Chinchilla keeping for beginners: Everything you need to know
Keeping chinchillas fascinates many animal lovers in Switzerland: the adaptable rodents from the cool, dry Andes impress with their thick fur, their social behavior and their twilight activity. Anyone planning to keep chinchillas responsibly needs in-depth knowledge of space requirements, climate, nutrition, care and group structure. This guide brings together practical recommendations, orientation values and proven standards so that chinchillas stay healthy and feel comfortable in a well-designed living aviary.
TL;DR – the most important points about keeping chinchillas
- Keep in pairs or groups instead of individual animals: Chinchillas are social animals; Plan socialization carefully.
- Aviary instead of cage: multi-level, robust, well ventilated; Jumping and racing tracks are essential (from approx. 1.5-2.0 m long and approx. 1.8-2.0 m high as a guideline for 2 animals).
- Climate: rather cool and dry (approx. 15-22 °C, humidity approx. 40-60%); Avoid heat and drafts.
- Diet: Hay ad libitum, textured chinchilla pellets, dried herbs; Avoid snacks that are very high in sugar or fat.
- Daily sand bath, safe furnishings (no plastic), keep an eye on your dental health.
- Budget: Purchase approx. CHF 600-1,200 (guide value), ongoing approx. CHF 40-80/month depending on region and feed quality.
- In Switzerland: observe the Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV); Inform the municipality/canton about minimum requirements.
Understanding Chinchillas: Origin and Natural Way of Life
Chinchillas come from the high altitudes of the Andes. There are cool nights, strong temperature differences and rather dry air. Their sensitivity to heat and thick fur explain why chinchillas should be kept indoors in a stable, rather cool climate.
Activity rhythm and behavior
Chinchillas are active from dusk to night. Daytime rest periods must remain undisturbed. As social animals, they use personal grooming, vocalizations and smells to communicate. This explains why keeping a chinchilla as a single animal can lead to behavioral problems.
The desire to jump and the urge to climb
The animals like to move in vertical structures and do short sprints. Multiple levels with safe landing areas, bridges and seating boards are essential. An aviary provides the necessary combination of running and jumping surfaces better than a classic cage.
What does it mean to keep chinchillas in a species-appropriate manner in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, the Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV) defines minimum requirements for pets. To keep a chinchilla in a species-appropriate manner, we recommend a robust, indoor aviary with several levels, stable solid wood boards and claw-friendly, non-slip surfaces. The guideline values for two animals are at least approx. 1.5-2.0 m in length, approx. 0.8-1.0 m in depth and approx. 1.8-2.0 m in height. Grid spacing of approx. 12-15 mm prevents injuries and escapes.
Practical note: Choose a location that is draft-free, avoid direct sun; Temperature approx. 15-22 °C, humidity approx. 40-60%. Quiet rooms promote stress reduction. Provide a daily sand bath (low-dust bathing substrate).
Equipment: What belongs in the aviary?
- Multiple levels and hardwood seating boards; safe distances between levels.
- Houses/retreat boxes (at least two for a couple), hay racks, heavy ceramic bowls or sturdy nipple drinkers.
- Offer a sand bath bowl with fine, low-dust bathing sand for approx. 10-20 minutes every day.
- Safe chew toys (unsprayed fruit tree branches, willow), tunnels and bridges made from natural materials.
- Floor covering: low-dust litter or wood pellets; no loose plastic parts.
Nutrition: What chinchillas can eat - and what they can't
A balanced chinchilla husbandry is based on food rich in crude fiber. Hay is the basis (ad libitum), supplemented by high-quality, structurally rich chinchilla pellets and small portions of dried herbs. Fresh water is always available. Fruits rich in sugar, fatty seeds and many nuts put a strain on digestion and the liver and should only be used very sparingly, if at all, as rare treats.
Feeding management
- Hay always available; The quantity of pellets is moderate (depending on the manufacturer, approx. 1-2 tablespoons per animal per day as a guideline value).
- Feed changes slowly over 7-10 days; Observe digestion (stool consistency, appetite).
- Mineral supply via balanced pellets/hay; Salt licks are usually not necessary.
Care and health: what should you pay attention to?
Health priorities when keeping a chinchilla concern teeth, digestion, skin/fur and stress management. The daily sand bath supports fur care, but does not replace brushing. Regular weight checks (e.g. weekly) help to identify insidious problems early.
Early warning signs
- Changed appetite, salivation, refusal to eat (suspicion of dental problems).
- Soft feces, gassing, inactivity (indigestion).
- Itching, bald base of the tail, dandruff (parasites/fungus possible).
- Heat stress: panting, apathy, lying stretched out at > approx. 25 °C.
Advantages of a well-planned chinchilla husbandry: stable digestion through hay and rest, fewer injuries thanks to massive levels, less stressful socialization, lower veterinary costs through prevention.
Challenges: Sensitivity to heat, sensitive digestion, large space requirement in the living room, nighttime activity with noises and particles from the sand bath.
Chinchilla keeping: individual animal or group?
Chinchillas are social animals. Keeping them in pairs or groups makes sense from a technical point of view, provided there is enough space, places to retreat and resources. Keeping animals alone can lead to stress, vocalizations and stereotypies. The following applies to Switzerland: The Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV) sets minimum standards, and the expectations of many specialist bodies are clearly in the direction of keeping pairs; If in doubt, the municipality or canton will provide information on local requirements.
Socialization briefly explained
- Neutral room, two feeding places, two sand baths, several retreat boxes.
- Observation phase, exchange of smells (bed material), increase short encounters.
- Castration can help in certain constellations; seek veterinary advice.
Equipment and furnishings: Which aviary is right?
Keeping chinchillas appropriately benefits from stable indoor aviaries made of wood-metal combinations. Solid wood with sealed edges, powder-coated grilles and screwed levels increase safety and durability. Doors should be large enough to clean levels and easily remove sand bath/hay rack.
- Plan distances between levels so that falls are minimized (floors with walkways).
- No plastic tubes; better cork tubes, willow tunnels, untreated bridges.
- Grid spacing approx. 12-15 mm; more closely knit in young animals.
- Running and jumping distance: ideally > approx. 1.5 m in one go.
Avoid common beginner mistakes
- Cage too small instead of a large aviary: Keeping chinchillas needs space in length and height.
- underestimate heat in summer; Control room temperature and sunlight.
- Sugar and fat-heavy snacks as a “reward”; leads to digestive and liver problems.
- Individual animal husbandry without social partners; Stress and behavioral problems possible.
- plastic parts that can be gnawed; Risk of injury and choking.
Checklist for starting chinchilla ownership
- 1Plan the indoor aviary: determine the length, depth, height and levels (note orientation values).
- 2Choose a location: cool, draft-free, quiet, without direct sun.
- 3Get basic equipment: hay, pellets, herbs, sand bath, ceramic bowls, natural wood, retreat boxes.
- 4Consider society: couple or small group, plan socialization, clarify castration.
- 5Prepare a health check: scales, vet emergency number, quarantine option for new arrivals.
Conclusion: How to keep chinchillas sustainably
Anyone who respects the needs of these cold and drought-loving Andean inhabitants creates the basis for a healthy, long life with a spacious indoor aviary, clear feeding management and social attitude. Keeping chinchillas means investing in space, climate quality and good hay, accepting nocturnal activity and consistently implementing prevention (teeth, digestion, sand bath). In Switzerland, orientation towards the TSchV and exchanges with specialist bodies help so that husbandry and animal protection go hand in hand.
