Their preferred habitats are burrows or rock crevices. They also inhabit barren, arid areas of mountains at elevations of 3,000 – 5,000 metres. Moreover, chinchillas are strictly herbivores and feed primarily on seeds and grass, they also eat a variety of other vegetation and plant matter. While eating, chinchillas sit upright on their hind legs and hold the food in their front paws.

In the wild, Chinchillas live in social groups called herds which contain around 100 individuals. These animals are primarily nocturnal animals with activity peaking at dusk and dawn. During the day they rest in holes and crevices among rocks, emerging at dusk to forage through the night.

Also, chinchillas make a variety of vocalizations, including chirps, squeaks and barks. They use these sounds to express themselves, from a calm, loving chirp given to a potential mate to a loud, aggressive bark when threatened. They are very clean creatures.