Chinchilla Rodents for sale in Downham Market, Norfolk

The chinchilla is a crepuscular rodent native to the rocky mountain slopes of the Andes in South America, belonging to the family Chinchillidae. There are two living species: the Short-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla) and the Long-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera), the latter being the species almost universally kept as a pet. Wild populations are listed as endangered, but domestic chinchillas have been bred in captivity since the early 20th century and are now widely available from reputable breeders across the UK. They are sometimes informally called Chins.

Chinchillas are noted above all for their extraordinarily soft, dense fur — each hair follicle produces between 60 and 80 individual hairs, compared to a single hair in most mammals — which made them the target of intensive trapping during the 19th century. As pets they are active, playful, and curious animals that bond well with patient, gentle owners, though they are not ideally suited to young children due to their speed, fragility, and dislike of rough handling. They require a large, multi-level cage, regular dust baths using specialist volcanic dust to maintain coat condition, and a diet based on high-quality chinchilla pellets and unlimited timothy hay. Chinchillas are long-lived for a small rodent, with well-cared-for individuals commonly reaching fifteen to twenty years of age.