Diet -
When choosing a food for your chinchilla you should stick to a Quality food formulated for Chinchillas. There are several good foods out there (Mazuri, Tradition, Shoots, APD) It is best to avoid most pet store brand feeds, they tend to have to many treats mixed in the feed that your chinchilla does not need. Chins only NEED Quality Pellets, Hay and Water. Most other things we feed are more for enjoyment than a true nutritional need.

Treats should be given sparingly. Feeding to many treats can cause several healt problems. Treats should not be given to any chin under 6 months of age. Many problems caused by feeding to many treats may not show immediately but can affect your chinchilla greatly later in life. Acceptable treats include - Raisins, Dried Papaya, Dried Apple, Rose Hips, Shredded Wheat (NON Frosted), Calf Manna, Rolled Oats.

Chins need quality hay, it is a very important part of their diet. Hay should be high quality and be free of things such as dust, weeds and mold. Loose timothy hay is best, but we all know this is not always readily available. Alfalfa hay may be fed to young, growing chinchillas as well as pregnant or lactating mothers. You may also substitute with hay cubes.

Chinchillas need fresh water daily. Opinions vary on what is best when chosing what type of water to use with your chinchilla. Many people use tap water, while other choose distilled or bottled water.

Water bottles and food dishes should be cleaned several times a month to avoid bacteria growth.

In regards to the above we...
Feed Tradition Chinchilla Pellets
Free Feed Timothy/Clover Loose Hay - Alfalfa Hay Cubes
Tap Water
Treats are given approximately once a week.

Exercise -
Chinchillas are very active critters. Nocturnal, so they are more active in the evening/night time hours. Be sure when you are letting your chinchilla out of their cage they are in a chin safe room - a bathroom or spare bedroom usually works great. Be sure there are no wires or unsafe things for your chinchilla to chew on or eat. Playtimes will vary chin to chin. Some chins will wear themselves out as quickly as 15 minutes, some will need closer to half an hour and on occassion more to really tucker themselves out. Young chins should be monitered very closely.

Housing -
Under no circumstance is it recommended to house a chinchilla outside. Chinchillas do not handle extreme hot or cold weather. A temperature of 60-70* is generally recommended. When chosing a home for your chinchilla it's best to go with the largest you can afford.

Cages should be cleaned at least once a week. Cages should be fully cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year. You will often find many breeders will do do their cages as often as once a month. When doing a full clean you should be sure to rinse the cage thoroughly to avoid any residue and ensure the safety of your chinchilla.

Providing things for your chinchilla to chew on is very important. Bedding and Toys Never use cedar bedding as it can make them ill. Pine is the best choice. Chew toys are a necessity. Give them wooden chew blocks or Calcium sticks to chew on.

Bathing -
When bathing your chinchilla NEVER use water. Chinchillas bathe in dust made from volcanic ash. Chinchillas should be dusted at least once a week, but as often as 3 times if needed. You can purchase dust at a pet store or through a breeder/supplier. We use and recommend Blue Cloud. **We DO NOT in any way recommend scented dusts** There are several options for containers you can use for dusting your chinchilla. Dust Bath houses can be found at most pet stores. You can use anything from a shoe box to an adorable chinchilla shaped ceramic house. Dust should not be left inside the cage for more than 10 minutes. If left it will often be peed in, in which case it should be thrown out and new dust used. Dust can be reused as long as it has not been peed in.

Health - There are few ailments that chinchillas are prone to, but they are out there. If you are concerned with the current behavior of you chinchilla it is best to have a mentor you can call in such cases. Veterinarians often do not have as much knowledge as an experienced breeder. If you do not have a mentor you can ask breeders on forums (such as the ones listed in the 'links' section with a *) if you can contact them should the need occur. It would be rare any breeder would deny this request.
**Disclaimer - Forums are not an immediate solution for your chinchilla, it may take several hours to recieve a reply. If you feel your chinchilla is at serious risk contact an Exotics Veterinarian.

Handling your Chinchilla -
All chinchillas have their own personality. You can have two chins who have been handled since birth, one will come right up to the door for a scratch while the other will scurry away and bark. When you first bring your chinchilla into a new home it is best to give them some time to adjust to their new surroundings. The time it takes a chin to adjust will vary from one chinchilla to the next, so this may take time and patience. When holding your chinchilla it is best to hold them by the base of their tail (Never the tip) This allows you to hold your chinchilla without harming them as well as keeping a secure grip.