal's health, depending on where you are traveling you will likely need a certificate of health stating that Chachi is in good health and free of any contagious diseases. Chinchillas are also very high stress animals in new situations. It would probably be beneficial to offer some sort of sedative during this type of journey in order to keep the anxiety level to a minimum. Speak to your veterinarian about this so that he can come up with an appropriate drug and dose. For very small animals, sometimes these drugs will have to be specially made at a compounding pharmacy.