I have heard a lot of horror stories about chinchillas purchased from pet stores, and to be fair, I have seen some pretty narley pet stores. Some that are noteworthy include one in Ohio where chinchillas and reptiles alike were crammed in together like abandoned play things in a storage closet. They were lined up in small aquariums ( not good for chinchillas as they can and WILL overheat).

Horror stories aside, the Pet Smart  on  Traders Way takes very good care of their chinchillas and other pets. Their chinchillas are in a large play area with shelves to climb on and plently of space to run around. The bedding is changed daily and they even have an in house chinchilla expert.  Susan, who is a manager at the store, is dedicated enough to check for hair rings on a male chinchillas penis and ones several herself. They do get a ding for plastic toys and wheels, but being honest and realistic I avoid plastic pieces whenever possible but we all know that these items are sold and that they are not ideal and could be potentially harmful if a chinchilla injests large amounts of plastic. Actually if anything injects too much plastic it is harful. So keep in mind giving your dog those flavored plastic chew bones is also not great for their digestive system. 

Susan their in house chinchilla expert actually started a chinchilla rescue a while back and is very knowledgeable about breeding, feeding, cleaning and all things chin. She also explained some very important breeding facts--like mixing 2 white chinchillas is lethal and a major no no. It results in death of the fetus and can kill the mother since chinchillas do not miscarriage the fetus, they reabsorb it which is very hard on their bodies. Susan has been a huge help and a trusted resource.

The Petsmart I go to also carries both standards and color mutations. You can pick up a mosaic or a Ebony for around $150-$160, not exactly cheap, but they are very healthy, good sized, high quality chinchillas from a local breeder.  Remember when purchasing a chinchilla from a local breeder or a petstore to get a healthy chin. Do NOT go for the runts or a less active chin, and check their eyes. If they seem to have mucus in their eyes or nose or  their eyes or nose appears to be "runny" it could be a sign of illness and a sign that you should not purchase that chinchilla. I also make sure they have a healthy coat and healthy teet. Most petstores and good breeders will have a policy to exchange an unhealthy chin within a certain time period. Save your adoption record in a safe place.