A light tan chinchillaTo properly quarantine an animal it must be placed in a separate cage without other chinchillas. This cage should be placed in a separate room in the home. This room should NOT contain any other chinchillas. The chinchilla should stay in this cage and room for a full thirty days. Anytime chinchillas are handled, hands should be washed thoroughly and clothing changed before visiting other chinchillas. This goes both ways. Once the 30 days have passed, the introductions can begin.
Another use for quarantine is to separate a chinchilla that has become ill from any others in the home to prevent the spread of the illness.
During quarantine, the new chinchilla can slowly become adjusted to its new home and family. Time can be taken to slowly switch it over to the type of food that is being used to feed the other chins in the home. Additionally, quarantine gives the owner time to learn what is normal behavior for the new chinchilla.