Chinchillas have fur for a reason. In the wild they live in the Andes mountains where it gets cold. Their fur is what keeps them warm. However, domestic chinchillas are prone to over-heating since most people's homes are much warmer than the Andes.
The ambient temperature where chinchillas are kept shouldn't rise above 80 degrees. But temperature is not the only consideration as humidity also plays a role. A good rule of thumb is to add the temperature and the relative humidity together. If this number exceeds 150, you should take action to reduce both.
Failing to maintain a proper temperature can result in heatstroke. This is a dangerous situation and one that can be fatal. Warning signs include panting and lying down stretched out on one side.
If your chinchilla is suffering from heatstroke you should seek the attention of a vet. However, to bring the chinchilla's body temperature down consider offering some cool water to drink, wrapping a cold wet towel around the body, or submerging the chinchilla in cool (not freezing) water. As you undoubtedly know, getting a chinchilla wet is generally a bad idea, but heatstroke is a particularly dangerous situation that needs immediate attention.
Sources:
Bettina's
A New Owner's Guide to Chinchillas by Audrey Pavia
Entries (RSS)
June 21st, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Ann-Marie,
77 degrees is OK if that's the max and usually the temperature is lower. You want the chinchillas to be able to run around without overheating. Another factor to consider is humidity. If your area is dry, then 77 is safer than if there's 80% humidity.
June 20th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I'm looking to get a chinchilla in the near future. However, the windows in my house are crank-windows and therefore cannot accommodate an air conditioner. A portable AC unit is too expensive. The room where I plan to keep it (should I make a final decision to purchase a chin) doesn't exceed 77 degrees.
Would this be a safe environment for a chin?
Many thanks for any help or info you can provide.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Bobby,
Around 22 or 23 degrees celsius should be good. Around You also need to keep an eye on humidity as high humidity makes warm temperatures even worse. We highly recommend an air conditioner to keep the temperature cool and constant.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Hi, I was wondering because I'm in Canada can you please tell me the temperature that a chinchilla is supposed to live in, in celsius?
August 17th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
My deepest sympathies to you for the loss of Chu.