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Anonymous
They are very shy animals, but they will warm up to you once they get used to their new surroundings. It is recommended that they have a lot of time out of their cage, but you will have to chinchilla-proof your house (the same as rabbit-proofing). I had one growing up, they are very fun and endearing but they have certain quirks - they are noisy at night, and will kick their poops out of the cage.
They need regular dust baths, but they don't get pests on them since their coat is so dense. They love raisins, but it's easy to make a chinchilla sick or obese on treats, so moderation is necessary.
You will need a cage that is either multi-level or large enough for a very large wheel (chinchilla wheels have a radius of about a foot and have very large, heavy bases). When their prey instincts to run are triggered, this gives them a great outlet to get out their energy without running away from you.
Use paper bedding like carefresh or aspen, no pine or cedar. And of course, food that is meant for chinchillas, and timothy hay.
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