How we pick our products
Welcome to our big chinchilla cage test 2023. Here we present all the chinchilla cages we have tested. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
With this we want to make your purchase decision easier and help you to find the best chinchilla cage for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. Furthermore, you will find some important information on this page that you should pay attention to if you want to buy a chinchilla cage.
Summary
- Rodent cages suitable for keeping chinchillas can be found online, in pet shops and in DIY stores. If you want to buy a used cage, you can also find one online.
- You have the choice between wooden cages and cages made of plastic with a metal grid. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. Which cage is right for you depends on the number of small rodents, your personal taste and, of course, your budget.
- Basically, chinchillas are active animals that need more space than hamsters and guinea pigs, for example. A sufficiently large enclosure is therefore very important for happy and balanced chinchillas.
The Best Chinchilla Cage: Our Choices
Guide: What to look for when buying a chinchilla cage
How big should a chinchilla cage be?
These cute rodents are herd animals. They should be kept in groups of at least two, but larger groups are even better. For two chinchillas, a cage volume of at least 3 m³ is recommended, for each additional animal 0.5 m³ should be planned.
Some cages come with small perches and mezzanines from which the animals like to enjoy the view. However, with a little manual skill, such boards can also be easily attached yourself.
What material should the chinchilla cage be made of?
However, you should be aware of the impact of your decision before you buy.
Where can I buy a used chinchilla cage?
In this case, however, you should make sure that the cage is in good overall condition and especially that the wood is not splintered or damaged in any other way, so as not to endanger your animals.
You should also make sure that you can transport the rodent cage: It is easy to misjudge the dimensions and not consider that such an enclosure can quickly become larger than a cupboard. So it’s better to measure before you make long journeys for nothing.
How can I build a chinchilla cage myself?
If you are handy and want to extend or even build the chinchilla enclosure yourself, you should definitely use untreated hardwood, as other types of wood carry too high a risk of splintering. Particularly popular types of wood are:
- Beech
- Birch
- Oak
- Elm
You can find building instructions for your DIY cage on the internet. As soon as the cage is higher than 1 m, it should have a mezzanine. This protects the animals from falling.
What does a chinchilla cage cost?
This is especially true for low-quality plastic parts or poorly made doors, which also cause additional trouble when cleaning the cage.
You can buy new wooden cages from around €150 online, but they are a little more expensive if you buy them locally. Second-hand cages are often available for as little as €100. However, please bear in mind that the cost of transport for collecting the cage should be added to the purchase price.
| Material | Price range |
|---|---|
| Metal (new) | 45-130€ |
| Wood (new) | 150-250€ |
| Wood (used) | 100-180€ |
Especially with individually designed enclosures made of wood, the price range is open to the top. With three floors, the price can quickly exceed €350, and prices of up to €600 are not uncommon.
Decision: What types of chinchilla cages are there and which is the right one for you?
Basically we distinguish between these types of chinchilla cages:
- Wooden cages
- Metal and plastic cages
In the following, we explain the different types and their advantages and disadvantages. With this we want to help you to find the most suitable chinchilla cage for you.
Wooden cages
If you attach great importance to keeping your chinchillas in a species-appropriate way, this is the best choice for you. Wooden cages are also visually appealing. It is important that only natural and unpainted wood is used so that your animals cannot ingest any toxic substances by nibbling.
This nibbling instinct is also the reason why the cage should always be made of sturdy materials. Chipboard can easily fall victim to the nibbling instinct and is therefore not suitable for building a chinchilla cage.
A great advantage of wooden aviaries is their stability. The lively animals like to climb and explore their small animal villa and romp around. A sufficient floor space and stable walls are therefore indispensable.
To make the cage easier to clean, the bottom should be fitted with either a waterproof insert or a plastic drawer. Otherwise, you risk soaking the wood with liquids such as urine, which will cause unpleasant odours in the short term and shorten the life of your cage in the long term.
Metal and plastic cages
These cages usually consist of a plastic base and a metal grid top. In contrast to wood, they are much easier to clean. In addition, they are usually cheaper and easier to transport. With such a cage, you should be aware that the plastic can become porous over time.
It is therefore best to check regularly whether parts have broken off, crumbled or been nibbled on. It is also important that the bars are the right distance apart. For chinchillas, this should not be more than 1.5-2 cm. If the bars are larger, there is a risk of injury to your rodents!
Many cages that are offered in the trade as chinchilla cages are actually much too small for species-appropriate keeping. In case of doubt, it is better to choose a larger and more spacious cage.
Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate chinchilla cages
If you are about to buy a new chinchilla enclosure, you can evaluate and compare the cages based on these features:
- Material
- Size of the cage
- Number of tiers
- Equipment
Below you can read what each criterion is about and find out why it makes sense for you to buy a model based on the criteria or not.
Material: wood or metal?
The decision between wood and metal is based on two choices: How much money can and do I want to invest in a cage?
How high are my visual and aesthetic demands on a cage? For models made of metal or plastic, you have to invest considerably less money, but the individual design options are limited.
Enclosures made of wood, on the other hand, represent a larger investment. On the other hand, wooden enclosures are a larger investment, but they are also a beautiful, elegant eye-catcher in the house that exudes cosiness. Wooden aviaries are also stable and durable with good workmanship and care.
Size of the cage
For chinchillas to be happy, they need plenty of space to live out their urge to move around. How big your cage should be depends on the number of inhabitants. In any case, calculate with at least 0.5 m² per animal and a height of at least 1.2 m, 1.5 m is better.
If you are deciding between different sizes, it is better to choose the larger model. Your little friends will thank you for it!
Number of tiers
Most metal cages have two levels, some can be supplemented with intermediate levels.
Wooden aviaries often have four or more levels, making them particularly suitable if more than two animals are to be housed there. They usually have large doors, making it easier to clean the cage.
Here, too, the basic rule is: as far as possible, more than 3 levels should be made available to the animals, as chinchillas like to climb.
Equipment
Whether you choose a solid wooden cage or a plastic cage with metal bars depends on your personal taste. Cheaper models often look expensive because they are only equipped with the most necessary features.
Subsequently installed mezzanines, a sleeping house and toys may result in additional expenses if these important utensils are not included in the scope of delivery.
Facts worth knowing about the topic chinchilla cage
What should you pay attention to when cleaning?
The floor of a chinchilla cage is usually lined with bedding. To prevent germs from forming, this should be completely changed at least once a week. Especially damp areas should be changed generously every day. This also applies to the inside of the sleeping house, as impurities from faeces or urine often accumulate here.
The bathing sand should also be completely changed at least once a week so as not to jeopardise the animals’ coat cleaning.
For the cage walls, the outer cleaning of the sleeping house and the other interior furnishings of the cage, such as the toys, monthly cleaning is sufficient.
For sick animals, it is advisable to change bedding and bathing sand daily – especially if they suffer from contagious diseases.
Regular cleaning is important to give your chinchillas a clean, quality life and to support their health and well-being.
With the following table we would like to give you a cleaning schedule for your little animals:
| Cleaning interval | Where? What? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| at least 1x per week | Litter | The floor of a chinchilla cage is usually lined with litter. To prevent germs from forming, this should be completely changed at least once a week. Especially damp areas should be changed generously every day. This also applies to the inside of the sleeping house, as this is often where dirt accumulates from faeces or urine. |
| at least 1x a week | bathing sand | The bathing sand should also be completely replaced at least once a week so as not to jeopardise the animals’ coat cleaning. |
| 1x per month | Walls, interior furnishings | For the cage walls, the exterior cleaning of the sleeping house and the other interior furnishings of the cage, such as the toys, monthly cleaning is sufficient. |
| 1x a month | floors and walls | Once a month it is recommended to thoroughly wash the seat boards, the cage floor and the inner walls with vinegar water and thus disinfect them. |
No special cleaning agents are needed to clean the cage, warm water is quite sufficient. Once a month, it is recommended to thoroughly wash the seat boards, the cage floor and the inner walls with vinegar water and thus disinfect them.
What belongs in a chinchilla cage?
Chinchillas love to nibble, and often the furnishings of their cage are not spared. Therefore, you should make sure that the entire furnishing of your cage is made of natural materials in order not to endanger the health of the rodents. This equipment should not be missing in any cage:
- Chinchilla house: it serves mainly as a sleeping place, but also as a retreat for the animals. It is important that it is large enough and located in a quiet corner of the cage. It should be at least 30 x 20 x 20 cm.
- Food bowl and water dispenser: Here, utensils made of ceramic or clay are clearly preferable to those made of plastic, which is not least due to the need for nibbling already described. Nipple drinkers are particularly suitable for a sufficient supply of water, as they protect the water from contamination.
- Sand bath: For the care of their soft fur and to relieve stress, the clean animals need a special bathing sand. Under no circumstances should coarse bird sand be used instead, as this damages the coat.
- Litter: Wooden litter, also known as small animal litter, is recommended. With other products, such as cat litter, there is a risk that the chinchillas will mistake it for food. Chinchillas are very hygienic animals, so the litter should be changed at least once a week.
- Toys: Again, natural materials such as untreated wood or clay are great for toys and for building sleeping houses, etc. Plastic, on the other hand, poses a danger to the little ones. Plastic, on the other hand, is a danger for the small rodents and does not belong in the cage.
Where should the chinchilla cage be placed?
Chinchillas are after-active animals. Their cage should therefore be placed so that it is not disturbed by active people or disturbs their sleep with their own activities. Living rooms or study rooms are therefore perfect. These small rodents have very sensitive lungs.
Smoking near them should therefore be taboo. Chinchillas are also sensitive to noise. Their enclosure should therefore not be placed directly next to a TV or any other source of noise.
At least one side of the cage should also be against a wall, as chinchillas get nervous easily if you can walk all the way around the cage. This also avoids draughts, which can quickly make the little rodents ill.
It is also important that they are safe from larger pets such as dogs and cats and that their cage cannot be opened by small children. Due to their cuddly fur, chinchillas invite cuddling, but are usually not suitable for this.
Picture source: 123rf.com / 96571577
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