Chinchillas As Pets – Reason #1: They Take Dust Baths!

Chinchillas are unlike any creature I've ever learned about. They're a rodent but they have some very unique aspects that make them more interesting and fun than other small pets. One of the coolest things about chinchillas is how they get clean. Instead of most animals who need baths in water to stay clean, chinchillas actually take dust baths.

You wouldn't think rolling around in a pile of dust would make an animal clean, but if you put a chin in water it will make them unhealthy. Their fur is so thick that their skin will never dry out, so you just supply your chinchilla with a special kind of dust that gets into their fur and soaks up oil and dirt from it.

One of the best things to do is put your chinchilla in a clear fish bowl with some chinchilla dust bath dust and let them roll around for a few minutes. It can be very entertaining to watch.

Chinchillas As Pets – Reason #2: They Have A Unique History

Chinchillas weren't always bought and sold as pets, they used to only live in one location in the world – South America. Or more specifically the Andes Mountains. In their natural chinchilla habitat they would scavenge around for fruits, nuts and berries on the rocky slopes of the mountains.

They were perfectly built to live in the cold too, they have possibly the thickest fur coat out of any animal on the planet. Like we talked about earlier this makes them unique in the way they stay clean. They would actually roll around in volcanic ash to get rid of excess dirt and oil from their fur. There are lots of fascinating chinchilla facts to learn about and it makes them very interesting creatures and great pets.

Chinchillas As Pets – Reason #3: Awesome Personalities

If you're looking to get a chinchilla or multiple chinchillas as pets then you should learn about their personalities before making your decision. They can be pretty shy, so they aren't for people who can't devote any time to them. In order for them to be friendly and playful they will need to know you and that you aren't dangerous.

Naturally, chinchillas are pretty skiddish and easy to scare, so you need to keep big animals like dogs and cats away from them to keep them comfortable. If you spend a lot of time with your chinchilla and care for it properly it will grow to love you and become very playful, in and out of the cage.

Chinchillas As Pets – Reason #4: Lots Of Color Possibilities

Unlike their other more distant rodent cousins, chinchillas can come in a wide variety of colors. Since people have been keeping chinchillas as pets for so long, they've also bred them to bring out the coolest colors. The most common chinchilla colors are grey and beige.

Other colors include black, a mix of white and grey, gold, and even some light shades of blue. One of the only setbacks of getting a chinchilla for a pet is that they can be pretty expensive. If you want one of the more rare colors you may have to do quite a bit of research and pay for it.

Overall chinchillas do make great pets, but it's ultimately up to you to make the final decision. I've got a lot of other information on this site, so if you want to learn more about chinchilla care and what they are like just browse around!

Standard – These guys are the 'normal' chinchilla and they match their cousins that still live in the wild. They have grey fur on their back and sides, with a white tummy.

Beige – Beige chins range in color from lighter shades to darker. They will mostly have red eyes, and pink (sometimes freckled) ears. They also have white bellies.

Ebony – One of the favorites is this black chinchilla. Ebonys will range from grey to solid black. They won't have a white belly like the standard, instead it will be a grey belly, and some even have a black belly that matches their back fur.

Tans – These chins look a lot like the beige variety, except they carry the ebony gene which causes them not to have a white tummy like the beige chins do. They are usually solid brown throughout their whole body. Pastels are another variation that are just a lighter brown.

Black Velvet – This color of chinchilla will be black on the top and get lighter as their fur wraps around their sides. They have a white belly and usually have a blue hue in their fur.

White – There are a bunch of variations to the white chinchilla, but the most common is pure white, with red eyes and pink ears (sometimes with freckles)

Mosaic – This is sort of a mix between the white and a standard color chinchilla. They will have patches of grey throughout their fur and darker ears and eyes. If you find a 'reverse mosaic' that just means that there is more grey on them and the patches are white fur.

Violet – Violet colored chins are unfortunately not bright purple, but they are very soft looking and their fur will be grey with a blue hue to it. They look so soft because their fur doesn't have black tips like standard chins and they are fairly rare. There are also sapphires that lean more toward the blue end of the spectrum than violet.

Goldbars – This is one of the rarest colors of chins in the world today. They actually look gold on their back and it gets whiter as it comes down their sides. Their eyes are usually dark red and they have a white belly.

A Little More About Chinchilla Colors

If you're looking to get a chinchilla, you probably already know that they come in a ton of different colors. And some colors are much more expensive than others. This article will explain some differences in color and what it all means.

Originally in their natural habitat, all chinchillas were a dark grey with white bellies. This is known today as the standard color chinchilla. Throughout the years of being bred as pets, breeders have gotten lots of color mutations to come out and produce a huge variety of colors among chinchillas. One thing you will notice when looking at different colors of chins is that a lot of colors have hetero and homo versions. And no, this doesn't have anything to do with the sexual orientation of the little guy.

Truthfully, unless you're planning on breeding your chinchillas, whether you find one that is hetero beige or homo beige doesn't really matter all that much. The colors will be close enough to each other that it won't matter much.

If you are planning on breeding your chins and want a certain color of kits (beige for example), then it is a good idea to get two chins that are homo beige. This basically means that they both have dominant beige genes, so when they mate their kits will come out beige. If you were to get 2 hetero beige chinchillas, then chances are 50/50 that you'll get a beige or standard kit.

If price is a concern, the standard chins will usually be sold the cheapest because they are so abundant. Any chins with a dominant gene color will be less expensive than chins with recessive gene colors. For example, a beige is a dominant gene so they are much more common than the dark ebonys. So if you just want a fun pet to have and love, then go out and find a cheaper one to help you save some dough.

Find a breeder in your area that specializes in chinchillas and go visit them to see what kind of a selection they have. Chances are they won't have every color available, so don't get too attached to a certain color of chin that you won't be able to find anywhere near where you live. Read more about chinchillas as pets or chinchilla care.

Chinchilla Prices – Factors To Consider

The first thing you should factor into the price of your pet is how much all the chinchilla equipment will cost as well as the animal. You will need to buy a cage that's big enough, an exercise wheel, other cage accessories (water bottle, feeder, hay rack), a nesting hut, food (pellets and hay), chinchilla dust (to bathe in), and dust bath tubs. You'll probably also want to get a carrier so you can take him places (like to the vet). All of this, plus the chinchilla can easily cost you $350 or more (on the cheap side of things), and thats not including vet visits or getting your chin fixed (which will probably be around $150 in itself). So you can't just look at chinchilla prices and think that's all you'll have to pay.

Your chin may live up to 20 years if you take good care of it. Another cost you may not be aware of when buying a chinchilla is the time it will take to care for. You should be spending time with the little guy every day to bond and help him get enough exercise. They aren't creatures that you can just leave in a cage and look at once in awhile. To be healthy they need attention!

Chinchillas themselves can cost anywhere from $50 all the way up to $600! (on rare occasions). It all depends on the color of the chin and if they'd be a good one to breed.

If you don't want to breed your chinchillas and don't care what color they are, paying less for them is definitely the way to go, just be sure that the breeder you are buying them from raises them well and has experience. A lot of people don't even like buying them from chain stores like Petsmart because they are exotic animals and require special knowledge.

Chinchilla prices will vary depending on the color of the chin. I'm sure you know supply and demand works in all businesses, and the chinchilla market is no different. The rarer, more desired colored chins will demand a higher price than the more common colored ones. If you are looking for a certain color or marking when you're buying a chinchilla, you may pay a lot more than you would for a standard colored one.On the other side if you intend to breed your chins and want to get certain colors in the babies (or kits), then you should look for the color you want in the homo variety (i.e. homo beige, homo ebony). If you get two chins that are homo ebony, they will have homo ebony kits.

Standard colors are the cheapest and most available types of chinchillas, they are the 'mutts' of the chinchilla world, and usually have bland fur colors. As you go up the price scale, you'll find hetero colored chins to be from around $125 for beige or light ebony, all the way up to almost $200 for the darker ebonys and the violet mixes. Homo colored chins are even more expensive, ranging from about $150 to the mid & upper $200's.

The bottom line is just depending on what you want your chinchilla for. If you are just buying one as a playmate you can spend just a little and still have a furry, lovable friend. If you have a certain color in mind, though it will cost you to get it, especially if it's rare (or even just rare in your area). After you get your chin, you should learn all about chinchilla care to give your pet it's best life possible.

Like all of God's creatures, chinchillas need food and water to survive and stay healthy. So let's start with water because it's easy. It's best to connect a water bottle with the dripless spout to your chin's cage. Bowls can be a pain since they can get soiled easily and your chinchilla might tip it over and get himself wet, and you should never allow your chin to get water on him. Make sure you keep his drinking water clean and available at all times. It can be a good idea to give him distilled water, since some tap water contains many contaminants.

What Do Chinchillas Eat? Food Choices

Let's move on to food. In their native habitat down in South America, wild chinchillas will eat fruits, seeds, plants and even small insects as their diet. However, domestic chinchillas would not be able to survive such a varied diet. Since chins have such a sensitive digestive system, it's best to keep them on a very strict diet that is very bland (poor guys!).

Their main source of food should come from the special chinchilla pellets that you can get at your local pet store. It's important that you only feed them these pellets and don't give them rabbit pellets or anything else that looks similar. Just a small change in the nutrients of their food could disrupt their digestion. Most chinchillas will eat 1-2 tablespoons of pellets a day and this will give them their essential nutrients.

The one problem with pellets is that they don't provide much fiber for your little chin. To fix this problem, you should supplement his pellet diet with hay. You can get high quality hay for your chin from most pet stores, the most common being timothy grass. Stay away from most other hays (some chins may eat alfalfa) and any hay that is dusty can hurt his little respiratory system. Also be aware that hay can get stale and if there's any moisture it can grow mold, which is very bad for your little friend. To get enough fiber, your chin will need about a handful of hay per day. This isn't an exact amount so don't get too caught up trying to be perfect. If he gets full then he will stop eating.

If you ever have to change your chinchillas diet, it's best to do it gradually over time. Mix a little of the new food in the first week, then slowly feed him more of the new stuff combined with less of the old food. This will help his digestive system adapt to the new diet with no adverse reactions.

Since chinchillas eat such a bland diet most of the time, they will greatly appreciate any and all treats you are willing to give them. In fact, they will eat so many treats it will make them sick if you give them the chance. So it's very important to be your chinchilla's 'conscience' and only feed him treats once in awhile so he doesn't get sick.

What Do Chinchillas Eat? Best Treats For Your Chin

Since they originally ate fruits, plants, and seeds, in their native habitat, any of these usually work great as treats for your chinchilla. If you want to feed your chin vegetables stay away from the leafy ones like lettuce, cabbage and brussel sprouts. Try and stick to organic veggies or the home-grown variety to keep your chin from ingesting any pesticides that might upset his little system. Remember that veggies are not daily food for your chin, but more of a treat, so don't feed him too much too often.

Another treat you can give Chilli are a variety of herbs. They seem to love mint plants, which you can grow yourself just about anywhere. Another good one is basil, which is fairly easy to grow if you have an inside garden or even little potters. Thyme and oregano are also pretty well accepted among chinchillas. If you're into cooking, you can start a little herb garden so you have fresh herbs to cook with and also some home-grown treats for your little buddy.

There's another herb that you probably wouldn't think of giving to your chin, and that's dandelion leaves. Be sure to only feed your chin these lives if you know for sure they are pesticide free. If you just fertilized your lawn, then it's best to just throw them away since they will hurt your chinchilla. Not surprisingly, they are extremely easy to grow inside as well. Just by plucking a few and sticking them in a pot you can have fresh dandelion leaves for your chin all winter long.

Other good treat ideas are black sunflower seeds, pieces of apple, raisins, or even the store bought variety. Just be sure not to give him too many.

One of the best use for treats is to help him learn that you are his friend and how to be a social critter (and even do tricks!). But it's important to teach him these things slowly over time instead of trying to cram it all in one day. First of all, it probably won't stick in his brain but you'll also need to bribe him with treats and you'll make him sick if you feed him treats all day. A good general rule is to never give him more than 1 teaspoon of 'treat' per day.

What Is The Natural Chinchilla Habitat Like?

Chinchillas are actually native to the Andes Mountains in South America. Their natural habitat is cold, dry, and rocky. They live on the mountainside in burrows and rock crevices. They get around on the rocky surface by jumping and climbing over the terrain. They can jump extremely high for their size, up to six feet in the air!

So the first thing you should worry about is matching the landscape when you go to create your chinchilla's home. To imitate the steep, rocky mountainside, you should look for a cage that is nice and tall with ramps and shelves that your chin can climb. One rule with buying a cage is the bigger the better! And don't forget to buy an exercise wheel to keep in there so he can run whenever he wants to.

Along with a big cage, chinchillas need plenty of exercise. The tall cage will definitely help with this, but you should also be prepared to let them out of their cage at least once a day to run around a closed room that you have "chilla proofed." Keep an eye on him at all times when he's running around the room, and don't let him get ahold of any wires or tear up your furniture.

These little creatures are among the softest in the world because of their super-thick coat. Their fur is so dense that common pests like fleas will suffocate if they try to live on a chinchilla. This fur coat keeps them nice and warm in their native habitat, but can pose a bit of a problem for anyone that wants to have a chinchilla as a pet. Chins don't sweat so the only way for them to cool down is by pumping blood into their thin ears to cool. If your chinchillas ears get red, he's probably over heating!

So if you take your chin and put him in your house in a warm room, he can easily overheat since he won't have any way to cool himself. It's very important that you have at least one room in your house that always stays at 70 degrees F or lower. Too long at 75 degrees F can make him overheat, and anything above 80 can give your little guy heatstroke.

How Chins Clean Themselves In The Natural Chinchilla Habitats

Because of their thick coat and need to stay dry, chinchilla's clean themselves in quite an odd sort of way. Instead of dipping in a pond, they will actually roll around in volcanic rock dust or ash that is fine enough to penetrate their dense fur. This dust will absorb oils, dirt, and moisture to keep the chinchillas clean, dry and healthy. If a chinchilla stays wet for long enough, they will likely develop ringworm or another fungus on their skin.

To imitate this odd cleaning behavior you will need to buy specially made chinchilla dust that he can roll around in. Find a container that won't tip over, put some dust in, then put your chinchilla in and he will have a fun time rolling around and taking a funny chinchilla dust bath.

One area where you won't want to match their natural habitat is in their diet. Wild chins can eat plants, fruit, seeds, and insects, but a diet like that will irritate your domestic chinchillas digestive system. Instead you should feed him mostly special chinchilla pellets, with some hay mixed in there for fiber. Treats are OK once in a while too.

The sort of predators that would go after these small furry creatures include birds of prey, various canines, some felines, even skunks and snakes. To get away from their hunters, chinchillas have several defensive mechanisms like releasing fur if they get bit, and spraying urine. They are also social creatures that live in herds so they can watch out for each other and give warnings of potential danger.

Fortunately for your chinchilla, he won't have any of these threats to his life, but that doesn't make him any less scared! So be gentle with him and build his trust so he knows that you are not actually a predator out to get him. If you follow this guide, you'll be able to make the perfect chinchilla habitat that will make him feel at home and make sure he has a healthy, happy life for years to come. Read more about chinchillas as pets and more chinchilla care tips here.

All chinchillas are different and have a unique voice that you will be able to tell apart from other chins with practice and over time. The best way to learn what your little guy wants when he makes certain noises is to spend lots of time with him and get to know his mannerisms and what he's thinking. Part of learning about chinchilla care is being able to tell what he's trying to communicate.

Here's A Short List Of The 4 Most Common Vocal Chinchilla Noises

1. Barking – You chinchilla may make a noise that sounds like a really small dog barking. When he does this, it usually means that he is upset, warning you, or scared about something. If he barks when you reach in his cage to pick him up, he's probably telling you to back off and that he's not in the mood, or just not ready to be handled.

When you hear this noise, it's usually a good idea to check on him to make sure he's not caught in his cage somehow, or if you have other pets that they aren't bothering him. However, if they bark every night and wake you up, your chin may be doing that just to get attention. As long as he's safe and comfortable, you should probably just ignore it so he will stop waking you up at night.

2. The Chinchilla Cry – If you ever hear this sound out of your little guys mouth, you'll know something bad happened. It is usually a shrill, piercing squeak that indicates your chin is freaked out or has injured himself. If you have cats and hear this noise be sure to check on him immediately and make sure your cat hasn't clawed him. If you take good care of your chin and make sure he's well protected, you may not ever hear this sound. But things do happen, and if he hurts himself or you step on his tail he may yelp in pain.

3. Cooing Noises – This is probably the most enjoyable sound that your chinchilla will make. He may make this sound when he sees you come in the door to say "Hi" or if he is greeting or communicating with another chin. As you spend time and get to know your chinchilla you will begin to recognize that this sound means he is happy. Another common occurence of this noise is when you walk up to his cage and he knows it's time to get out of his cage and play.

Chinchillas are definitely creatures of habit, and once they see an action enough and relate it to an event, they will start to learn what's going on. For example, you might notice that your chinchilla will make a certain cooing sound whenever you walk by the cabinet that contains his treats. This is his way of telling you that he's excited to get a snack, whether or not you were planning on giving him one.

4. Teeth Chattering – They do this for a variety of reasons, after you get to know your chin you'll probably be able to tell what the occasion is. They may chatter their teeth if they are in pain or anxious about something. Then on the other hand, they have also been observed doing this when they are happy, so this noise will be up to you to figure out for your specific chinchilla.

Learn about more chinchilla facts here.

Chinchilla Cage Specifics

The cage should be made of metal, without a plastic coating or paint on the bars. Your chinchilla is very likely to gnaw on the bars and will chew off any plastic on them, which they will digest and could get sick from. It's best to get a chinchilla cage with a solid bottom, as opposed to mesh, especially if you plan on breeding them. The youngsters feet can get caught in the mesh and damage their legs and claws.

When you're looking for a cage you'll also have to keep in mind where you will put it in your house to make sure it will fit. Location is very important for your little chinchilla because they have a tendency to overheat because of their thick coats. Try to keep the temperature between 65 or 75 degrees F. Avoid putting the cage on the floor where it can get drafty (depending on your home).

It's important to pay close attention to the temperature during the summer months. If your chinchilla ends up in direct sunlight or over 86 degrees F the little guy might over-heat and get heatstroke. It's important to know that they don't sweat, so putting a fan on them will just blow the hot air around and not cool them down. If you think your chinchilla might be overheating in it's cage, then you get a tray, fill it with ice cubes and cover it (so he can't fall in) and put that in his cage. That will give him something cold to lean against and cool down.

If you do get a cage with a pull out bottom, it will be a bit easier for cleaning (even though a solid floor is safer). Cleaning the floor once every couple days is a good idea to keep everything safe and clean for your little chinchilla. You should completely clean the whole cage about once a month. You'll notice that your chinchilla will pick one place to use for the bathroom, so you can add extra shavings there or even sprinkle baking soda to help with odors. Getting the right cage is very important in chinchilla care.

What Else To Put In Your Chinchilla Cage

To stay healthy and happy, chinchillas need regular exercise. This is why it's important to get a large cage to move around and climb in. Adding an exercise wheel for them is another great idea to keep them active. Chinchillas require quite a bit of attention, and it's important to give them some time every day outside of their cage.

An hour a day is a good amount if you have the time. Just make sure that you "chilla proof" the room that they're in so they can't chew on wires or your furniture. Keeping an eye on them is essential and also a great source of entertainment. You'll be able to see first hand how cute and playful they are as they climb and hop around.

The first thing you should know if you want to teach your chinchilla tricks is that they have long memories. If you scare them or they get freaked out by something, they will remember the experience until they've had enough positive experiences to "overwrite" the bad one. This long memory is what you will be using to train your chinchilla to do tricks.

How To Teach Your Chinchilla Tricks

The whole basis of training your chinchilla will be rewarding the behavior you want consistently. When you're training, remember never to raise your voice if your little guy does something wrong. It will scare him and he will associate the sound of your voice with the scared feeling, and this is definitely not what you want if you want to successfully train your chinchilla. If you are trying to train him not to chew on wires using a loud noise can work great, but I would suggest using a horn or a whistle instead of your voice. If you are consistent and make a loud noise every time he goes for those wires, then he will eventually just not even bother.

A good trick to start with is to teach your chinchilla to eat out of your hand. Put a treat that you know he loves in the palm of your hand and offer it out to him. Don't make it easy on him, make him step on your hand in order to get the food. Keep in mind that training your chinchilla will take a lot of patience and time. Plus you should wait until you've had him for awhile before you jump right in with the teaching.

If he doesn't go for it the first time you try this, keep your hand still. Don't move your hand toward the littly guy, chinchillas hate to be chased, they associate it with fear and it will not help your training. After you are successful with this simple trick, start moving the treat up your arm a bit so he has to climb on you to get to it. This will train your chinchilla to trust you and be confident to eat out of your hand any time and be comfortable being close to you.

More Chinchilla Tricks To Teach Him

Another great trick is getting them used to being handled. A lot of chinchillas are fearful and shy because they are not properly trained to be friendly. After teaching him how to climb up your arm for a snack, let him climb over you freely. You can also try opening his cage and sitting (very still) right in front of it. These little furry creatures love to climb so if you make yourself available and harmless-looking, then he may take the opportunity to use you as his climbing hill. The whole idea is to get him to trust you so he knows you aren't secretly out to eat him. So never do anything to threaten your chinchilla or make him feel afraid.

Unfortunately, a chinchilla's intelligence is limited so they will never be able to sit on command like a dog. But with patience and love you can teach them simple tricks like running or jumping over certain obstacles you want them to. You can also teach them how to do funny things like give you a kiss to get a treat. With consistency, patience, and treats you can find a whole new level of fun by teaching your chinchilla tricks.

Learn more about chinchilla care here.

Some owners will pick out a name before they even go pick up their chinchilla. Some wait until they get them to see what their personalities are like before they decide what they will call their little furball. Many owners have come up with some really unique names that suit their little fuzzy creatures well.

Chinchilla Name Ideas

You may also want to name your chin after what he looks like. Sugar, Salt & Pepper are all great names that describe what chinchillas look like, however they are pretty common. Speckles and Fluffy are other names that are descriptive in nature. If you have a fat little chinchilla, you might call him Hefty or Big Joe. (Or even Little John, if you like irony) Unlike us humans, you can name your little friend with a descriptive word rather than a common "name."

Another silly name is Sonar, given to many chinchillas because of their big ears. You may also want to name your pet after the way he acts. Most chinchillas really like climbing and jumping all over the area that you let them roam. They originally come from the Andes mountains where they are used to climbing up rock faces and jumping out of danger.

You could name an active chinchilla Spunky, Skippy, or Feisty depending on their personality. Some little chinchillas are more laid back, and may be more interested in sleeping than running around. Most chinchillas seem to be pretty set in their ways. Once you bring them home you can pretty much bet that they will act like they do for the rest of their life. For example, if you bring home your little chilly and he's very active, he'll probably be like that for life.

More Fun Chinchilla Names

Another idea is to pick a chinchilla name that references where they came from. Andy is pretty popular name since they came from the Andes mountains. Instead of naming them after their original home, you could name your chinchilla if it came from a unique location locally.

While some people try and match their chinchilla's name to their own personality or actions, you may want to name your little guy after something you like or a band or actor you enjoy. Maybe a cartoon character that you've always like or that they remind you of. When it comes to a good chinchilla name, the possibilities really are endless. And it's not like a child where you have to fill out a certificate with his permanent name, you can always change it if you don't like it!

Names are important to set your chinchilla apart and will give your little guy something you can identify him by. Remember that they do live for up to 20 years, so you'll want a name that you enjoy and love. They will probably not respond to their name when you say it, but it will help your chinchilla become a member of the family and give them an identity. After you name him, you should try teaching your chinchilla tricks.

They have really thick, soft coats because they will grow up to 60 hairs out of one hair follicle. As a pet, they can live to be 20 years old (that's a fact!) while in the wild, they usually top out around 15 years. Learn more about chinchillas as pets.

Chinchilla Facts: Where'd They Come From?

Back in the early 1900's chinchillas were widely hunted for their luxurious fur. They would kill about 80 or 100 chinchillas just for one fur coat. So many were killed that they almost went extinct. But some were brought to the United States to be pets and were protected.

Chinchillas, like many other rodents, are nocturnal creatures. This means that they sleep mostly during the day and are awake at night when it's dark out. Since they are sleeping while we're awake, you'll want to be careful about making too much noise since they are sensitive to it and will get stressed out from lack of sleep. (seriously!)

A chinchilla's temperament can vary a bit but they are mostly known to be intelligent, mischievous and social. Their personalities seem pretty firm so whatever they act like when you first get them, they will probably be like that forever. You can help them be more social however, it just takes love, time and patience.

More Chinchilla Facts To Keep In Mind

Most chinchillas are shy when you first bring them home and won't immediately jump into your arms. You have to work with them and love on them to build trust so they know you are a friend and not a predator. This is why it's important to spend time with your little guy every day. As a general rule, most chinchillas don't like being held and cuddled too much, but they will let you hold them. When you do pick them up, hold them with two hands and up against your body so they feel secure.

Because of the way they keep clean and their thick fur, they don't make very good pets for people with fur allergies or dust allergies. They also may not be the best pet for real little kids because they like to run away and are fragile.

Like other members of the rodent family, chinchillas like to chew on stuff, and for good reason! They need to do that in order to keep their teeth healthy and filed down. It's important that you don't let them chew on their cages or food bowls. To do this, just provide something that's better to chew on (like specially made wood blocks).

You'll probably notice that your chinchilla makes a lot of noise. Learn more about chinchilla noises here.

But aside from the climbing, jumping, eating, and exercise wheel noises, they will also squeak. Although they don't make vocal squeaks too often, they will do it if they are happy, threatened, interested, mad, or other emotional states.

Chinchillas truly do make great pets, they are adorable and very soft. When you work with them properly they will also become quite social. They don't get sick or need veterinarian care very often, but they do require a bit of bonding time from their owners so it's important to learn as much about chinchilla care as you can.