I just accidentally saw this sight, but as I read the post I thought maybe I should tell what I know about Chinchillas.
They make wonderful pets, no smell..beautiful creatures, little aliens...but...they are expensive to have...the cost of a cage alone should be about $200 or it will be too small. Many wood toys..a hammock..jumping wooden shelves. The bigger the cage the better. The usual size is about 30"x18"x4' that is feet high. I owned a chin, I loved her..but she was lonely..and I gave her to a rescue and she now lives cuddled with another chin. They have to live in no higher temperature that 75 degrees...you have to know that each hair folicle has 60 hairs growing out of one..they get over heated easily and die. They need a chin chiller..that is a marble square they can sit on if they over heat. They can only eat certain food and it is better to buy it on line rather than a petstore, as they usually do not have the quality a chin needs. Their teeth grow during their whole life, so you have to buy wood that is specally treated..never cedar anything the oil in cedar will kill the chin. They chew wood...so if they are out the baseboards will be chewed..they need much attention. They do get lonely, but they do not like to be held, they are NOT cuddly. They need out time and watched like you would a child, so they do not get themselves in trouble, like chewing a cord, or squeezing into a tight place that they can't get out from. I read where one person said she will pay to "ship" a chin!!! They do NOT "ship" a chin..if anyone would...well I cant imagine anyone doing that. So if you can't afford to buy a chin...chances are you can't afford to have one..as I said they are expensive. Dust baths..toys..all the things they need and the specail food. They cannot eat any sugar..they can have one raisin a day for a treat, or a cherrios..not the sugar kind. They really are not meant for small children. I hear this sweet 11 year old wanting a chin..but I think she needs to read everything she can beofre she persues this adventure, it could end up not good for the chin. They have only been domesticated for 80 years as opposed to dogs that have been for thousands of years..so they are not real tame...they need allot of work and time...and patience..more of that than anything else, they scare easily and one loud nose, or yelling can damage their personality permenately. Just do all the homework required and know that a chinchilla is a wonderful pet for that person who has the money and time to put into that kind of pet. There is nothing like a Chinchilla..but make sure you know what you are doing first. Plus finding a vet that takes care of chin's can be hard, and expensive..more than a regular vet.
The best place to learn about Chinchilla is a site called "Lucky's Wonder Of Chinchillas"..there are people there that can answer everything you need to know, and they are very nice..they will help you with anything you need.
Jacque