The Cage
The larger the cage, the better. The minimum floor space is about 24 by 24 inches, and a tall cage is best; if possible get a tall cage with shelves and ladders that allow the chinchilla to climb. Wire is the best cage material, and avoid plastic cages or accessories and chinchillas chew and destroy plastic readily. For ease of cleaning, a pull out tray is a nice
feature. The tray can be lined with
wood shavings (avoid cedar shavings, and hardwood shavings such as aspen
are preferred over pine), or newspapers. Many chinchilla cages have a wire floor, which is nice for keeping them out of dirty cage bottoms but can be hard on chinchilla feet. If you use a wire floor or have all wire shelves, provide at least one wooden platform (or cover part of the wire with a piece of wood) to give the chinchilla's feet a break. A nest box, made of wood, should also be provided.
Where to Put the Cage
The cage should be placed in a quiet area of the home where human activities won't disturb (and stress) them during the day. As mentioned previously, the area should also be cool, but not drafty, and not exposed to direct
sunlight which could cause overheating. Summertime temperatures must
be monitored to make sure the ambient temperature is not much over 77 F
(25 C). If you do not have air conditioning, placing a shallow pan
of ice cubes in the cage may help. Place the cage on a table or
stand as this will help make the chinchilla feel secure (chinchillas can be intimidated
if you must lean over the cage to interact with them).
Water Bottles
Glass water bottles are ideal because the chinchilla can't chew through
them. If you use plastic, encasing it or creating a barrier to it
with wire mesh should reduce the risk of damage (you can also get commercial chew guards). For feeders, hopper style
feeders that attach to the outside of the cage are nice because they can't
be tipped and the chinchilla won't be able to urinate in their food.
If a food bowl is used it should be a heavy ceramic bowl to reduce tipping,
and it must be cleaned daily.
Toys
Toys can be provided too - blocks of wood and tree branches (free of pesticides) are good chew toys. Some
of the wooden parrot toys make good toys as well, as do the willow balls and rings that you can find for rabbits. It is important
to provide toys that do not have
small or plastic parts that could be ingested. In addition, a "chinchilla
block" or pumice block can be provided for chewing and this will aid in
keeping the teeth trim.
Wheels
Wheels
can provide excellent exercise, although you may find that unless the chinchilla
is introduced to the idea at a fairly young age it may not take to running
on a wheel. A 12-15 inch wheel is preferable, ideally a solid surface metal wheel with an open side (wire wheels are dangerous to feet and tails). It is also possible
to get translucent plastic balls in which the chinchilla can "roll" around
the house by running - keeping the chinchilla and the furnishings safe.
Again, getting a chinchilla used to this at an early age will make them
most comfortable with this.
Playtime Outside the Cage
Many people also have their chinchillas out of the cage for a play and exercise time each day. This requires close supervision and a little chinchilla-proofing due their chewing tendencies. Electrical cords pose a grave danger and should be shielded or kept out of reach.
Once the chinchilla is tame it should be relatively easy to tempt the chinchilla
onto your hand with a favorite treat (e.g. a raisin) and carry it back
to the cage. However, most will return to their cages after
period of time as they look on it as their home. Chasing and catching
the chinchilla should be a last resort, as it is very stressful on the
chinchilla (and owner). For more information on advice on toys and safe playtime for chinchillas, see Chinchilla Playtime.
Resources about chinchilla cages:
- Setting up a Chinchilla Cage - a photo and description of a good sized, suitable chinchilla cage, from Etc. chinchillas. You may also want to visit their Chinchilla Yellow Page listing for cage suppliers.
- ChinNet FAQ - Housing - The housing section of the ChinNet FAQ. Also visit the ChinNet Cage Page, where you can see examples of owner's cage set-ups.
- Chinchilla Information - information on cages on the Chinchilla Information site by Lyn Duedall.
- The Playroom - this may take a while to download; photos of well done chinchilla cages (by Vince Ciulla, About.com Guide to Auto Repair).
