The day to day cost involved in keeping a chinchilla is very little however there is a larger initial cost.
First off is the cost of the chinchilla, which can vary widely depending on where you live and where you get the chinchilla from, and what color you choose.
Typically pet stores charge $150 or more for a standard gray chinchilla; usually more for colored chins if they even sell them. Breeder prices can vary widely based on location, color, and rarity. Breeders often times also take pedigree or fur quality into consideration when pricing the chinchillas, so a show quality chinchilla (or one that comes from show champ parents) may cost more than a non-show line chinchilla. Rescues often adopt chins out at lesser fees than breeders, and sometimes even include a cage which can greatly reduce your start up costs-do realize that rescues do not give away chinchillas for free and the adoption fee helps cover food and any vet visits and care while at the rescue. You can also sometimes find chinchillas in local classifieds, with or without a cage for usually less than the cost from a pet store and sometimes the price may be able to be negotiated.
Besides the chinchilla itself, the cage is the most expensive item needed. A good quality sturdy cage may cost even more than the chinchilla. To cut costs, you can look for a used cage in good condition; just make sure to thoroughly clean it before use. Never sacrifice quality for cost! Also factor in any modifications the cage may need-new pans, wood shelves, or higher sides to keep litter in. A cage already appropriate for a chinchilla or two costs about $230 new.
Every chinchilla should have a hide house of some sort. How many tunnels, hammocks, or other cage accessories you buy are up to you. The more toys the better!
As mentioned above, the continuing cost of owning a chinchilla is relatively low. Food, hay, dust, and litter cost about $30 per month. Chew toys and wooden shelves will need to be replaced over time. It is hard to predict how often you will need new toys as some chins chew more than others and it will also depend on what type of chew toys you purchase; I’ve had some last a year and others last a few hours.
Veterinarians can be expensive so it is a good idea to have a vet fund especially should an emergency come up; vet visits are not cheap! Veterinary costs vary widely on location but I’d expect $50 min for regular visit (I’m in the midwest) and at least $100 to walk in the door of an emergency clinic. Tests and procedures can add up quickly. Chinchillas are prey animals so they hide their illness. Once it is noticeable, it has often progressed. The good news is that chinchillas do not require annual vaccinations or even routine visits.
Costs broken down:
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- chinchilla $150+
-
- cage (new) $230
-
- accessories/toys $100
-
- bag of food & hay $15
-
- container of dust $10
-
- bag of litter $5-15 depending on kind
total start up costs $510+
on-going costs (food, hay, dust, toys, litter) about $40-50 per month
I would recommend a vet fund of $500 minimum but ideally $1000+
** Note these figures are approximations of the cost of owning 1 chinchilla and may differ depending on your location.**
Ideas for keeping costs down:
- Buy bulk hay, if stored properly hay will last about a year. If you know someone who has horses, see if they can get you part of a bale, it will be much cheaper than the pet store. Beware of buying a full bale, that is a huge amount of hay.
- I buy one bag of dust a year direct from Chilldust.
Updated 1/2022
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Agreed
Same for me I’ve been wondering how much it would cost to have one of those little bundles of joy and hopefully my parents will get me one for Christmas or my birthday!
Yeah I really want one for my birthday too! They are SOOO cute and fluffy
I have a chinchilla im selling i have 2 bundles or hay and bedding all for 300$
Yes. Very awesome information.
Tu
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This is BRILLIANT!
I would really like a chinchilla
I’m thinking about getting one soon
Im selling one comes with 2 bundles of hay and bedding for 300
Do you still got the chinchilla?
Me to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do too but I am only eleven and can’t afford to get an animal like that and I know they are great animals because I hade one when I was three he passed away just after my dad passed please cross your fingers that I will be able to afford one soon??????
I am 13 and have saved up enough money to buy one, and I am getting one this summer!!!
I would really like one for myself
Me too
SAME
A guinie pig is just as great as them maybe start off with one of them I have three
I have 2 Chinchillas. I e had them since 8 weeks old. They are so loving and social. They come right to me as soon as I walk to their cage and when I open it, they crawl right up to my neck and cuddle. My advice is to try and get one as a baby this way you can handle it everyday to get it used to you.
Lies! They’re evil wicked demonic gremlins hiding behind masks of cuteness wrapped in miniature Chinchilla fur coats!
A pet rock in a mini Chinchilla fur coat would be a 20× more decent pet!!!!
I want one so much I can’t even put into words this helped so much thanks.???????
I own 2 gray and white female and male that I’m trying to sale
I am trying to convince my parents to let me have a chinchilla and need to have an answer to all of their protests. I have found your article so useful.
What country? I would really like to buy the male one, how much?
I stay in texas i am selling one comes with 2 bundles of hay and and bedding for 300$
I will take one I have three and they are all grey
How much?
Do u still have one of them i would like on if u have one.
8how much and where at? Email me marycampbell24@yahoo.com
Why were you trying to sell them
How much
Do they cost
This article really helped me I couldn’t find anything about chinchilla costs and this broke it down very well…very helpful
I am glad you found it useful 🙂
CHINCHILLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cute chinchilla
Good quality chinchillas are not hard to find.
Go to “Empress Chinchillas” and click “Breeders”
I think your articles are brilliant they really help with finding out all about chinchillas and I am thinking about getting one.
my mom will get me one in 6 weeks if i did the research it helps sssssooooo ssooo much thank you
Can I have one because I have one its grey female and her name is Chile I want another one too ?
Can I get a chinchilla in Australia
Hi Kayla, I am not sure about the regulations in Australia.
These are very interesting facts thank you I am buying one on Tuesday
Thanks for the article! Everything looks great! However, I just wanted to point out that any bedding made out of pine or cedar should be avoided. Both can be sharp and may be painful to a Chinchilla’s feet and it can cause respiratory problems if it is too dusty. Pelleted or shredded paper bedding is best for bedding. Everything else looks great!
Cedar definitely should be avoided due to the phenols it releases which will cause respiratory problems. Pine is actually what most breeders use but you are correct in that some of the wood chips can be sharp. You can find small shavings that are not sharp. The small shavings actually move better with the chinchillas moving around and the wet stuff goes to the bottom, rather than being packed down as happens with larger shavings.
I would LOVE to have a chinchilla but i dont know which website to belive!!!!!
🙁 🙁
I really want a chinchilla, and my parents said they didn’t now because of the bills and stuff, and now that I know the price, my parents might get me one next summer when we move. Thanks for the great info!
Thanks for reading!
Hi, I really need help.
I want a Chin, but don’t have a air conditioner and my mom doesn’t want a AC.I live in Maine, and sometimes the heat in summer can get to 104°F.Can I keep:A fan, frozen water bottles, granite stones, and ice water for them and will it be OK?
I’ve always wanted one, but can’t get a AC, so…..
TIA,
(Reply ASAP! Please!)
No there is No substitute for AC at those temps.
I man I wanted one but you need air conditioning which really sucks ??????????
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To ensure that chinchilla
Becomes tame , is it best to have one or two?