How to Entertain Your Chinchilla

Last Updated: June 16, 2020

Don't know what to do with your pet chinchilla? Want to watch your chinchilla do fun and cool things? Or are you bored with nothing to do? Here are a few ideas that are sure to work.

Steps

1
Make sure you interact with your chinchilla to build trust. Chinchillas are animals that need a lot of affection before they are completely comfortable with you. One way is to feed them treats, but not too many---it's a bad idea to feed them too many treats. Once or twice a week is best.
2
Add an exercise for your chinchilla to enjoy. A wheel would be good if you have a frisky chinchilla. Before you purchase a wheel, read reviews and make sure it is a safe wheel, that it is large enough and is not wire. Plastic is also very unsafe, metal is a better option because they won't be able to chew on it. Wheels must be 16" or more so they don't hurt their backs. Another good option is a metal saucer.
3
Get a playpen and put (chinchilla-safe) toys in it. Then put your chinchilla in it. If you normally keep your chinchilla in a cage this is a great way to give them exercise outside of their cage. Make sure everything in the playpen is chinchilla safe. Make sure there are no escapes, such as open doors, and nothing possibly harmful like plugged-in cords or pets unfamiliar with the chinchilla. Playtime is only beneficial to the "chin" if they are not stressed. Make sure they are the ones choosing to go in or out of their cage and they should always have the option to go back in.
4
Give your chinchilla a dust bath 2 to 3 times a week. Never give chinchillas actual baths or let them make contact with excessive water. This may seem to be an unnecessary activity, but many chinchillas have lots of fun rolling around in dust---it's also the only way "chins" get clean!
5
Keep a supply of chew toys. Wood chew toys are always a needed thing to put in their cage as their front teeth never stop growing so wood chew toys help them to "file down" their teeth.

Warnings

Never use plastic, paper or cardboard. All of these can kill your chin when ingested. Cardboard or paper can also be sprayed with pesticides so avoid even as a chew toy.

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Some types of wood are hazardous to these fluff balls, so check the wood type before giving it to your chinchilla. If you aren't sure of the wood type it is best to find another toy you know is safe! Check out Facebook groups to ask other owners about the safety of the toys.

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