Chinchilla care tools and calculators
This page brings together every XpertsPet tool for chinchillas: 29 in all, across 15 topics including age, behavior, breeding, cost, grooming and health. Pick a topic above to see its tools, or read on for a quick guide to what each group does and where to start.
Chinchillas at a glance
A healthy chinchilla usually lives 10 to 20 years, so the care decisions you make now play out over a long time. Chinchillas are herbivores, which shapes what you feed and how much. Most adults weigh around 400-800 g. They mature quickly, at around 8 months.
Chinchillas need a tall multi-level cage kept below 22C, since their dense fur means they overheat easily. They also need a dust bath several times a week, never a water bath, and unlimited hay.
The health problems vets see most often in chinchillas include heat stroke above 25C, dental malocclusion, fur chewing from stress and bloat.
Gestation in chinchillas runs about 105 to 115 days.
Chinchilla quick facts
| Measure | Chinchilla |
|---|---|
| Typical lifespan | 10–20 years |
| Adult weight | 0.9–1.8 lb (0.4–0.8 kg) |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Mature at | About 8 months |
| Pregnancy | 105–115 days |
| Litter size | 1–3 |
| Humidity | 40–60% |
Where to start
- Thinking about getting a chinchilla? Start with the adoption tools to see what you are signing up for.
- Setting up a home? The housing calculators size the space and work out how much bedding or substrate you need.
- Unsure about feeding? The nutrition tools give a daily amount you can adjust as you go.
- Raising a young chinchilla? Use the weight and growth tools to check it is on track.
- Caring for an older chinchilla? The age tools show its life stage and what usually changes next.
Other small & companion mammals
If you keep more than one kind of animal, there are tools for dog, cat, rabbit and hamster. You can also browse every pet on XpertsPet.