Cage Safety
Chinchillas have some important cage needs that are different from other rodents.
Cage Type
Chinchillas need a multilevel enclosure that is easily ventilated. For this reason glass aquariums are not recommended. A wire cage with 1" or smaller bar spacing is ideal. Wood shelving is very popular because it allows chinchillas easy access to wood to control tooth growth. Some examples of different caging options below:
Chinchilla Condo &
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Ferret Nation
Ferret Nation cages by Midwest are a fine example of expandable modular chinchilla caging. You can start with one and then add more if you decide to expand later. A two-level cage is recommended for more multiple chinchilla. Both front doors open giving you easy access to clean and modify the cage. They tend to be more on the pricey side but they are highly recommended in the chinchilla community, and I can personally attest to their good value.
Pricing: $150+ depending on vendor. You can also purchase metal cage liners from Quality Cage Co. |
Feisty Ferret
The Feisty Ferret by Prevue Hendrix is a less expensive alternative to the Ferret Nation cage. Where this cage may be less expensive it does require some modification to make it chinchilla safe. Unlike the Ferret Nation it has plastic shelving and a wire bottom with a sliding pan design underneath. As I will discuss below, neither of these features is safe for chinchillas and may result in injury.
Pricing ranges from $115 - 145 depending on the vendor. |
Plastic Complications
Allowing your chinchilla access to chew plastic is not recommended as it may cause imp action in their digestive system. Three very common plastic cage accessories are shelving, exercise wheels and litter trays. Here are some recommended chinchilla safe alternatives!