what to feed chinchilla

What foods are safe for chinchillas?

“The only human foods that can be given to chinchillas are plain cereals like Cheerios and shredded wheat, or basic rolled oats,” says Bunk-Hatch. “They should never have fresh fruits, vegetables, or other human snacks." Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

What is the best food for chinchillas?

• 75% hay
• 20% feed (pellets) and mixtures of food
• 5% fruit and vegetables

What vegetables can a chinchilla eat?

What fruits and vegetables can chinchillas eat?

• Apple
• Carrots
• Sweet potato
• Kale
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Dandelion greens
• Celery
• Blueberries

More items...

Are chinchillas easy pets?

These cuddly creatures are frequently ignored as excellent pet options as some people might have misconceptions regarding how easy or difficult it is to keep them as pets. Chinchillas are easy to maintain as pets, and are suitable for beginners because they are low maintenance, easy to clean, and don’t require much space.

What human food can a chinchilla eat?

Chinchillas need around a tea spoon a day of fresh greens. Fruits are only to be given as treats as they are high in sugars. Chinchillas can eat small amounts of fruit such as: Apples....The following vegetables can up make the majority of a chinchillas' core diet:Carrot.Kale.Alfalfa.Celery.Potato.Sweet potatoes.Squash.

What should I not feed my chinchilla?

DO NOT FEED your chinchilla with the following: asparagus, avocado, peas, cabbage, corn, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, rhubarb and rhubarb leaves. Other dangerous foods are banana, sunflower seeds and peanuts.

How often should you feed a chinchilla?

twice a dayChinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. Similarly, pet chinchillas should be offered food twice a day but may consume food throughout the day, as they tend to eat more slowly than other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

Do chinchillas need veggies?

Treats (including fruits and veggies) are great for encouraging interaction between you and your pet, but they should only be given after daily foods have been eaten. Offering too many treats can cause your chinchilla to refuse his healthy, essential foods as well as put him at risk for illness.

How do I know if my chinchilla is happy?

A chilled chinchilla who has bonded with you will prefer you to sit on the floor and let them hop all over you, while they make little chattering sounds along with some excited tiny squeaks. Some may even enjoy a little snuggling. A really happy chinchilla will popcorn and bounce around excitedly all over the place.

Do chinchillas like to be held?

And, with gentle handling from a young age, most chinchillas can become quite tame and bond closely with their owners. But don't expect them to like being held and cuddled like many dogs and cats. They usually don't, though they'll often express their affection for you in other ways.

Should I free feed my chinchilla?

When feeding hay, it should be free fed. It can be placed in a hay rack, in a bowl, on the shelf, or in some sort of container. One good rule of thumb is to give the chinchilla a large handful of hay every day. If the chinchilla eats all of the hay, more hay is needed.

Can chinchillas eat carrots?

Overall, carrots and other vegetables and some fruit can be delicious treats for your chinchillas. As a general rule of thumb, dried versions of foods are better. If you want to give your chinchillas carrots, gradually introduce the new treat into their diet so that they don't get an upset stomach.

How many treats can I give my chinchilla?

In the long term, it's best to avoid highly sugary sweets, especially since your chin will enjoy other treats just the same. Remember, when it comes to treats your chinchilla should only get 1 treat per day, no matter how much they beg.

How often do chinchillas need dust baths?

– 4 times a weekOver-bathing can cause chinchillas' skin, feet, and ears to dry out, so it is important to limit bath-time to 2 – 4 times a week based on each individual chinchillas' needs. In very hot, humid weather or climates, chinchillas often need access to their dust baths closer to 4 times per week.

Do chinchillas eat their poop?

It houses the bacteria that breaks down cellulose, a large component of plants that is otherwise indigestible. The large intestine absorbs what it can but much of the nutrients now made available by fermentation are lost in feces. This is why chinchillas eat some of their poops!

How much hay should a chinchilla eat a day?

Additionally, chinchillas can be fed a small amount (1-2 tablespoons per day) of a commercially available pelleted diet formulated for chinchillas. "Alfalfa hay is too high in calcium and could result in development of calcium-containing bladder stones."

Can chinchillas have raw carrots?

As pets, chinchillas typically have access to more varieties of foods that are either scarce or nonexistent in their natural habitats. One of these foods is carrots. Although carrots don't naturally grow in the Andes, they are safe for chinchillas to eat in moderation.

Can chinchillas eat cheerios?

Cheerios are a popular, healthy breakfast cereal that many people enjoy, but can chinchillas eat this famous cereal? Yes, chinchillas can eat Cheerios, but they should only be given in moderation. Cheerios have a higher concentration of phosphorus than chinchillas need, so too much can cause a nutritional imbalance.

Can chinchillas eat strawberries?

In a nutshell, most chinchillas can have strawberries, but only sparingly. That is, maybe once in a while as a special treat. For the most part, though, it's better to avoid giving your chinchilla strawberries or any other kind of fruit to be on the safe side.

Can chinchillas eat bread?

While it's not a good idea to feed your chinchilla that much bread, toast is okay, provided that you only offer it as a treat. Moderation is key here. Dry and crunchy, an occasional morsel of toast can both keep your chinchilla's teeth in top form and settle their stomachs if they have diarrhea.

What are some good treats for chinchillas?

Common healthy treats for Chinchillas are Rose hips, non-frosted Shredded Wheaties, Old fashion rolled oats, Alfalfa hay, and an array of chinchilla safe herbs.

What do chinchillas chew on?

As a Chinchilla chews on their hay they grind their back molars together keeping them short and trimmed.

Why do chinchillas bloat?

Excess moisture in their food will lead to bloating. Bloating is a hazard because chinchillas can not relieve themselves of any gasses, meaning without intervention they can pass from buildup. Nuts + Seeds are high in fat. When a chinchilla is fed a diet high in fat they become prone to ailments like fatty liver disease.

Can you feed a rabbit pellet to a chinchilla?

If you can get these 3 things together, you'll have a healthy well-nourished chinchilla. A quality pellet can be made specifically for Chinchillas or you can choose to feed a high quality rabbit pellet. A lot of the pellet selections sold at the pet store are not "quality pellets". In fact, they're junk food riddled with fruit, nuts, fillers, ...

Can you use compressed hay for chinchillas?

Or you can purchase compressed hay cookies for your chinchilla. Choosing any of these will greatly reduce the amount of hay-dust in your home that may be affecting your allergies. Treats. While it can be nice to treat our pets, something important to understand is that it's mostly for us.

Do chinchillas need sugar?

Fruits + Vegetables contain a lot of natural sugar in their natural and dried forms. Pet chinchillas do not need this excess sugar. This excess sugar can resort in your Chinchilla becoming ill. Diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia are all risks when feeding a sugary diet.

Chinchilla food options

So, for a chinchilla to have healthy digestion and be free of illnesses like dental disease and digestion troubles, you need to choose the best chinchilla food that is healthy and appetizing. Some common options for food items that every pet chinchilla owner needs to keep their chinchilla safe and healthy are listed below.

Feeding amounts

Along with the quality of good that you feed your pet chinchilla, the quantity is just as important. The pets need chinchilla vitamins and nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, nicotinic acid, vitamin C, natural vitamin E, and many more through adequate nutritional content.

Make feeding fun

To make sure that your pet eats food properly, you need to make the feeding time fun. You can do this by understanding how a chinchilla behaves and using that to your advantage.

Treats

Now, let’s talk more about the healthy treats that you should feed these exotic animals. As you know, chinchillas are very sensitive animals, so you need to be very careful with what you feed them. They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion.

Hay supplementation

The diet that you choose to feed your chinchilla should mostly contain hay. Thankfully, nowadays, there is a variety of hay available so that you can choose the hay type that your chinchilla loves the most.

What fruits and vegetables can chinchillas eat?

Fresh vegetables and fruits can occasionally be fed to your chinchillas, but only some of the fruit and vegetables your chinchillas’ digestive system can bear. So here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your chinchillas.

What treats do chinchillas like

Keeping in mind that chinchillas can’t eat fatty food, there are some treats that they like that contain fat, but chinchillas love them.

How to keep chinchillas teeth healthy?

This roughage in hay helps keep chinchillas' teeth in good condition and the digestive system functioning properly. Feed as much good quality grass hay (orchard grass, Timothy-grass, etc.) as your chinchilla wants each day. Hay should be cleaned out and fed fresh on a daily basis to keep it from becoming soiled or moldy.

What do chinchillas eat?

Instead, feed your chinchilla quality chinchilla pellets supplemented with plenty of fresh grass hay.

How much protein is in a chinchilla diet?

Look for a pelleted, formulated diet specifically for chinchillas that is 16-20 percent protein, low in fat (2-5 percent), and high in fiber (15-35 percent).

How to keep chinchillas from getting dumped?

Try to be consistent with whatever you choose to do, as chinchillas like routine. A small food hopper or heavy ceramic dish is the best way to keep the food from getting dumped or soiled.

Can chinchillas eat corn?

Since corn is starchy and likely largely indigestible for chinchillas, whole corn should be avoided as a treat or the main part of a diet. Scientifically speaking, however, little is understood about the ideal chinchilla diet beyond the need for lots of roughage.

What Type of Pellets is Suitable for My Chinchilla?

Chinchillas live on a simple diet comprising of the best chinchilla hay and a small amount of 1-2 tablespoons of high-quality grass-based pellets.

What Treats Can I Feed My Chinchilla?

Chinchillas can eat carrots, raisins, and sultanas as treats but only in very small amounts!

Can Chinchillas Eat Grapes?

Grapes should be avoided as they contain too much water and can give your chinchilla diarrhea.

Can Chinchillas Eat Carrots?

Chinchillas can eat carrots but make sure they are chopped up into smaller pieces.

Can Chinchillas Eat Rabbit Food?

Chinchillas cannot consume food meant for rabbits, as the two animals have different dietary requirements. It is better not to give rabbit food pellets to your chinchillas.

Can Chinchillas Eat Guinea Pig Food

So, can a chinchilla eat guinea pig food too? Chinchillas cannot consume food meant for guinea pigs, as the two animals have different dietary requirements. It is better not to give rabbit food pellets to your chinchillas.

What Do Chinchillas Eat in the Wild?

WARNING: Do not feed your chinchilla foods that wild chinchillas might eat. Chinchillas’ diet is quite different and can result in making your pet seriously ill.

What is the least digestible ADF?

Fiber is made up of different components: cellulose, hemi-cellulose, and lignin – the lignin bit is the least digestible ADF. Chinchillas seem to do better (gut and tooth-wise) on a type of diet higher in ADF (acid detergent fiber). Timothy hay contains a minimum of 32% fiber of which @ 25.10% is ADF.

Why are chinchillas so good?

Optimal health of your chinchilla can only be achieved by being rich in fiber and low in fat. To extract as much goodness from their food as possible, a chinchilla will eat some of their droppings. This practice is called coprography.

What is the best food concentrate?

Chinchilla Pellets – The food of Choice. Chinchilla pellets are considered to be the best type of food concentrate, but they must be of good quality and fed fresh (within their best before date), otherwise the vitamin content may have deteriorated with age.

What is the least digestible fiber in hay?

There are two types of fiber found in feeds/hays etc…. ADF’s (acid detergent fiber) – are the least digestible – and found in the stems and stalks. NDF’s (neutral detergent fiber) is more digestible – and found in the leaves of grasses.

How many teeth do chinchillas have?

This tough, fibrous diet that chinchillas have evolved to deal with requires a pretty good set of teeth, and this is where rodents excel. Chinchillas have 20 teeth, all of which grow continuously throughout the chinchilla’s life.

What is the practice of chinchillas?

This practice is called coprography. Coprophagy helps to maintain the correct balance of intestinal flora within the gut, and also enables the chinchilla to absorb B Vitamins that are produced in the caecum (part of the gut). Chinchillas in the wild will eat a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses.

How to clean apple tree branches?

Apple Tree Twigs/Branches – should be cleaned in warm water. Once cleaned, the bark should be left on. You can give a twig or two daily, but branches will last a little longer. Chinchillas love to strip off and eat the bark, which provides an excellent fibrous treat that is good for the teeth. It closely resembles their natural diet too. Willow and hazel and other kinds of fruit tree wood (as long as the fruit DOES NOT contain stones) may also be given instead of apple wood. Hawthorn is relished too.

What is the recommended diet for chinchillas?

A chinchilla's diet should consist of 30% fibre, 14-16% protein, 35% carbohydrate, 3.5% fat and oil, 4% sugar, 6% minerals and 10% moisture/trace element, 32.400 Vitamin D, 14.000 Vitamin A, 80 Vitamin E. (Kennedy 1970). Anything other than this will have effects on a chinchilla's health. Plant proteins are necessary for a chinchilla ...

What is the best food for a chinchilla?

Chinchillas are herbivores (plant eating animals) and in the wild their diet would be bland, feeding off seeds, roots, leaves, fruits, berries, bark, ...

Why do chinchillas have wavy fur?

Kinky, wavy and 'cotton' fur may also be caused by dietary deficiencies (however, inheritance may also have an influence). Fibre has a serious role within the ...

How much water do chinchillas need?

Chinchillas need a fresh supply of water daily and can consume between 15-40mls per day. Never use water directly taken from a tap, as tap water contains chemicals to keep the water clean and drinkable, which over time will effect a chinchilla's health.

Why are pellets made for other animals?

Pellets made for other animals have been created to incorporate all the nutrition these specific animals need , which differs from the chinchilla. On another serious note - pellets made for other animal species can have hormones added, which will also undoubtedly effect a chinchilla's health early in life.

Why is fibre important for chinchillas?

Fibre has a serious role within the chinchilla's digestive track as the gut needs continual movement and should be placed at the top of the nutrition list. Saying this, fibre needs to be provided in the correct proportions to avoid over feeding and causing the onset of diarrhoea, bloat and/or other digestive disorders.

Can chinchillas eat pellets?

It is tempting to offer a chinchilla treats as they are so cute and adorable but even though a chinchilla will not overeat on pellets the same cannot be said for treats!

What is the best food for chinchillas?

Our top choice for the best chinchilla food for the money is the Fiesta Variety mix from Kaytee. It contains a delicious mix of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and grains to give your chinchilla a wide variety in its diet. Chinchillas naturally love to forage, and this mix gives them the different shapes, colors, and textures they would find in the wild. It also contains alfalfa grass, which is essential to aid in digestion, and corn, sunflower seeds, carrots, peanuts, and bananas. It is also enriched with DHA and omega-3 for your chinchilla’s heart and eye health and prebiotics and probiotics to help with digestion.

Why is a chinchilla mix good?

This mix is great because it promotes your chinchilla’s foraging instinct with its variety of textures and flavors. The mix is also filled with DHA omega-3 fatty acids to support skin and fur. It is loaded with probiotics for healthy digestion and overall immune support.

What is Vitakraft for chinchilla food?

This natural Forage Blend from Vitakraft is a pellet-based chinchilla food that is formulated to provide all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals needed for a balanced diet. It contains high-fiber timothy hay to aid in digestion and seven different nutrient-rich ancient grains that provide a natural plant-based protein, and is fortified with probiotics to support healthy digestion. It also includes a variety of dried fruits and vegetables to mimic the variety of shapes and textures found in nature and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

What is Oxbow's food?

This Garden Select pellet-based food from Oxbow provides complete nutrition for your chinchilla in a convenient pellet form. It includes a mix of three different varieties of hand-selected hay to provide the optimal fiber needed from your chinchilla. It also contains whole yellow peas, tomato, rosemary, and thyme to add flavors that your chinchilla will love. The mix is non-GMO and is suited for baby, adult, and senior chinchillas. The ingredients are all farmed in the U.S.A., and the unique flavors mimic a natural foraging environment. It also contains no artificial ingredients and no added sugar.

Can chinchillas eat fruit?

While some chinchilla owners argue that fruit and vegetables should not be included in a chinchilla’s diet at all, small amounts are generally fine. However, there are certain foods that you should avoid giving your chinchilla entirely or risk illness or even fatality.