In my experience, a chinchilla should have a cage 16 inches by 2 feet with two or more levels (they love to jump)like a ferret cage. The bars should not be spaced more than one inch apart. For babies I suggest a small bird cage or aquarium as the babies become more explorative because they can squeeze through the gaps in bigger cages.
I am allergic to most woods and plants, so the bedding that I prefer to use is Aspen wood shavings that you can buy at your local Petco. However, you can use others such as pine. Do not use cedar or other aromatic scents because they are harmful to a chinchillas' respiratory system.
Chinchillas love dried fruits; apple, bananna, and papaya. They llike it all, but what I find they really love are raisins and dried cranberries. Don't feed your chin too much treat though. Just like a human, if he eats too much candy, your pet will become overweight and unhealthy. The one treat you can (and should) give them an unlimited supply of is "Timothy Hay". They eat this to keep their teeth from growing too long..
Do not bathe your chin in the bath tub. As a matter of fact, don't even get them wet if you can avoid it. Chinchillas bathe in chinchilla dust that you can buy at Petco. They do this to remove the moisture from their fur. They need a bath at least once a week, but it is best to provide it every other day.
Chinchillas must be kept in a dry room with plenty of sunlight at a temperature at or below 75 degrees fahrenheit,because of their fur. Chins have no way of cooling themselves, so we must keep it cool for them.
You should pick your chinchilla up by the base of his tail, and then move him quickly to your arms or lap. if you cannot trust your chin to stay with you, you may hold his tail so he doesn't escape.
It is very difficult to tell if your chin is pregnant or not, but some of the signs of pregnancy are: weight gain (obviously), less activity, and laying in strange positions. If you suspect that your chin is pregnant, refrain from handling her too often and weigh her weekly to see if there is any weight gain. DO NOT pick her up by the tail or you might accidentally abort the babies. When Mom has the babies remove Dad and place the babies and Mom in a cage with smaller gaps between the bars, like a bird cage or an aquarium.
Chinchillas usally come in litters of two, but they can come in litters as large as five or as small as one. If you have a litter larger than two, the chances are good that one of them will be a runt. If you have a runt, you MUST NOT handle him untill he is stronger as moms are a little rough with theyr babies after being handeld by humans. I find it is very helpful if you remove the stronger siblings from the cage for a few minutes so the runt can eat without being bullied buy the two bigger ones. Chinchillas come out of their mom with their eyes open and walking. They are very cute and lovable but need lots of Mom's attention. So if you are lucky enough to get one out you must not keep him out too long.