Chinchillas
Chinchillas make fun pets – being entertaining, engaging and easy to keep. Give them a chinchilla-friendly environment and nourishing food and they’ll provide a lifetime of love and antics!
Caring for chinchillas, naturally
The way that you care for and interact with your chinchilla should reflect their natural behaviour as a prey species. How does this influence their behaviour of chinchillas in the home?
- Can be easily frightened and need gentle handling
- Live in burrows – most active at dawn and dusk.
- May mask signs of illness – making it difficult to tell when they are ill
- Like to live in large sociable groups, called herds
Use this understanding to find ways to keep them happy and healthy…
- Chinchilla diet
- Caring for chinchillas
- Owning a chinchilla
Our chinchilla food, bedding and treats
Our experts have been making healthy foods for chinchillas for many years. If you are wondering what to feed or how to care for your chinchilla – look no further. We have a complete range to meet all their needs.
Chinchilla Bedding
How can you keep your chinchilla clean and comfortable? Make the right choice so cleaning out the cage is quick and simple. Don’t forget the bathing sand!
Chinchilla Treats
Naturally high fibre, low sugar treats – we have a wide range of healthy snacks that chinchillas enjoy, to help you build a bond with your pet.
Our Supreme Veterinary Range
From time to time, your vet may make a specific dietary recommendation to help support your chinchilla if they are ill or lethargic. That can also include times when your chinchilla is recovering from surgery or illness. Our Recovery Plus diet is a popular option recommended by many veterinary professionals.
Why our chinchilla foods are second to none
Chinchilla diets don’t just deliver nutrition but taste and enjoyment too. Chinchillas are active chewers and need to do so to keep their constantly growing teeth trimmed.
- High fibre – for active chewing
- No added sugar – tasty because of the flavour of high-quality natural ingredients
- Nutritionally balanced with all the vitamins and minerals they need
Chinchilla care and advice section
How can you keep chinchillas clean and happy? Should you bathe a chinchilla? Is it necessary to groom a chinchilla’s coat? There’s a lot to learn about chinchillas and how to keep them healthy. Learn more about basic day to day chinchilla hygiene here.
Frequently asked questions about Chinchillas
Frequently asked questions about Chinchillas
Can chinchillas live outside?
Chinchillas should be housed in a large, indoors enclosure as they don’t cope well with temperatures that are too cold or too hot. The ideal temperature range is around 10-18C and their housing should be dry and well-ventilated, but not draughty. It is best to avoid noisy areas of the house, including anywhere with a TV or sound system as the vibrations from these can make chinchillas stressed.
What do chinchillas eat in the wild?
Chinchillas originate from the Andes Mountains in northern Chile. They are herbivorous, and in the wild these plant-based eaters would munch on twigs, roots and stems as well as grass and leaves. This means pet chins need a diet with plenty of high-quality fibre to help support a healthy digestive system and prevent overgrown teeth. We also use tasty linseed in our chinchilla diets, to help keep their soft coats in tip top condition.
Why do chinchillas need sand baths?
Chinchillas love a sand bath, and it is important for them to be able to express this natural behaviour. It’s also essential for keeping their skin and fur healthy. Chins have super soft coats; thanks to the fact they have 80 hairs per follicle. Always use a fine, specialist chinchilla bathing sand and replace this weekly. Normal sand or sawdust are not safe alternatives, as they can cause damage to your pet’s eyes.
Need to know more?
For more detailed information about Chinchillas, you can contact us and we will get back to you with our experts’ advice. However, if you have any concerns about the health and well-being of your chinchilla, you should seek veterinary advice immediately.