Chinchillas were nearly hunted to extinction in the early 1900's for their fur. Chinchilla breeds are characterized by their coat color with the smoky blue-gray color representing the wild type and all other colors representing mutations. Chinchillas will live an average of 10 years, but no more than 20 years. Proper housing is a critical factor for the overall well being of a chinchilla.

The animal's native environment includes a relatively low temperature and humidity as well as a rocky habitat that requires chinchillas to jump. For this reason, chinchillas should be housed in a large, multi-level cage with a temperature in the range 60-70°F. Temperatures greater than 80°F can result in heat stroke, especially if accompanied by high humidity. Chinchillas should be allowed access to a dust bath for a short time each day. This will allow them the opportunity to groom while the short time frame will prevent contamination with feces and thus keeping their fur clean. The dust can be obtained commercially.

Chinchillas should be fed a commercial chinchilla pellet. These pellets will contain 18-20% crude protein, 15-35% crude fiber, and around 4% fat on a dry matter basis. Only 1-2 tablespoons of food should be fed each day and treats like fruits, vegetables and nuts should be kept to less than 10% of the total diet. Fresh, clean water should always be available preferably in a sipper bottle.

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