How Do You Pick up a Chinchilla? [Guide]

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  • To pick up your chinchilla, the best way is to firmly grasp them by the base of their tail and then use a hand under their body for them to stand on
  • As you get more experienced, you’ll be able to just scoop them up with both hands, and they’ll be comfortable just standing on your hands basically
  • One thing to watch out for- because they have floating rib cages you don’t want to grab them roughly in their midsection as you risk causing a break
  • Watch the video below to see how it’s done:

It’s essential to know how to pick up a chinchilla and what they like. To start with, they are typically most active in the morning but can be active all day long. Chinchillas live on average twelve years and should be fed a diet of hay and alfalfa pellets, along with fruits and vegetables that have been cut into small pieces for easier digestion.

Which is the Easiest Way to Pick Up a Chinchilla?

How To pick Up A Chinchilla

The easiest way to pick up a chinchilla is by placing its front paws over your shoulder with one hand under its belly area. With the other hand, gently pet its back until it relaxes. Another good thing is to lay the animal on its back and gently rub its stomach and chest area with your hand.

Tips for Picking Up a Chinchilla

1. A chinchilla’s teeth are very delicate, so it may cause them to break if picked up too roughly. This problem can be easily fixed with surgery and other medical procedures. Still, it can also be avoided by not being picked up too roughly and not having their teeth break on the cage bars as a result of being picked up too roughly.

2. A great way to pick up a chinchilla is by putting the animal on its back and gently rubbing its stomach and chest area with your hand. This can be done by laying the animal down with its back toward you so that your hand can easily reach its tummy area.

3. If a chinchilla is very scared, it will most likely make a sharp peeping sound (learn about chinchilla sounds here) as if to say “stop.” They may even turn around to show their tummy if it’s not being petted.

4. A chinchilla’s back teeth grow frequently, and they sometimes cut them on their cage bars. If a chinchilla is being eaten somewhat roughly or roughly held, it will make a sharp peeping sound as if to say “stop.” They may even turn around to show their tummy if it’s not being petted.

5. Some chinchillas will like to be picked up in the belly area with one hand under their belly paws while you rub their back with the other hand. Begin by placing your hands under a chinchilla’s front paws, then pick them up and place them on your shoulders so that you can reach its tummy area more easily.

6. To pick up a chinchilla, place its front paws over your shoulder with one hand under its belly area. A child can easily do this. With the other hand, gently pet its back until it relaxes. Another good thing is to lay the animal on its back and gently rub its stomach and chest area with your hand.

7. Before picking up a chinchilla, ensure that you have removed any wires or items that could harm it from its cages. A chinchilla’s back teeth grow frequently, and they sometimes cut them on their cage bars. After picking up your chinchilla, you need to ensure that you have no objects in the cage that could be harmed.

8. At picking up, a chinchilla will also like to have its feet and ears played with. They also enjoy the water and can be given a bath from time to time, but this should not be done often. As their fur is their main heat source, it is best to avoid putting them in too hot of temperatures or within direct sunlight for an extended period.

9. Once you hold a chinchilla, avoid using any amount of strength around the front and back legs in case you accidentally hurt it. Also, hold its paws tight enough so that it does not fall or jump away from you but lightly enough that there is no pain.

Things to Avoid When Picking Up a Chinchilla

  1. A chinchilla should not be picked up by its tail. Do not help it onto your shoulder either.
  2. Do not keep a chinchilla in a cage in direct sunlight because this may cause burns to the bottom of its feet.
  3. Do not hold a chinchilla around the front or back legs for an extended amount of time as this may cause bone problems.
  4. Do not pick up a chinchilla in a cage. Put the cage in another room instead.
  5. Do not pick them up by their ears, as this may cause pain and injury to the ear or even lead to an infection if it is being held for too long of a period. If a chinchilla’s ear starts bleeding or looks very red, immediately take it to the vet.
  6. Be careful when picking up a chinchilla. Please do not pick them up from the side or from the back of their body to lessen the chances of injury as they try to walk away. They may develop muscle problems if you pick them up like this all the time, and it can cause joint problems if picked up by the back all the time due to lack of exercise.
  7. Do not try to help a chinchilla onto your shoulders, such as carrying them around like a baby and putting them down when they want down, as this can cause problems to their back and muscle areas. It is best to let a chinchilla walk down from your hand to the floor in a controlled manner.

What Do Chinchillas Eat?

A chinchilla’s diet should consist of alfalfa pellets and hay. If a chinchilla’s diet meets these needs, it will grow to its full potential. For a chinchilla to receive all of the nutrients it needs, it must also have fresh water available every day. Always monitor chinchilla poop to keep an eye out for health problems- and spot if your chinchilla may be dying.

What happens if I fail to pick up my chinchilla?

If you fail to pick up your chinchilla, it may become harmed. This is because a chinchilla gets very scared and can do things such as breaking its cage or doing other things that could harm itself while it’s being picked up. If this happens, your chinchilla may need costly vet bills or even be put to sleep. This is why it is so important to pick up your chinchilla.

Conclusion

A chinchilla is a very playful and energetic animal who loves to be petted and will even like you to hold it. They are very similar to a cat in ways that they enjoy the attention and can be pushy with wanting help if they want onto your shoulder. They can be rambunctious, so care should be taken when handling them if something terrible happens.

elena coolidge picture

Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge, and this is my site. Chinchillas are so cute and such intelligent animals that make great pets. They’ve become the subject of fascination for many animal lovers who enjoy their antics. I blog about their care, where to buy them, breeders, and more. Shoot me an email if you have a question!

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