How Much Does a Chinchilla Cost?

Last Updated on December 10, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Fluffy balls of gray fur, with cute rounded ears and big dark eyes – chinchillas get the hearts of many potential pet owners. Their endearing looks and playful personalities make them popular small pets. However, few people realize all the costs and care needs involved with keeping chinchillas.

Let’s dive into a complete background on what it takes to own one of these energetic critters. Read on to learn if a chinchilla is the right small animal friend for you!

How Much Does a Chinchilla Cost?

The upfront cost of buying a chinchilla varies greatly. Standard pet chinchillas with gray fur often range from $75-$150. More unique color variants like ebony, beige, and violet can cost up to $400! Shelters or rescues sometimes have chinchillas for under $100. Consider adopting one in need of a good home to save money.

The coloration of a chinchilla will usually influence its price the most:

Coloration	Average Cost
Black Velvet	$125
Light Tan	$150
Dark Tan	$195
Dark Ebony (Hetero Ebony)	$195
Medium Ebony (Heter Ebony)	$155
Beige Violet (Homo)	$195
Light Ebony (Hetero Ebony)	$125
Black Velvet with black back	$125 to $160
Chocolate White	$175
Dark Ebony White	$195
Charcoal	$100 to $125
Silver Mosaic	$125
Solid Ebony Violet	$195
Homo Beige	$150
Light Tan White	$150
Standard	$75
Pink White	$150
Hetero Beige	$125
Medium Tan	$175
Medium Tan White	$150
Beige Violet (Hetero)	$195
Extra Dark (Homo) Ebony White	$215
Gray	$75 to $125
Chocolate	$195
Dark Tan White	$175
Extra Dark Ebony (Homo Ebony)	$245
Solid Wraparound Violet	$195
Light Ebony White	$150
Violet (Homo Violet)	$175
White Mosaic	$125
Brown Velvet	$175
Afro-violet	$125 to $160
Show or breeding quality	$400 to $12,000

Chinchilla Expert notes that typically, pet stores charge $150 or more for a standard gray chinchilla, and more for colored chinchillas. They go on to say that breeder prices can vary widely based on location, color, and rarity.

Quality Cage has an article talking about chinchillas costing anywhere from $150 to $1,000.

No matter where you get one, inspect any chinchilla closely before purchase. Look for signs of illness including:

• Skin irritation or hair loss
• Limping or sore feet
• Too much shedding
• Shaking or appearing nervous
• Reluctance to move around

Any of those should send you in for a vet exam for your chinchilla. Also, know that breeders rarely sell adult chinchillas – babies bond better with new owners. Still, even young chins have distinct personalities! Spend time interacting with any potential pet to ensure its friendliness fits your home.

Buying a Chinchilla or Two

In the wild, these rodents live in large social groups. Pet chinchillas strongly prefer having a bonded companion as well. Most chinchilla owners start with two for this reason, but some get one chin first. If going the latter route, introduce a second within a few weeks. Solo chinchillas often grow depressed or anxious. They may even turn aggressive to new additions if waiting too long to add a friend!

When bringing home chinchillas, arrange transports carefully around their temperature sensitivity too. Overheating poses a serious risk so avoid hot vehicles or rooms to keep yours comfortable and safe.

Habitat and Accessory Costs Add Up

Owning chinchillas requires investing in suitable housing for them. These energetic hoppers need multi-level metal cages, preferably around 3 feet high and wide. Expect to spend $100 or more on an appropriate chin habitat. You’ll also need accessories like:

• Hide houses or tunnels: $15+
• Food and water bowls: $15+
• Chew sticks and chew toys: $20+
• Comfy hammock: $20+
• Dust house and dust: $15+
• Wheel for exercise: $100+

Shop around online and in stores to find suitable chinchilla gear within your budget. Provide enough space and items to keep them stimulated and content.

Vet Care and Medical Costs

Thankfully healthy chinchillas don’t need much veterinary care. Still, budget for an annual wellness exam just like dogs and cats. Basic yearly checkups cost about $50-75 per chin. Bloodwork and other tests may add costs if issues pop up.

You might also like our articles about the cost of a kinkajou, capybara, or finger monkey.

Spaying or neutering generally costs between $150 and $250. Doing so prevents breeding and calms a chin’s temperament in its later years. Whether to alter your pet depends on your intended purpose for it. While young, chinchillas tolerate surgery well. Discuss the pros and cons with your exotic vet.

Beyond scheduled procedures, chinchillas tend to resist diseases. With proper care, they’ll stay fairly healthy and only need emergency treatment on rare occasions. Still, know where an experienced exotics vet is located so if an emergency requires medical help you can get prompt care. Common issues seen include:

• Broken teeth or overgrown molars
• Cuts or foot infections
• Heat stroke
• Fur chewing or ringworm
• Gastrointestinal stasis or bloating

Treatment costs quickly exceed $500 and often reach $1000+ in these cases. Consider insuring your chinchilla, budgeting about $250 yearly. This gives a buffer for surprise vet trips!

Dietary Needs and Food Costs

Chinchillas eat a relatively limited, specialized diet compared to other pets. They require high-quality chinchilla pellets to provide complete nutrition without excess fat or calories.

Timothy hay should also be a large portion of their menu. This fibrous roughage promotes good digestion and dental health.

A pair of chins eats about 2 pounds of pellets monthly, costing just $5-$10. Timothy hay costs another $5 or so. Beyond those staples, offer small amounts of fresh vegetables and botanical hay for variety.

Dried rose hips, pine cones, and twigs also supplement their diets well. Treats are fine too but give those sparingly to prevent obesity.

Provide food in heavy ceramic and stainless steel bowls. Chins love tossing bowls and will chew through plastics! Expect to pay $15-$25 to prepare their cage properly. Then budget $10-$15 monthly to replenish pellets and hay.

Cage Setup and Habitat Maintenance

As previously mentioned, chinchillas need roomy habitats with multiple platforms to climb and play. Their enclosures require special attention to temperature too – ideal coolness falls below 75°F. Place their cage away from direct sunlight and run A/C freely during hot months. A cooling stone tile within their habitat also helps.

Fleece bedding makes an ideal cage lining since chins will snack on loose substrates. Spot clean debris daily and replace liners completely each week. This prevents dampness and ammonia build up which could lead to illness. Provide dust houses for chins to take cleansing dust baths as well. They roll vigorously in volcanic dust several times weekly!

Altogether expect to spend 30+ minutes daily refreshing food and water, removing poops, and playing with your pets. Semi-weekly full cage clean ups take another hour. It’s not extensive care but does require consistency!

Handling and Bonding With Chinchillas

While chinchillas bond strongly with their owners, they enjoy cuddling sessions. Attempting to grab and squeeze them stresses the chin and destroys trust! Instead, focus on supervised play times and interacting gently near their cage. Let them approach first before scooping up, then cradle near your chest rather than grasping tightly.

Move slowly and avoid sudden loud noises too, which can startle them. Chins who feel safe climbing into your hand for treats will eventually hop onto your shoulder or lap for pets while roaming. Building this bond requires patience over pressure though!

In addition to individual play times, chins need daily exercise opportunities outside their cage. Chin-proof an entire room or hallway by removing electrical cords and small objects, as they could gnaw or choke on. Open their habitat so they can go out and explore their surroundings. Always supervise their play of course! An hour of romping time satisfies their needs.

Cost of Owning a Chinchilla

Factoring expenses across chinchillas’ 10-20-year lifespans, you should budget:

• Initial cost to purchase: $100-$400
• Cage/accessories: $250+
• Annual food: $150+ per chin
• Annual paper bedding or litter: $150+
• Annual medical needs: $250+
• Additional cooling costs
• Exotic pet sitters for travel

Be sure you can accommodate ongoing care for the long term before adopting a chin. When properly set up though, most owners find them extremely rewarding companions! Their intelligence and lively antics provide endless entertainment.

Questions to Ask Before Getting a Chinchilla

1. Is my home’s temperature cool enough?
2. Can I “chin proof” an exercise room for safety?
3. Do I have regular time to play/interact daily?
4. Am I prepared if my pet needs expensive surgery?
5. Who will care for them if I take extended trips?

If those concerns don’t scare you, a furry chinchilla friend might be the perfect pet for you! Just be sure to find an exotic veterinarian nearby to support your new pal’s wellness too. Those fluent in chin care help your pet live their longest, healthiest life.

Bringing Home Your Chinchilla Safely

When adoption day finally comes, arrange safe and direct transport for your new chin straight home. Ask the breeder or shelter staff for your pet’s current diet and habitat details for an easier transition too. Examine your chin first to confirm its health before heading home as well.

Set up housing in a quiet, tranquil space before their arrival. Place the chin gently into its new habitat right away. Offer favorite treats and chew sticks to soothe it during this stressful change. Sit quietly nearby and speak softly as they sniff out their new domain. Allow a few days for adjustment to your home’s new sights and sounds.

Be ready to separate chins when issues pop up. Even bonded pairs may nip or chase while reestablishing dominance in a new cage. Provide hide boxes, one per chin, so each has its own retreat space if needed temporarily. Openly aggressive fighting requires permanent separation though. Again, adding chins simultaneously prevents these woes.

First Year Care Recommendations

During a chin’s first year or when bringing home any new arrival, stay vigilant to changes signaling illness. Subtle symptoms often appear well before obvious lethargy or appetite changes happen. Catching issues early makes treatment more straightforward for exotic vets too.

• Look at poop quality and urine changes
• Track exact food and water intake
• Track weight weekly with kitchen scales
• Note any behavior differences
• Watch teeth/jaw alignment when chewing

Record metrics to establish baselines for each pet. Comparison helps assess wellness over time much more easily. Noticing early oddities prevents major concerns down the road!

First Year Supplies Cost Estimates

Tallying up all the gear needed those first 12 months, expect approximately:

• Purchase price/adoption fee: $100-$400
• Spacious cage: $100
• Accessories like dust house, hammocks, hides: $100
• Several food bowls, water bottles: $50
• Collar/leash pair for walks: $20
• Food costs: $150+
• Timothy hay: $50+
• Vitamin supplement mixes: $20
• Annual wellness exam, tests: $100+
• Spay/neuter if chosen: $150-250

Grand total is around $900+ per chin depending on your particular supplies. Pricey, but worth it for 10-20 years with these fantastic critters!

Final Words

Costs aside, the number one consideration before adopting chinchillas focuses on their long-term welfare. These fragile exotics need knowledgeable care and specific environments to live a healthy, happy life. Educate yourself extensively on their needs before taking one home.

When properly housed though, chins stun new owners with their intelligence, activity levels, and playful antics alike. Their fluffy soft fur and hops make them exceptionally loveable too.

Those committed to meeting chins’ needs get rewarded with wonderful small pets overflowing with personality. Just be honest if you lack the time, budget, or interest to fully care for an exotic like a chinchilla long term. Finding great homes matches pets needing quality care with ideal owners – benefitting all.