I'm a new chinchilla owner too. well.. kinda. I'm getting mine on Tuesday. But I have been acting like a squirrel hording all the stuff I need for the new arrival. I bought books, I printed Care sheets. I even visited some people who owned some. The cages are fairly large as I understand.
A minimum for a cage is.. 30 wide but 18 deep but 30 tall.
From my understanding Chinchilla's like to be higher up.
I have also heard that plastic is a really bad thing for chinchilla's to eat. It can really mess them up badly. However, some people have their chinchilla's in plastic cages and they never have touched the plastic I guess.
But by preference, I stay way from plastic in fear that one day the chinchilla might decide.. "Hey Plastic is delicious"
I got my Cage from a small hole in the wall pet shop.(
Their Website) A breeder sent me there its called Family Pets & Aquariums its in Nashua New Hampshire in New England. I'm not sure if they ship but if you give them a call and ask. They have a guy who they call to build them. He might?
My cage is 30 wide 18 deep and 36 tall. and it cost me 175.00. That included the wooden shelves that were installed, the shields for poop flingers and a special cut doors. Also the smaller size holes in the wall of the cage. (The prevents their feet getting cought as babies or adults) Oh! it has a pull out pan too.
I can take a picture if you like? The guy did a great job!