Care guide
Caring for chinchillas
Chinchillas live 10 to 20 years, are active at dawn and night, and have the densest fur of any land animal: they need dust baths, never water baths, and a cool home.
Keep them cool
Chinchillas overheat easily. Keep their room between about 15 and 22°C and never above 25°C; heatstroke kills quickly. In summer you'll need air conditioning.
Dust, not water
Give a dust bath of chinchilla dust a few times a week for 10 minutes. Never bathe them in water; their fur stays damp and can grow fungus.
Cage and diet
A tall cage with wide wooden ledges, no plastic (they chew it), and daily time in a chinchilla-safe room. Feed unlimited hay and plain chinchilla pellets; treats like raisins only rarely.
They're usually happiest with a companion of the same sex, introduced carefully.
Handling
Most chinchillas dislike being held. Let them come to you. Never grab the fur, which they can drop in a clump when frightened.
Further reading
General information to help you prepare, not veterinary advice. Every animal is different: ask an experienced vet about yours. Reviewed by PerfectPal on October 14, 2026.