Other Sites for Solid Chinchilla Information:

https://www.sunsetchinchillas.com/ : Tara is located in Texas, and has been invaluable to me as a mentor, as a sounding board, and as someone who loves science and animal husbandry. Great location for color information and even chinchilla genetics! She has health, husbandry, and care information.

https://rdzcchinchillas.weebly.com/ : Located in Washington State, Tabitha has been breeding chinchillas since 2001 and is a trusted resource for health and behavior, plus my go-to for physiology with chinchillas.

https://royalchinchillas.com/ : Shahna is located in the Sierra Foothills of California, and is the gold standard for chinchilla information, care, husbandry, etc. She is a trainee judge, and another breeder I consider a mentor and I am both sad and glad to be on the opposite end of the country from her. Glad, because I would happily purchase entirely too many chinchillas from her, sad because she has many amazing ideas, products, and even a new, excellent chinchilla feed!

https://www.acesupchinchillas.com/: Narcissus is located in Idaho, is a certified judge, and on my short list of mentors to call when I need advice. She has been in chinchillas for years, and while her site needs a bit of an update, she is amazing to learn from!

https://letslovechinchillas.weebly.com/ : Amber is located in Central California, has been in the chinchilla world for years, is the chinchilla coordinator for Cali_FID (link below), and one of the folks I lean on for emergency information, husbandry, and training. She also owns Chinnie Boutique (link under vendors).

https://www.tiffanyschinchillas.com/ also known as the Carolina Chinchilla Ranch, Tiffany is a certified judge, long-time breeder, and provides solid information on chinchillas. Yet another person I lean on when I need chinchilla help.

Looking for a Chinchilla Outside of New England?

Most of the large-scale ranchers are gone now, leaving a bit of a breeder “desert” in some areas of the country, but some breeders ship, some can help arrange ground transport, and sometimes have large loops where it’s possible to meet them to pick up your chinchilla(s).

To find a registered breeder for Empress Chinchilla Breeder’s Cooperative, check this page: https://www.empresschinchilla.org/ecbc-breeder-directory

To find a registered breeder for Mutation Chinchilla Breeder’s Association, check this page: https://www.mutationchinchillas.com/breeder-directory.html

I am not listed for MCBA as of yet, as I need to pay for that.

Looking for a Shelter?

If you are looking to adopt from a shelter outside of New England, or looking for help, Little Pals has begun to put together a nation-wide directory for rescues and shelters. It is by no means complete or comprehensive, but it is an excellent jumping-off point!

https://www.littlepalspets.com/pages/rescue-network

https://www.califidparrotandexotic.com/ Is located in Modesto, California. They are a 501(c)(3) that handles chinchillas and other exotics in the greater Central California Area.

Do You Want to be Entertained?

If you are looking to be amused by chinchilla antics, I highly recommend the following:

Chinchilla-Safe Vendors

The following is a list of vendors I use and/or know personally. You can rest assured that these sites will provide safe items for your chinchilla to consume, chew, or hang out on/in!

• https://mycritterstore.com/ has a full compliment of items for your chinchilla, including chews, fleece items, wooden shelves, and chinchilla care information.

• https://www.chinnieboutique.com/ is my go-to for fleece items! Hammocks, bonding bags, cuddle cups, chin buddies, and emergency cones that fit chinchillas. Amber helps to ensure that every chinchilla I send to a new home takes their hammock with them.

• https://www.tiffanyschinchillas.com/ has fleece items, food, dust, wooden shelves, chews, and even some goodies for humans.

• https://www.pandamoniumpets.com/ carries all the accoutrements you could ever wish for your chinchilla! Treats, hammocks, houses, chew toys, subscription boxes, metal cage trays, hats for chinchillas, and even goodies for humans.

How did we get chinchillas as pets?

Sunset Chinchillas has an excellent, and thorough write up on how the Long-tailed Chinchilla wound up in the United States: https://www.sunsetchinchillas.com/MFChapmanChinchillaHistory.shtml