Chinchilla Cage Accessories: Chinchillas need a well-equipped cage to stay safe and happy. There are a few essential supplies that Chinchillas need in a cage. Without those, the quality of life of your Chinchillas can’t be enhanced.
Chinchillas need a large enclosure to live, eat, and play. The floor of the enclosure must be soft to protect your Chinchillas paws from health issues. They must have free access to food and water as well. Apart from that, they will also need hideouts to rest and a lot of toys for entertainment.
Also, you will need to evaluate your pet’s security from predators and climate conditions. It is quite easy to purchase an enclosure for your Chinchilla and get your first Chinchilla. There will be more concern in case the enclosure of your Chinchilla is located outside. But your responsibility as the owner doesn’t end there. The owner needs to make some efforts to make the Chinchillas enclosure into a home.
Here is Our Latest Post: Best Chinchilla Hideouts
Chinchilla Cage Accessories & Essentials 2023
Chinchilla need a lot of supplies, Chinchilla Cage Accessories & Essentials to begin with. Here are a few supplies that is a must for Chinchillas:
Mandatory:
- Quality Chinchilla Bedding
- Chinchilla Food bowls
- Chinchilla hay racks
- Fresh hay
- Water bottle
- Chinchilla Toys to play with
- Hideouts to hide and sleep
- Chinchilla Litter tray to keep the cage clean
Optional:
- Decorations
- Chinchilla Hammock
- Wooden Platforms
- Chinchilla Pillow ( But I Recommend)
Chinchilla Cage Accessories List:
Here is the list of Chinchilla Cage Accessories and Essentials to buy on E-commerce sites.
Latest Post on Best Chinchilla Cgaes: Best Chinchilla Cages with Pros and Cons
| Sl.No | Chinchilla Cage Accessories | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chinchilla Cage | $303.99 | Check Price |
| 2. | Wooden Platforms | $16.99 ($16.99 / Count) | Check Price |
| 3. | Water Bottle | $13.44 | Check Price |
| 4. | Hay Rack | Check Price | |
| 5. | Timothy Hay | $10.62 ($4.25 / lb) | Check Price |
| 6. | Dried Chamomile Flowers | $19.93 ($1.25 / Ounce) | Check Price |
| 7. | Fleece for Cage Floor | $8.98 ($0.60 / Sq Ft) | Check Price |
| 8. | Chinchilla Hide | $9.98 | Check Price |
| 9. | Chinchilla Bath | $14.10 | Check Price |
| 10. | Chinchilla Dust | $10.99 ($0.27 / Ounce) | Check Price |
| 11. | Apple Wood Chew Sticks | $15.98 ($0.91 / Ounce) | Check Price Check Price |
| 12. | Chinchilla Running Wheel | $119.99 | Check Price |
| 13. | Temperature/Humidity Gauge | $9.99 | Check Price |
| 14. | Chinchilla Pillow | $17.77 | Check Price |
| 15. | Hammock | Check Price | |
| 16. | Chinchilla Carrier | $25.99 | Check Price |
| 17. | Cooling Slab | Check Price |
What’s New in Chinchilla Accessories?
Looking for the newest and best accessories for your chinchilla? Look no further – we’ve got everything you need right here! From cozy beds to fun toys, we have everything you need to keep your chinchilla happy and healthy.
There’s always something new in the world of chinchilla accessories! Here at Chinchilla Central, we’re constantly on the lookout for new and innovative products to help make your chinchilla’s life even better. Whether it’s a new type of hay rack or a cozy new hideaway, we’ll have it here. Check back often to see what’s new in the world of chinchilla accessories!
Chinchilla Feed Bowl:
The food bowl, which is used mainly for their pellets, must be secure to accommodate the chinchilla’s weight and prevent it falling over dispelling all the pellets inside. Chinchillas use to sit on the rim of their food bowl whilst eating. A metal food bowl that sets in a holder, or it has screws that is attached to the side of the cage is the best option. Their food bowls must be cleaned at least 2-3 times in a week.
Chinchilla Water Bottle:
The most common type of chinchilla water bottle is the one that referred to as ‘gravity bottles’. That water bottle has a ballpoint tube, which prevents water from leaking. They exist in many shapes. The smallest one is more than adequate for one or two chins, keeping in mind that you will change their water every day. All though never buy only one water bottle. Have at least one spare because they tend to fail as time past or they can be broken by the chin if he chews them a lot. Try to supervise every day the water bottle for leaking or blocking.
Chinchilla Hayrack:
Hay can be placed directly on shelves or at the bottom of cage. However, hay will be scattered everywhere and also chin can urinate on the hay making it inedible. A hayrack eliminates all these problems. Therefore, it is advisable to have one. Hay racks come in a difference of varieties. Most hay racks clip on the inside of the cage. Some cages come with a hayrack incorporated into the design.
Chinchilla Hut House:
Chinchillas in order to feel secure and be able to sleep peacefully they will need a hut. The hut is best made of solid, untreated pinewood. There also hay houses. They need to be at least 9″ by 9″ in size, with openings on one or more sides. Watch for nails or screws that hut may contain. Chins will chew the wood around the nail or screw and expose them so supervise these huts often to remove these nails or screws. The position of the hut could be placed high or low it does not matter. It has noticed though chinchilla prefer his house at the middle shelve if you have more than 3 levels cage or at the highest level if that is the second level. This is not a rule as it has also noticed that some chins prefer to sleep to the lowest level of cage even if they have their house to the first or second level. Another thing you should consider is that chins want to move things and decorate their cage by their own! If they can move the house because is not fixed they will surely move it around and sometimes they will not move it for some time cause they are happy with this new position. So chinchillas surely know and like to decorate their own place! .
Chinchilla Shelves:
Chinchilla cages need shelves so the chinchilla can jump onto as play and exercise and also rest upon. All shelving must be made from untreated pinewood and securely fitted to the frame of the cage so it cannot move or fall down. Shelving also should not be far away to each other so a chinchilla can jump freely between them. Wooden stacks are an excellent source of entertainment and shelving for chinchilla. They are small branches covered with bark, interlocked with wire that can be bent in different directions to make also arches, slopes and houses or be used as hideaways. Tree Branches off certain trees are a fantastic accessory to any chinchilla cage.
A chinchilla will gnaw on the bark, which is a great material-aid to help file their ever-growing teeth and they can be used a climbing or jumping apparatus as well. Ensure any tree branches you use are secured within the cage, wedging them between the holes of the wire mesh so they are unmovable and only provide branches off trees you know are to be safe and untreated. All these can serve as shelves, toys and chew. These are necessary for your cage. Chinchilla must chew, run and jump. As chinchillas are rodents, they have a natural instinct to chew in order to keep their teeth ground down. If they do not have woods to chew they will rapid develop very serious and deadly dental problems. Keep their cage fresh of these accessories cause some of them from chewing they disappear very fast!
New Products for Chinchillas
We are always on the lookout for new and exciting products to offer our chinchilla customers! Here are some of the newest items we have available:
- Chinchilla Chew Toys: These toys are specifically designed to help keep your chinchilla’s teeth healthy and sharp. Made from natural materials, they are safe for your chinchilla to chew on and can also help with boredom.
- Chinchilla Exercise Wheels: These wheels are a great way to help your chinchilla stay active and healthy. They come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit any budget and space requirements.
- Chinchilla Dust Baths: Dust baths are an important part of a chinchilla’s grooming routine. They help remove excess oil from the fur and keep the skin healthy. We offer a variety of dust baths specifically designed for chinchillas, made from natural ingredients. If you have any questions about any of these products, or if you would like help choosing the right ones for your chinchilla, please feel free to contact us! We are always happy to help.
| Chinchilla Chew Toy | Check Price |
| Chinchilla exercise wheel 15 inch | Check Price |
| Chinchilla Dry Sand/Dust Wellness Bath | Check Price |
How to Use Chinchilla Accessories?
As your chinchilla grows, you’ll want to start thinking about accessories. But what do you need and how do you use them? Here’s a guide to chinchilla accessories! First, you’ll need a cage. A good cage should be at least 18x18x24 inches, with bars that are no more than ½ inch apart. The cage should also have multiple levels so your chinchilla can climb and play. Next, you’ll need to decide what type of bedding you want to use. Wood shavings are the most popular option, but you can also use recycled paper products or even fleece bedding. Just make sure the bedding is soft and absorbent. Now it’s time to think about food and water dishes. Stainless steel or ceramic dishes are best, as they can’t be chewed through like plastic ones can. You’ll also need a water bottle that attaches to the side of the cage. Last but not least, you’ll need some toys! Chinchillas love to chew, so offer them plenty of safe things to gnaw on like wooden blocks, chew sticks, and hay balls. You can also give them safe objects to play
How to prepare a cage for a Chinchilla?
A living area arrangement is necessary whenever you bring your Chinchilla into your family. Some of the families allow their Chinchillas to run all the time freely. Though your Chinchilla will enjoy this freedom but also there could be many problems. Think first before you allow your Chinchilla to run freely. Where could be your Chinchillas sleeping area?
Is your Chinchilla safe when you’re busy somewhere? Will it get on the ground and cause damage? Where will your pet eliminate their poop?
Organizing an enclosure for your Chinchilla is always a safer option. They will remain happy if they get enough floor time every day. Most of the Chinchillas want to have their place. Even social creatures want their privacy.
Large open space to play and exercise
Space is the most important thing which your Chinchilla needs the most in their enclosure. Your Chinchillas must have enough space to move and play inside, your Chinchilla will remain stressed and unhealthy if they feel that they are trapped inside. 8 Square feet is the basic minimum size of a suitable enclosure for a Chinchilla.
Your Chinchilla must be able to stand on their hind legs comfortably in the enclosure. Also, you will need to include a hideout space and a litter tray. Every Chinchilla will enjoy the space to play, jump, and run freely. The bigger you get the happier they live.
Try to attach a run to your Chinchillas enclosure, if possible. That will help your Chinchilla to exercise while still surrounded. You need to give at least 32 Square feet measured area to your Chinchilla for exercise. At night, always close the entrance of the Chinchilla enclosure. It is crucial to protect them from predators.
More floor time will be required if you cannot incorporate a run with your Chinchilla enclosure. For Chinchilla, space is essential. Break out attempts will become a regular happening if your Chinchilla feel trapped.
Soft bedding to keep their feet healthy
Most of us think that covering the floor of the enclosure is not necessary but this is wrong. It would be painful for your pet if the enclosure floor has a hard, wired floor. In the end, this will possibly bring to open sores on your Chinchilla feet which are known as bumblefoot.
You can choose to get fleece, paper, or aspen bedding for your Chinchilla. In case there are not possible, hay could be a great alternative. An abundant supply of hay will do the job as well. Though hay must be enough, remember that the feet of your Chinchilla should not touch the ground.
Consider vinyl, if you want to apply a delicate flooring for your Chinchilla enclosure. Vinyl will be much more comfortable compared to wire or wood. The Chinchilla can chew the vinyl flooring, so be aware of that. You will need to change the flooring every day.
Food and water on a daily basis
Food and water are a must for your Chinchilla all the time. Chinchillas could not last long without nutrients. Don’t allow your Chinchilla to skip a meal. There are three forms of food for a Chinchilla.
- Hay is important: Try to fill plenty of fresh hay in your Chinchilla enclosure as much as you can.
- As Chinchilla like this most, they eat as much of this.
- Hay provides the necessary fiber, and also it is calorie-neutral.
- It also helps to trim the Chinchillas teeth.
- For adult Chinchillas, pellets are non-compulsory: Restrict the access to pellets, once your Chinchilla attains six months of age.
- That could be a little high calcium food.
- Though it does provide nutrition.
- You will not need these if you provide a good supply of vegetables daily.
- For Chinchillas, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits are a great pleasure.
- Most of these foods also offer high vitamins and nutrients.
- Don’t offer them too much as it can lead to obesity and other health issues.
Continual access to fresh water is also essential for your Chinchilla. Either a bowl or a bottle can be provided for this. It is easier to drink in a bowl, as many Chinchillas prefer a bowl to drink. Though, some of the Chinchillas play with their bowl as a toy. As it can be filled up with hay or bedding, or it will be knocked down. Attach a bottle to your Chinchilla enclosure in such a condition. Confirming your Chinchilla drinks enough water is much more important than how your Chinchilla gets water.
Hideouts to relax
Chinchillas are prey animals. Although they have transitioned through the domestication process, some survival instinct is still present in them. They usually need a place to hide so they can feel safe and take a nap whenever they need to.
For your Chinchilla enclosure, a hideout is a necessary item. You need to buy a hideout for each of your pets. That means you need one hideout for every Chinchilla. If you have a pair of Chinchillas you must have at least 2 or more hideouts in the cage.
A separate sleep area
A bedroom is what every Chinchilla needs. An owner should make sure to structure a quiet space for their Chinchilla, whenever you set up an enclosure.
Fill a hideout up with the bedding, so that your Chinchilla could understand it’s for sleeping. That will help in keeping your Chinchilla happy. If you cannot get a hideout there are a lot of DIY options as well.
A Chinchilla bedroom can be simple, just like an upturned cardboard carton. For the entrance and exitance of your Chinchilla, just cut a hole in the box. Correctly, place this carton in the corner of your Chinchilla enclosure, at the lowest level. In this area, your Chinchilla will start snoozing.
Blankets and pillows seem to be a great addition to a chinchilla enclosure. Make sure you don’t provide old, threadbare blankets with holes, as paws can be trapped. Also, ensure that your enclosure is not ingesting a large amount of fabric as it can lead to intestinal blockage.
There are many reasons why a Chinchilla wants a bedroom area in their enclosure.
- Chinchillas are social, but still, they need some private space. A private bedroom is enough for their privacy.
- Chinchilla sleeping timing is from mid-morning to early evening. The bright light will not disturb your Chinchilla if they have a place to nap.
- Chinchillas are known as prey animals, and they know it. Your Chinchilla will feel safer with the help of a shielding layer as they will not recognize that the cartoon will not protect them from a predator.
- As Chinchillas are clean animals, they don’t like to eliminate or urinate where they sleep, which means that your Chinchilla will remain fresh and smell nice.
The owner has many options when it comes to the bedding of the Chinchillas enclosure. The owner must make sure that the bedding is safe to consume. Sometimes Chinchillas end up ingesting the bedding by accident.
Most of the Chinchillas will be glad to sleep on the hay. However, you can prefer to buy a blanket. A pet shop will sell the best and safety blanket for your Chinchillas. The owner can also purchase a bed frame for a Chinchilla. Your Chinchilla would love to arrange these blankets and will enjoy it by tearing them up.
Lots of toys for mental and physical stimulation
The owner will need to fill the entertainment stuff in the Chinchillas enclosure. Chinchillas are always in search of mental stimulation, as Chinchillas are smart creatures. Without a massive collection of toys, no Chinchilla will be happy. It is recommended that the owner can buy a few of such items for their Chinchillas.
However, necessary household items can also play the role of toys. To be sure what is included as a toy, consider the following.
- Chinchillas want to chew as this can prevent their teeth from being trimmed.
- Chinchillas like to dig and make a burrow. As it is a natural tendency. A Chinchilla would dig a burrow for living in it.
- Chinchillas like quiet noises. They adores playing with those toys which make crackling sounds when tossed around.
- Chinchillas likes to be naughty. That means that your Chinchilla will enjoy ripping thin items apart and blowing them over.
Alternative toys
As you will notice that many of the options will be open for your Chinchilla. Fill their enclosure with makeshift toys. There are a few examples of what you could include.
- Such as a phone book, fill up the papers in the box. Your Chinchilla rips this apart and burrows in it.
- Small cat toys can be kept around. Your Chinchilla throws these all around.
- Just like keys, the owner can provide hard, plastic baby toys. These will serve to your Chinchillas desire to chew as this will stop your Chinchilla from chewing the wire of an enclosure door.
- Leave tiny balls and related items for your Chinchilla to chase and push around their enclosure.
- A Chinchilla can track hidden treats, which could be in your Chinchillas hay. So barely don’t allow them to go fusty.
That is just an icing on a cake. Whenever your Chinchilla is playing, try to learn what your Chinchilla likes the most. From this, you can arrange toys accordingly. Chinchillas get easily bored. A toy could carry your Chinchilla attention joyfully only for a few hours. Then it would be casually rejected. The owner will need to change the choice of toys regularly.
Cagemates to socialize
These small creatures can survive alone. However, this is far from suitable for most Chinchillas. These animals always feel happy whenever they are with their same species companion.
You will always be asked to consider two pets whenever you adopt or bring your Chinchilla. That was not for the shop to try to up-sell you or a shelter effort to empty their enclosures. It was done only for the Chinchillas happiness in mind. You need to consider putting in another Chinchilla to your enclosure if it’s a choice. There will be specific problems.
The owner should need to ensure that the Chinchillas bonding is excellent, and they both are comfortable with each other. However, it will create a happy life for both of them. It could be possible that the second Chinchilla is not an option for any number of intentions. But that doesn’t mean the end of the world. Though, it means that the owner will need to adjust.
Don’t leave your Chinchilla alone for hours on end in any situation. The owner should need to check them regularly. Ask your Neighbours or friends to take care of them if you work all day. Your Chinchilla will be thankful for the company.
Is it better to keep Chinchillas indoors or outdoors?
Both have their pros and cons. Here are few things you need to know:
| Benefits of an indoor enclosure | Benefits of an outdoor enclosure |
|---|---|
| Chinchillas are social animals. An indoor enclosure means that your Chinchilla will be surrounded by the members of the human family all day. | After a day or two, a Chinchilla enclosure starts to smell. If your Chinchilla lives outsides then you would not be able to notice much. |
| Your Chinchilla will become more confident and interact faster. Your pet will be used to the vision and noises of a busy house. | Chinchillas hormones are regulated by natural light. Sleeping and shedding patterns take place naturally. |
| Your Chinchilla will be safe inside all the time. The predators that roam outside will not harm your Chinchilla. This will make your Chinchillas less worried in an enclosure. | Chinchilla need a moderate climate to live. Living outside will keep away from artificial heat or cooling sources, for example, central heating or cooling. |
| Your Chinchilla will always be in front of our eyes. This will make it easier to notice strange behavior or potential sickness. | Outside life will be silent for your Chinchilla. Your pet will not be scared by vaccums, voices, and noise of shutting doors. |
| The owner need not be worried about the harsh climate. Your Chinchilla will always be safe and warm, in any case of the elements. | For your Chinchilla, living outside is a more natural habitat. Their quality of life will improve |
Keeping Chinchillas outdoor
It is crucial to decide whether your Chinchillas should be housed inside or outside. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods. If you are trying to understand toward spotting your Chinchillas enclosure out, consider the following:
- Temperature
- Safety
- Lighting
Let’s take a look at these points in more detail.
Temperature maintenance in outdoor enclosure
The owner would need to put a thermometer inside the enclosure if your Chinchilla lives outside. Chinchillas can survive in a little cold temperatures, but the owner needs to take care of them in harsh weather.
Chinchillas body temperatures should run between 100-103 degrees Celsius. As it sounds high, but Chinchilla fur coat takes care of this. Your Chinchilla will hardly become too cold. It would be dangerous for the Chinchilla if the temperature drops to 16 degrees Celsius or lower. Move your Chinchilla to the warmer area, if this occurs. That will be non-permanent until the cold weather begins to pass away.
Do not shift your Chinchilla between outside and inside living at any different time. The sudden changes in temperature harm Chinchilla. To avoid unexpected danger, your Chinchilla needs just to heat up enough.
Unnecessary heat is hazardous for your pet. Your Chinchilla will grow uncomfortable if you are keeping them at place with high temperature. Everything over 24 degrees Celsius is uncomfortable but acceptable. The Chinchilla will be in trouble if the temperature reaches 28 degrees.
A Chinchilla could get a heatstroke in this condition if proper support is not provided. The owner must offer plenty of chilled water. When the heat of the sun is too high, bring your Chinchilla inside. Your Chinchilla can relax on cold tiles to make themselves cool.
Safety of outdoor enclosure
There are many predators that wants to harm your Chinchilla. The owner needs to apply a firm, secure cover to their Chinchillas enclosure. Predators can eat a thin element. The safest choice is hardware fabric, as it is more robust than chicken wire. The owner may also need to consider a bright, Perspex cover for your Chinchilla enclosure. That would be more secure for them. Also, this will protect your Chinchilla from any strong winds or rain.
Remember that your Chinchilla still wants oxygen if you do cover the enclosure in a durable cover. Do not include the whole enclosure. Leave at least some space so that your Chinchilla would not suffocate inside. Provide a rehousing for your Chinchilla inside if you carry severe concerns for your Chinchillas safety. Before bringing your Chinchilla to join your family, do some study on the suitable enclosure. If you do not organise a welcoming home atmosphere, stress and tension can follow. The owner needs to remember how much time Chinchilla spend in an enclosure.
A Chinchilla will wake up hours before the owner and stay active after the owner retires for the night. A Chinchilla wants to feel safe at this time, and the entertainment stuff also needs to be provided.
Lighting of outdoor enclosure
Another consideration for outdoor Chinchillas is appropriate lighting. Your Chinchilla will return to its enclosure when you go to bed. Though your Chinchilla is not likely to be sleepy, your Chinchilla will entertain themselves before taking a nap. That is not a problem for your Chinchilla. Chinchilla do not get scared in the darkness. They can’t see in extremely dark. Chinchillas eyes are arranged to work best in the morning and twilight.
As this will cause trouble for your Chinchilla. Your Chinchilla will not be able to see anything. However, Chinchilla can listen and smell predators, which can stress them out. The hideout area will be helpful with this, which we have discussed earlier. Your Chinchilla may sleep peacefully, having no idea of animals watching outside the enclosure. If your Chinchilla looks unwilling to return to its enclosure at night, that means your Chinchilla is scared. You can calm down your Chinchilla nerves by applying some light as you have two choices for this.
- Put a night light to your Chinchilla enclosure. Torch or battery-operated lamp is best, as this will not contain dragging wires. Be sure that the lamp is dim.
- Establish a motion sensor light in your garden, which brightens your Chinchillas enclosure. That will glow whenever something moves in your yard. Best to keep coyotes and foxes away.
Also, you can use fairy lights for decoration or lighting up your chinchilla cage. However, they are not entirely safe as they possess some hazards for your guinea pigs. You can minimize the risk by taking preventive measures or using other secure chinchilla cage decoration lighting options available in the market.
Select the best option for you and your Chinchilla.
I would recommend you to house your Chinchilla indoor with all the amenities they need. This will improve the quality of life of your Chinchilla by several folds.
