• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Planet Chinchilla

The World's Number 1 Resource For Chinchilla Owners

  • Home
  • Behavior
  • Chinchilla Care
  • Diet And Nutrition
  • Habitat
You are here: Home / Chinchilla Care

How Big Do Chinchillas Get? (Shocking Details)

Last updated February 3, 2023 By Josh 2 Comments

How Big Do Chinchillas GetChinchillas are tiny rodents.

But if you’ve looked at various photos of them online, you’ve probably noticed a considerable size difference from one chin to the next.

There is a reason for that.

You see, there are two different types of chinchillas.

And one grows much bigger than the other

How big does each type of chinchilla grow exactly?

Keep reading to learn just how big a chinchilla gets, along with other vital information about chinchilla growth.

Contents

  • 1 How Big Do Chinchillas Get?
    • 1.1 Chinchilla Growth Chart
  • 2 Full-Grown Chinchilla Size Difference
    • 2.1 How Long Does It Take A Chinchilla To Be Fully Grown?
  • 3 Baby Chinchilla Sizing And Growth
    • 3.1 What Changes As Chinchillas Grow?
    • 3.2 Provide Adequate Space For Your Chinchilla As It Grows
    • 3.3 Keeping Tabs On Your Chinchilla’s Growth
  • 4 How Big Chinchillas Get: Final Thoughts

 

How Big Do Chinchillas Get?

Full-grown long-tailed chinchillas reach 9 to 15 inches in length and weight from 0.8 tp 1.1 pounds. Short-tailed chinchillas are larger, reaching lengths of 11 to 19 inches and weighting between 2 and 3.2 pounds.

large chinchilla on shoulder of model

 

Chinchilla Growth Chart

This table puts the above average size and weight information in an easier-to-read format.

Type of ChinchillaAverage LengthAverage Weight
Short-Tailed Chinchilla11 - 19 Inches2 - 3.2 lbs.
Long-Tailed Chinchilla9 - 15 Inches0.9 - 1.1 lbs.

In addition to explaining how big chinchillas get, I also wanted to answer other frequently asked questions about chinchilla growth and how big you can ultimately expect a chinchilla to grow.

This information will help you provide the best care possible to your chinchilla.

 

Full-Grown Chinchilla Size Difference

Chinchillas do not get very big and make for fantastic pets, no matter the type. But as you can see from the table above, there is a considerable size difference between short and long-tailed chinchillas.

Short-tailed chinchillas are typically about ½ a pound heavier than your long-tailed chinchillas and a few inches longer.

It’s rare that a chinchilla exceeds the sizes and weights given above. If yours does, it’s likely that it is overweight and you may need to make a diet change to ensure your chinchilla is consuming the correct nutrients and growing properly.

My chinchilla is just a tad under 1 pound and is fully grown at 5 years old, if this helps give you a better idea of what you are working with.

The fur on a chinchilla can also cause them to appear larger than they really are.

It is one of the reasons people sometimes mishandle chinchillas thinking they are larger, but in reality, their dense fur is soft, and under that fur is a small framed rodent.

 

How Long Does It Take A Chinchilla To Be Fully Grown?

big chinchillas in small cage

Chinchillas mature and grow quickly. A chinchilla is considered full-grown at 8-months old. Some chinchillas may be slightly delayed on this timeline based on diet and the care they are provided.

Overall, within 1 year of owning a new chinchilla, it should be at max size and as big as it will grow.

 

Baby Chinchilla Sizing And Growth

Man, those baby chinchillas are about as cute as it gets. Although small and fragile, they are something to show off to friends a family.

A baby chinchilla is much smaller than a full-grown chinchilla. In general, a baby chinchilla will weigh approximately 25 to 80 grams.

Most of this seems to be from their beautiful and full coats of fur. Throughout the first 8 months, they will continue to grow until they reach their mature body size.

During this time, it is important that you provide them all of the correct nutrients and a balanced diet to ensure they grow and mature properly.

This means they should get nutrients from their mother in the beginning and then slowly transition to pellets and hay.

 

What Changes As Chinchillas Grow?

growing baby chinchillas

Overall, not much changes as your chinchilla grows and matures. Except in the beginning.

In the early stages, a baby chinchilla still needs to remain with its mother for 6 to 8 weeks. You can read more about chinchilla breeding and reproduction here.

The female chinchilla nurtures her baby chinchillas, also known as “kits”, and ensures they nurse and get the nutrients and care they need for roughly 2 months.

Following this stage, your chinchilla will transition to a regular diet consisting of pellets and timothy hay as mentioned previously.

Once it has switched to this diet, it remains the recommended diet for the rest of its lifespan, which can range from 15 to 20 years.

 

Provide Adequate Space For Your Chinchilla As It Grows

Now that we know how big a chinchilla gets, how do we make sure they are adequately cared for? The first thing you must do is ensure you are proving a large enough chinchilla cage.

I have a post that you can see here that breaks this down for you in-depth.

I personally am an advocate of the Critter Nation 2 chinchilla cage.

It has dual levels, plenty of space, and allows your chinchilla to maximize its desire to jump and climb on everything. It’s undoubtedly an awesome chinchilla cages to consider.

Outside of this, you need to ensure you keep your chinchilla’s diet in check. Make sure you stick with the recommended chinchilla hay and only use pellets designed explicitly for chinchillas.

 

Keeping Tabs On Your Chinchilla’s Growth

measuring growing chinchilla

Keeping tabs on your chinchilla’s growth is something that’s recommended, and that should be completed. Luckily, scales exist that are designed to help you weigh your chinchilla.

Use a scale like this digital pet scale from Greater Goods:

Greater Goods Digital Pet Scale
Greater Goods Digital Pet Scale
$54.88 $49.88
View on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/22/2023 03:56 pm GMT

Doing so lets you spot fluctuations and potential issues early, before an illness or issue has time to progress further.

A chinchilla becoming overweight or underweight is a real concern to take seriously. Weighing your chinchilla every month or two lets you understand if you have an issue on your hands that you need to deal with.

Simply double-checking makes sure your pet’s weight stays within a reasonable range and you are in great shape. If you do notice any issue, contact a vet as soon as possible, so you can find the root of the problem.

 

How Big Chinchillas Get: Final Thoughts

I know you arrived here initially for a quick and straightforward answer as to how big a chinchilla will ultimately get.

Hopefully, you got that answer, along with additional insight on what you can expect as your chinchilla grows.

They are friendly and extremely affectionate pets. Take ethical care of them, and they will undoubtedly love you back.

Chili and I wish you the best of luck with your chinchilla’s and the journey you have ahead of you.

Now let’s hear from you.

As always, I want you to chime in and share your insights and knowledge on a topic.

How big did your chinchilla grow?

What other precautions do you take to keep your chinchilla’s growth and weight in check?

What other information can you provide on this topic?

Be sure to share your thoughts, concerns, and stories by dropping a comment below.

As always, Chili and I appreciate you stopping by and reading. We will see you next time!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark Zazubec says

    November 22, 2019 at 12:06

    It saddens me to say. I just lost my Charlie. I have a lower level part of the house that Charlie would run around in That was a safe area. Well we have these small cubby doors that lead to the underside of the house that contain the sunk pump. In the 2 years we’ve lived there they have never been opened and they are very hard to open. Well somehow they ended up opened while he was at play and he drowned in the sunk pump. I am beyond hard broken. Been crying for 2 days. Needless to say I just bought Charlotte today. She’s white with beige tones and is very pretty. So I am starting the bond process with her.

    Reply
    • Josh Martin says

      November 22, 2019 at 22:20

      I am so sorry to hear that. Chinchilla proofing can often be more challenging then we think. Chinchillas are clever with their ways to get into odd spaces. Again, very sorry to hear this happened and I wish you the best of luck with Charlotte!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Can Chinchillas Eat Popcorn

Can Chinchillas Eat Popcorn? (What You Need To Know)

Can Chinchillas Eat Spinach

Can Chinchillas Eat Spinach? (What You Need To Know)

Can Chinchillas Eat Carrots

Can Chinchillas Eat Carrots? (What You Need To Know)

Do Chinchillas Need A Wheel

Do Chinchillas Need A Wheel? (What You Need To Know)

Can Chinchillas Eat Bell Peppers

Can Chinchillas Eat Bell Peppers? (What You Need To Know)

Chinchilla Sneezing

Chinchilla Sneezing (What It Means & What You Need To Do)

Footer

Important Pages

  • Home
  • About Planet Chinchilla
  • About Josh Martin
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Careers
  • Chinchilla Care E Book

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Search

Disclaimer

Nothing on this site constitutes official chinchilla medical advice. We are chinchilla owners, not professionals. Please consult a licensed veterinarian for medical advice.

Disclosure

Planet Chinchilla is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 · Planet Chinchilla · All rights reserved.