Fur Slip Chinchillas often lose patches of fur when roughly handled. Another common cause is fighting among the chinchillas. This condition does not injure the pet but ruins the pelt of animals raised for fur. Barbering / Fur Chewing Barbering is the condition where a chinchilla chews on its own or anothers fur resulting in a rough, moth-eaten appearing coat. Some of the underlying causes of this behavior include boredom, dirty fur, dietary imbalances and hereditary factors. This condition is a serious problem in the pelt industry. Providing the animals with chew toys as well as selective breeding often aid in decreasing the incidence within a colony. Housing Chinchillas must be kept in an area that is well lit, adequately ventilated, and cool & dry. They do not tolerate heat or humidity, and they thrive at lower temperatures. The optimal temperature is 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Wire mesh cages are typically used for chinchillas, with or without a solid floor. Glass aquariums or plastic containers can be used, but with caution due to their poor ventilation. If these containers are used, watch for the development of scruffy fur as an indication of impending problems. Wooden cages should not be used since chinchillas are noted gnawers. These animals tend to be very active and acrobatic, thus requiring a lot of space. An ideal enclosure would measure at least 6ft X 6ft X 3ft with a one foot square nest box. Dust baths should be provided at least once or twice weekly. These must be large and deep enough to allow the chinchilla to roll over in it. Finely powdered volcanic ash is used to keep the fur clean and well groomed. Several brands of 'chinchilla dust' are marketed. A home-made alternative consists of 9 parts of silver sand to 1 part of Fuller's earth. This bath should only be provided for a short time during the day, otherwise there would be a perpetual dust cloud in the cage. You may have one of these problems listed, therefore I presented some guidelines I give to people who buy chinchillas in the pet store I work at. I hope this helps, however if your chinchilla has red lesions along with the hair loss it may have ringworm, and should be checked out by your vet. The common treatment he would give is griseofulvin. Good luck.

Chinchillas can also chew their fur when they're very upset/nervous. If you recently got your chinchilla, it is most likely just adjusting to its new environment and this behavior will not last long.