How to Buy & Care for Chinchillas - All about chinchilla cages

This is Lauren on behalf of Expert Village and we are talking about housing for your chinchilla. There are a lot of options when it comes to the different types of cages that you can buy. There are a lot of different things that you can get. We have, like here we have a pull-out pan on the bottom. Some cages have a solid bottom to them. And you want to make sure that you have a water bottle here on the outside, and that's because this way they can't usually puncture it with their teeth. They like to chew on things and you don't want it leaking or dripping down into the cage. Chinchillas do very well if they have more than one level. They like to jump and climb and play, so you want to make sure that there are multiple levels to the cage. Get a cage that is big enough for them to run around in and jump around in. The bigger the cage, the better, but at a minimum, you want to make sure that it has at least two or three levels. And then also enough room for a wheel. They also like to sleep in things like; they have hammocks that you can buy. In this case, she has a little house up there, that's made out of soft material. Make sure that you don't purchase a plastic cage. This is a huge issue, when it comes to chinchillas and their chewing habits, you don't want to have any plastic shelving, any plastic cages or even any plastic wheels. They can digest that and it can cause intestinal problems or blockages, and there have been chinchillas that have actually died from ingesting pieces of plastic. Ledges that I do recommend are metal ledges; you can also buy wooden ones, which are really good for them to chew on. It keeps wearing down their teeth. Stay with us for chinchilla housing - Part 2.