Chinchillas will be happiest when you provide an environment that meets their needs and doesn't cause unnecessary stress.
By their nature, they don't like loud noises or a lot of movement. Such things will scare them causing them to remain in their cage. Even something seemingly innocent as a rain shower can seem scary to a chinchilla. As such, you'll want to keep them away from young children and other pets.
Although chinchillas can live in a cage, they will be healthiest if given a room or hallway to run in for a few hours each night. This gives them an opportunity to explore and to get some exercise beyond what a wheel can provide. Ideally, their cage should be up against a wall or in a corner. Doing so will provide your chinchillas a sense of safety especially if their sleeping box is also in the corner with the opening facing the wall.
Speaking of wheels, every chinchilla cage should have one. Getting a wheel big enough for a chinchilla can take a little searching, but they do exist. We prefer wheels that are solid so that our chinchillas' feet don't slip through the bars.
Being from the Andes, chinchillas are used to cooler temperatures. In fact, they can die if the temperature gets too high partly because they can't sweat to cool themselves. A good rule of thumb is to add the humidity and temperature together. This number should never exceed 150. We try to keep our chins in a room that doesn't exceed 75 degrees. This gives us a little buffer.
Chinchillas also like to chew on things. This includes doors, baseboards, and wires. Be sure to protect these areas with cardboard, wood, or plastic.
And finally, since chinchillas are crepuscular, you should keep them in an area during the day where they can sleep. No need to keep them in the dark. In fact, daylight will allow them to sense when to go to sleep and when to wake up.
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Lacey,
I think it'd be safe to say that a chinchilla can handle any cool temperature you can handle so I wouldn't worry about it being too cold in your room. Some chinchillas like hammocks, but I haven't seen them use swings. They do like wooden perches though.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I just bought my first chinchilla and I read that they like cooler temperatures not to exceed 75degrees. What would be to cold. My room is like an ice box and is the coldest in my house. It ranges from 68-71 degrees. Is that ok? I had a ferret a long time who got sick because it was to cold. Also do chinchillas like those swings that ferrets and sugar glider use? Or any type of pouch or something?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 am
Strider,
I've got two English Mastiffs (similar temperment) and two chinchillas. They get along very well. The dogs are interested in them but very calm. They want to be friends so they have learned to stay very calm when they are around. Plus, chinchillas are WAY too quick for a dog that size especially if they dont think of them as food. The dogs love to push their noses into their cage. The chinchillas will run up and greet them and nibble on their noses. I would sugggest letting them all do a lot of smelling and sniffing between the cage bars before letting them all run loose. I would also fully excercise the dogs before their first full on interaction. Give the chinchilla time to settle in as well before introducing the dogs into the mix. It can be stressful being in a new environment without mysterious drool falling through the cage bars =) I trust my dogs completely but I still dont let the chinchillas run around without me being close by, you never know….
Hope this helps!!
October 4th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Kimmey,
Sorry for taking so long to answer you. Hopefully you've figured out where to put the cage by now. If you provide your chinchilla with some protection against the breeze (like a wooden house) that should be fine. Better to keep your chinchilla cool by the window. Make sure the cage isn't exposed to direct sunlight though as that will really warm it up.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
hi, im getting my baby male chin in a week and im having abit of trouble working out where to put the cage. i know they do not like drafts, and you cant put them where it would be uncomfortably warm. it doesnt get very windy where i live and i wondered if it would be better to put him under the window, where it would be cooler but maybe a slight breeze now and again, or on the opposit side of the room where on the night it may get warm. please help me! thanks, Kimmey.