Chinchillas are popular exotic pets. Their extremely soft fur makes them cuddly and fun to own. Check with your local health department for rules concerning ownership of a chinchilla. Chinchillas need a temperature-controlled habitat and can live much longer lives than rabbits and many other furry pets, so legally owning a chinchilla means making a long-term commitment to the animal's well-being.
Instructions
1. Buy a chinchilla from a reputable pet dealer or close friend. It is illegal to capture wild chinchillas and bring them into the U.S. Exotic pets are sometimes smuggled into the country illegally and these pets are much more likely to have diseases.
2. Set up the chinchilla's habitat in a quiet out-of-the-way spot where it won't be disturbed. Chinchillas are mostly nocturnal and most active at dusk and dawn.
3. Use a climate-controlled location for your chinchilla. The small rodents are very susceptible to heat stroke and all efforts must be made to keep the chinchilla at 70 degrees F or below. Chinchillas can die at temperatures exceeding 75 to 80 degrees F.
4. Keep chinchillas in same-sex pairs to avoid breeding. Breeding chinchillas within city limits is forbidden in most jurisdictions. The market for captive bred chinchilla pelts is lucrative but must be done in a legal agricultural setting and not in your basement.
5. Dispose of waste properly if you plan on keeping numerous chinchillas as pets. It is OK to dump some of the waste in gardens, etc., but don't keep large amounts of waste around the house as it attracts rodents and other pests.
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