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Long-tailed chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera

Also known as Chinchilla

Mammals › Rodents (Rodentia) › Chinchillidae (Chinchillas and viscachas)

Chinchillas are active, acrobatic rodents from the high Andes with incredibly dense fur. They overheat easily and need dust baths instead of water baths.

Pet trade

Experience: Easy

Long-tailed chinchilla — Photo: Trurl66, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Trurl66, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Weight14–25 oz

Lifespan10–15+ years

ActiveNight and dusk

DietHerbivore

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.

Lifespan typical captive	4–15 years Pet-rodent table; not maximum longevity	291
Adult body mass male	400–500 g	291
Adult body mass female	400–600 g	291
Diet	Grass hay is the main diet; supplement with species-specific pellets.	125
Air temperature adapted range	65–80 °F Source describes adapted range, NOT a recommended upper setpoint; heat risk rises with humidity	125
Dust bath frequency	2–3 per week Remove dirty dust after short sessions	125

Warnings

Federal legal status: Federal restrictions apply. See the federal legal snapshot and check your state rules before getting one.

Care guide

Housing

Tall, multi-level wire cage; UK welfare guidance cited here recommends at least 2 × 2 × 1 m (about 6.5 × 6.5 × 3.3 ft), much larger than typical pet-store cages. Wheels must be at least 15 in (38 cm) across to protect the spine.

Sources 34

Diet

Mostly hay, plus chinchilla pellets; domesticated chinchillas eat hay, alfalfa and commercial pellets.

Sources 89 34

Health

Heatstroke is a real danger in summer; keep them under 77°F (25°C).

Sources 34

Show the group care guide for chinchillas and viscachas

Group care guide

Chinchillas and viscachas

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: High Andes and pampas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

The checked veterinary source concerns pet chinchillas; viscacha housing and diet still require separate evidence.

Housing & setup

Tall, multi-level wire cages with solid shelves; cool rooms (below about 75 °F).
Dust baths several times a week, never water baths.

Sources 125 34

Diet

Grass hay, chinchilla pellets and very limited treats.

Sources 125 34

Health watch

Pet chinchillas are heat-sensitive; risk also depends on humidity. Fur-slip and dental disease require appropriate handling and diet.

Sources 125 34

Understanding the animal

In the wild

Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹²³

Where it lives	Arid, rugged slopes of north-central Chile's transverse mountain ranges, documented at roughly 400–1,650 m. It shelters among rocks and within large Puya bromeliads amid sparse thorn scrub and grasses.
Ground it lives on	Rocky or sandy slopes with crevices, sparse shrubs and bromeliad cover.
Climate	Semiarid conditions with a prolonged October–April dry season and most rainfall in May–August. A verified numerical wild temperature or relative-humidity range was not found in the species monograph.
Active	Primarily nocturnal with crepuscular peaks; active throughout the year.
Social life	Lives in colonies, often around 100 animals; individual aggression can still occur.
Wild diet	Herbs and grasses from up to 24 plant species, prominently Nassella chilensis and Stipa plumosa; succulents become important in summer.
Behavior to plan for	Moves across rocks with rapid jumps and uses sheltered crevices. Dust-bathing maintains its exceptionally dense fur.

What this means for care

Provide stable jumping ledges and several enclosed retreats.
Offer suitable chinchilla dust baths and dry bedding.
Use fibrous plant-based feeding rather than rich fruit-heavy diets.
Keep compatible companions with room to separate; colony living does not guarantee compatibility.

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 83°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 33°F (down to 15°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	48–64°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	58–72% on average (driest month about 56%)
Rainfall	about 670 mm a year
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 33°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 29 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

Chinchilla lanigera is currently restricted in the wild to the mountains of northern Chile. Domesticated individuals can live substantially longer than the roughly 10-year lifespan reported for wild animals.

Keeper tips

Provide access to secure hiding or denning spaces because wild chinchillas use rock crevices and holes.
Keep in mind that the species comes from barren, arid mountain habitat rather than humid forest.
Account for the animal's extremely dense and soft fur when evaluating its physical condition.
Females are naturally larger than males, so some sex-related size difference is normal.

Behaviors reported

Dens in crevices and holes among rocks.

Unique adaptations

Extremely dense, soft fur, with as many as 60 hairs growing from one follicle.
Large external ears.
Large black eyes with vertically split pupils.
Both forefeet and hindfeet have four digits with stiff bristles surrounding weak claws.

Remarkable facts

The species is currently found only in the mountains of northern Chile.
Females may weigh up to about 800 grams, while males weigh about 500 grams.
Head-and-body length is about 225 to 380 millimeters, with a tail averaging 75 to 150 millimeters.
Wild lifespan is roughly 10 years, while some domesticated chinchillas have lived for more than 20 years.
Young are precocial, being fully furred and having their eyes open at birth.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger), also called the Chilean, coastal, common, or lesser chinchilla, is one of two species of rodent from the genus Chinchilla: the other species being C. chinchilla. Both species are endangered in the wild after historically being hunted for their soft hair coats. Domestic breeds of chinchilla are believed to descend from specimens of C. lanigera. Domestic chinchillas come in three types: la plata, costina, and raton. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Chinchilla lanigera is found in the barren, arid areas of mountains at elevations of 3,000-5,000 meters. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	Long-tailed chinchillas are primarily folivorous, feeding on many types of vegetation, but primarily on grass and seeds. — Animal Diversity Web
Behavior	Female chinchillas are the dominant sex and are very aggresive toward one another and toward males during estrus. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	Female chinchillas are mostly monogamous. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Chinchilla lanigera has a head and body length of 225-380 mm, and a tail averaging 75-150 mm. — Animal Diversity Web
Conservation	IUCN lists Chinchilla lanigera as vulnerable. — Animal Diversity Web

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.

Chinchilla (group)

Researched for this genus; applies to its species unless a species note says otherwise.

Grass hay is the principal food, with suitable chinchilla pellets rather than an energy-dense mixed ration.¹
Caecotrophy is part of normal feeding physiology. Biological fact.¹
RSPCA describes cool, dry, well-ventilated housing and gives 10–18°C as its preferred indoor-air range. A multi-source numerical optimum was not established here. Confidence: LOW.²
Provide suitable jumping/resting structures, nest boxes, and hiding places.²
Offer suitable clean chinchilla dust and remove or clean the bath after use to limit soiling.²

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Lifespan in care

Average of sources10–17.5years

Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service 3410–15

Animal Diversity Web 8910–20

Room temperature

Reported50–68°F

Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service 3450–68

Heat stress begins around 78°F (26°C).

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported20years

AnAge 16217.2

Myhrvold et al. 16320

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources19.9oz

AnAge 16222.7

Myhrvold et al. 16317.1

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Litter size

Average of sources1.9young

AnAge 1622

Myhrvold et al. 1631.7

Average per litter or clutch.

Gestation

Average of sources112days

AnAge 162111

Myhrvold et al. 163112

Female maturity

Average of sources7.9months

AnAge 1627.9

Myhrvold et al. 1637.9

Veterinary & husbandry research

Reproductive performance and weaning success in fur-chewing chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) Galeano MG et al., Reproductive biology 2014
Urinalysis in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) Doss GA et al., Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2016
Update on Diseases in Chinchillas: 2013-2019 Martel A et al., The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice 2020
Survey of Hymenolepis spp. in pet rodents in Italy d'Ovidio D et al., Parasitology research 2015

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 41 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

Federal restrictions apply

CITES Appendix I. Appendix I: commercial international trade in wild-caught animals is banned; international movement needs both import and export permits. Buying captive-bred animals within the U.S. isn't restricted by CITES (other federal or state laws may apply). Domesticated chinchillas (the pet form) are excluded from CITES, so this applies to wild chinchillas only. 173 186
USDA Animal Welfare Act. Keeping a pet for yourself doesn't need a federal license. Dealers (including many breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen) and exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) generally need a USDA license and inspections; some small-scale breeders and retail sellers are exempt. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Warm-blooded animals not covered elsewhere (Subpart F). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Facilities must be structurally sound and strong enough for the species, with reliable power and water, protected food storage and proper waste disposal. §3.125
Indoors: temperature regulated to protect from extremes, adequate ventilation without drafts, and lighting suited to the species that protects animals from excessive light. §3.126
Outdoors: shade from overheating sun, shelter suited to the local climate, and drainage. Animals must be acclimated before facing climate extremes. §3.127
Outdoor facilities need a perimeter fence at least 8 ft high for potentially dangerous animals (large cats, bears, wolves, rhinoceros, elephants) and 6 ft for others, at least 3 ft from the enclosure, unless USDA approves otherwise. §3.127
Space must allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Poor condition, stress or abnormal behavior can show the space is inadequate. §3.128
Food must be wholesome, palatable and of enough quantity and nutritive value for the species, age and condition, fed at least once a day except during hibernation, normal fasts or veterinary treatment. §3.129
Water must be available as often as needed for health and comfort, in clean receptacles. §3.130
Animals sharing an enclosure must be compatible, and must not be housed near animals that interfere with their health or cause them discomfort. §3.133
There is no general enrichment rule for this subpart; enrichment requirements apply to primates, birds and (exercise) dogs. §3.128

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity
Reviewed by Clint's Reptiles
Covered by one of our in-depth care sheets
211 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Clint's Reptiles review

Clint Laidlaw reviews this animal in his "The Best Pet?" series: Chinchilla, The Best Pet Mammal?. He scores handleability, care, hardiness, availability and upfront cost, and explains the reasons behind each score.

Watch Clint's review →

Sources for this sheet

Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service: Chinchilla care Zoo, university or veterinaryVet-school exotics hospital factsheet, reviewed 2021–2024.
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Chinchilla lanigera Zoo, university or veterinaryUniversity-hosted species account, mostly wild biology.
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat) Zoo, university or veterinaryThe official database of species listed under CITES.
USFWS International Affairs: CITES Zoo, university or veterinaryFederal agency that issues CITES permits.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Chinchillas Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Clint's Reptiles (YouTube): Chinchilla, The Best Pet Mammal? Expert educator & keeperClint Laidlaw, PhD in Biology Education and MS in Evolutionary Ecology; owner of Clint's Reptile Room and a longtime keeper. His "Best Pet?" series reviews each species' care in depth.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.