Chinchilla lanigera
Chinchilla
Chinchillas are long-lived, cool-climate mountain rodents that reward patient owners with decades of company — but will not tolerate a warm room.
ChinchillidaeLifespan 10–20 yearsCare complexity 4/5Not a beginner animal
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Chinchilla lanigera
- Family
- Chinchillidae
- Origin
- High Andes of Chile
- Lifespan
- 10–20 years
- Adult size
- 25–35 cm
- Weight
- 400–800 g
- Temperament
- Alert, agile and generally not fond of being held
- Activity level
- Very high at dusk and night
- Social needs
- High — keep in same-sex pairs where they bond
- Intelligence
- Quick to learn routines and escape routes
- Noise
- Quiet; barks and chirps when alarmed
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Tall multi-level cage, minimum 1 x 0.6 x 1.5 m, with solid shelves
- Space requirement
- Vertical leaping space is essential
- Temperature
- Below 22°C at all times — heat stroke is a leading cause of death
- Humidity
- Below 50%; damp causes fur fungus
- Exercise
- Nightly access to a tall cage and a safe jumping area
- Grooming
- Dust baths several times weekly; never wet the fur
Diet and feeding
Unlimited high-fibre grass hay, a measured chinchilla pellet and very limited treats
Behaviour and compatibility
Leaping, fur slipping when frightened, dust bathing and gnawing constantly
- With children
- Not suited to handling-focused children
- With other animals
- Keep with chinchillas only
- Training difficulty
- Moderate
Health
- Dental disease
- Heat stroke
- Gastrointestinal stasis
- Fur chewing
- Bloat
Exotics vet with chinchilla dental experience is essential
Special care requirements
Air conditioning is effectively mandatory in warm climates