Guinea pigs and chinchillas are both from the rodent family. This means that they share similar characteristics and behavior which characterizes them in that family which is a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws.

For instance, they both need to chew constantly so as to grind down their teeth. Their teeth are constantly growing and so the only way they keep them trim is to grind them down by chewing things. Otherwise, they get both painful for both guinea pigs and chinchillas.

They are also both prey animals so they are always on the lookout for danger. This is what has helped preserve them over the centuries and means they are here today.

Both species also hail from South America from the Andes region.

Both species make great pets and their popularity as such has increased throughout the world. Indeed some owners have both species as pets.

So although they share that characteristics, this is about where it ends in the similarities between these two species.

What are chinchillas like?

Chinchillas very much prefer to be with their own kind. They like their own space and do not share easily with other different species.

They are a social herd though and live in colonies when they are in the wild. But they can be kept on their own as well and are perfectly happy being on their own. They enjoy their independence.

If they have been together since birth and have grown up together then it is good to keep them together.

If you have a chinchilla that is timid and submissive then it is much better to keep them on their own rather than put them with an aggressive chinchilla.

Can guinea pigs and chinchillas live together?