I think your "usual" price for a white chinchilla is a bit excessive unless it comes with a cage - breeders near me charge from £40 for coloured chinchillas (including whites), and less for standards.

Older chinchillas from rescues are a lot cheaper.

chinchillas can be very skitty and sometimes just dont like being handled id say either rat or pair of ferrets if the intetion is something cuddly and friendly.

Hello,

I've got a couple of chins and love them dearly (although I'm about to start a thread about them!)

I would say though that chinchillas are definitely high maintenance pets!
Mine have their own room as otherwise, as somebody has mentioned before, they destroy everything!
Of all things, they can jump! They're not restricted to the floor and therefore their path of destruction is immense! It's no good putting your favourite books on the third shelf from the bottom as they will still get there! The fourth probably too!

I've also got guinea pigs and find they are much easier to look after in every way! They're very cute little beasts too, not nocturnal and they speak! They're fab :-)

How is your story developing?
:-)

All the best

Teaspoon

Hi -thought a couple of pages I have found might help. Here is a pet chinchilla page. I have also seen article on chinchillas as pets which may answer some questions for you. They are low maintenance but only compared to some other pets, but obviously chinchillas are still a huge committment.

Good luck!

As the OP asked the question back in December last year, I am sure the decision has been made by now.