Greenwood Chinchillas
Ideal Temperatures
For Chinchillas
Chinchillas naturally do not deal with heat well, they come from high altitude regions and are more used to cold dry climates rather than that which the experience in the UK. The cooler it is for chins the better. The lower the temperature the more active they generally are.
A chinchillas native environment is a cool, dry region (the constant temperature is 50°F to 55°F), they do not tolerate heat or humidity well and become extremely stressed by temperatures higher than 80°F. An ideal temperature for your chinchilla is 60°F to 70°F with a humidity level of 40% to 60%.
Chinchillas do not sweat like we do - so can not cool down easily or quickly and are VERY susceptible to heatstroke - hot rooms will kill your chinchilla! so before hot weather starts always be prepared. There are many ways that you can help to avoid this situation occurring.
Ensure the cage is placed out of direct draughts that can cause a chill and also away from direct sunlight that can cause overheating in otherwise normal temperature rooms. There are a wide range of techniques for keeping your chinchilla cool, an air con is the most effective but many different options are available.
So long as a chinchillas water bottle is not frozen, it generally cannot be too cold for them and they are most comfortable in lower temperatures, though expectant mothers and young babies do need slightly warmer temperatures than this. Once the kits are dry and the chance of a chill is past, then the temperature can be lower.
Healthy chinchillas can handle temperatures around 80-88F (26.6C - 31C), for short periods of time - but it is not recommended to allow them to reach this type of level, 22 Celsius being the highest recommended. Older animals or animals with denser fur will suffer at lower temperatures.
When weather is warming up ensure that your chins have a constant supply of water, you can part freeze a bottle of water over night and then top it up in the morning before putting it on the cage.
Signs of overheating:
rapid or shallow breathing
tongue and gums bright red
bright red ears with blood vessels engorged
thick, stringy saliva
rectal temperature 103 degrees F or above
rapid pulse/heart beat greater than 125
lying on their side, and not responding to movement close by
In severe cases, the chin may lose consciousness and could be limp and floppy, and sometimes bloody, diarrhoea.
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