Chinchilla Care Sheet (PDF) - Petco

shopping list 

for needed supplies 

appropriately sized habitat 

book about chinchillas 

high quality chinchilla food 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

timothy hay 

treats 

bedding 

food bowl/water bottle 

exercise wheel 

hideaway place 

toys 

wood chews 

mineral chews 

dust and dust bath 

litter pan/litter 

indoor playpen 

chew tubes 

sources 

Speak to an associate about the Petco library of 

books on chinchillas. 

Speak to an associate about our many private brand 

items available for the care and happiness of your 

pet. 

Because all chinchillas are potential carriers of infectious 

diseases, always wash your hands before and 

after handling your chinchilla and/or habitat contents 

to help prevent the potential spread of diseases. 

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5 and 

people with weakened immune systems should 

contact their physician before purchasing and/or 

caring for a chinchilla and should consider not having 

a chinchilla as a pet. For more information regarding 

chinchillas and disease, go to the Center for Disease 

Control at cdc.gov/healthypets/ and petco.com/ 

caresheet. 

chinchilla 

chinchilla laniger 

chinchilla facts: 

average adult size: 

average life span: 

diet: 

care sheet 

Chinchillas have an inquisitive and 

gentle nature, but also have a lot 

of energy. 

12 inches long 

up to 10+ years 

with proper care 

herbivore 

Note: The information on this Care Sheet is not a 

substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional 

information, please refer to the sources on the following 

page or contact your veterinarian as appropriate. 

© 2012, Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. 

All rights reserved. (03/2012) 

Developed with and approved 

by a qualified veterinarian.

care sheet 

chinchilla 

chinchilla laniger 

Developed with and approved 

by a qualified veterinarian. 

diet 

A well-balanced chinchilla diet 

consists of: 

• High-quality chinchilla 

pellets and limited amounts 

of vegetables and fruits. 

• Provide timothy hay at all 

times. 

• Clean, fresh, filtered, 

chlorine-free water, 

changed daily. 

• Do not feed chocolate, 

caffeine or alcohol as these 

can cause serious medical 

conditions. Avoid sugar and 

high fat treats. 

feeding 

Things to remember when 

feeding your chinchilla: 

• Fresh food (pellets and hay) 

and water should always be 

available. 

• Limited amounts of 

vegetables and fruits as a 

treat. 

• Vegetables and fruits not 

eaten within 24 hours 

should be discarded. 

• Remember, treats should 

not exceed 10% of total 

food intake. 

housing 

• Chinchillas acclimate well 

to average household 

temperatures, not to 

exceed 80°F; be cautious 

of extreme temperature 

changes. The habitat should 

never be in direct sunlight 

or in a drafty area. 

• A large multi-tiered habitat 

is recommended because 

chinchillas love to jump and 

play; wire habitats with a 

solid bottom are required to 

protect their feet. The space 

between the wires should 

not be bigger than one inch. 

It is best to provide the 

largest habitat possible. 

• 1-2 inches of bedding should 

be placed in the habitat; 

proper bedding includes 

high quality paper bedding, 

crumbled paper bedding, or 

hardwood shavings. Cedarbased 

products are not 

recommended. 

• Different types of small 

animals should not be 

housed together. 

normal 

behavior 

• Play during the night 

and rest during the day 

(nocturnal). 

• A well-socialized chinchilla 

likes to be cuddled and 

carried. 

• Chews on objects to 

maintain all their teeth, 

which grow continuously; 

Ensure they have plenty of 

wood chew sticks. 

habitat 

maintenance 

• Clean the habitat and its 

contents at least once a 

week with mild soap and 

water, rinse and allow to dry 

completely before placing 

the chinchilla back into the 

habitat. 

• Remove wet spots daily; 

change bedding at least 

once a week, or more often 

as necessary. 

grooming 

& hygiene 

• Chinchillas require a 

dust bath at least twice a 

week; remove dust after 

15-30 minutes. Fur may be 

brushed with a soft brush. 

• Chinchillas stay clean and 

rarely need baths, but can 

be spot cleaned with a 

damp washcloth if needed. 

• Consult with a veterinarian 

if a chinchilla’s teeth or nails 

seem too long. 

signs of a 

healthy animal 

• Active, alert, and sociable 

• Eats and drinks regularly 

• Healthy fur and clear eyes 

• Breathing is clear and walks 

normally 

• Chinchillas are born with 

white teeth, but over times, 

their teeth turn yellow; 

cleaning is not necessary. 

red flags 

• weight loss 

• abnormal hair loss 

• diarrhea or dirty 

bottom 

• distressed breathing 

• lethargic 

• eye or nasal 

discharge 

• skin lesions 

• overgrown teeth 

If you notice any of these signs, please contact your 

exotic animal veterinarian. 

common health issues 

Health Issue Symptoms or Causes Suggested Action 

diarrhea 

eye irritations 

heat stroke 

loose stool caused by poor 

diet, stress, internal parasites, 

unclean housing, or other 

illness. 

from dust, bed shavings or 

infection. 

an emergency condition; 

symptoms include heavy 

panting, seizures, loss of 

consciousness. 

consult with an exotic 

animal veterinarian to 

determine cause and 

treatment. 


animal veterinarian. 

can be fatal; consult 

with an exotic 

animal veterinarian 

immediately. 

malocclusion overgrown teeth. consult with an exotic 

animal veterinarian to 

possibly have teeth 

trimmed regularly. 

mites 

ringworm 

external parasites that cause 

chinchillas to lose patches 

of hair. 

skin infection caused by a 

fungus. 



for treatment. 



for treatment.

Chinchilla Care Sheet (PDF) - Petco

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