Some good treats for your chinchilla:
- Pears
- Green apples
- Apricots
- Raisins (no more than 3 or 4 a week)
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Cheerios
- Plain Shredded Wheat
What is the best food for chinchillas?
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, and treats. How can you have a healthy pet if you serve treats with every meal?
How to take care of a chinchilla?
The chinchilla should be given fresh hay every day. The chinchilla’s pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. Changing the brand of pellets should be done slowly and carefully, for suddenly switching brands can make the chinchilla sick.
How much should a chinchilla eat a day?
Feeding Amounts Most chinchillas will eat one to two tablespoons of pellets a day. While they are not prone to overeating, for freshness it is a good idea to feed a small number of pellets at a time. Feeding a tablespoon in the morning and again in the evening seems to work well, but can be adjusted as needed.
How many raisins can a chinchilla eat?
Chinchilla Treats. Chinchillas should be given very little in the way of treats (never more than a teaspoon a day). Raisins and dried fruit are favorites but are also high in sugar so they should be fed in very small quantities and infrequently. Try not to feed more than 3 or 4 raisins per week.
What can chinchillas eat and not eat?
The reason we tell you to avoid fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables, is because they're very unhealthy for your pet. 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.
How many times a day should you feed a chinchilla?
Chinchillas 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.
What are chinchillas favorite treats?
According to our online community of chinchilla owners, the most popular and healthy treats for chinchillas are Timothy Hay, Rosehips, Plain Cheerios, dried calendula, and goji berries. It's recommended that you try a small amount of everything to see what your chinchilla likes.
Can chinchillas eat bananas?
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.
Can chinchillas overeat?
The myths are organized with each myth being grouped with other myths that are similar. All of the myths listed are False. Chinchillas should have limited amounts of pellets each day or they will overeat and get fat.
How often should I change my chinchillas hay?
every dayAlways make sure that Timothy hay is plentiful, however. Offer your chinchilla brand new fresh hay every day. If you leave it out for any longer than that, you may risk it becoming moldy or otherwise dirty -- not good.
How much hay should chinchillas eat?
Generally, your chinchilla should be eating a pile of hay twice the size of its body daily. You should visit a qualified exotics veterinarian at least once a year for check-ups on your chinchilla's diet, behavior, and health.
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.
How to feed a chinchilla?
They should be given very small amounts of chinchilla vegetables like carrots and leafy greens as healthy treats. The diet for chinchillas should be monitored to make sure they follow it daily. Following this diet routine is to make sure your chinchilla doesn’t turn into a malnourished animal. The most important thing is to provide chinchillas with additional water, especially in summer, and monitor their daily water intake. Again, although this is the common amount of food that your pet needs, you need to contact the pet veterinarian to be sure of ample amounts of food that your chinchilla needs.
What are some good foods for chinchillas?
The greens that are essential in the diet for chinchillas include carrots, kale, and sweet potato. For the full list of chinchilla greens that you can feed your pet, it is best to know through your pet veterinarian or through the people at the pet shop.
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 do chinchillas eat?
The treats that these exotic animals eat are dried rose hips, dandelion, and hibiscus leaves, basically dried fruits, and root vegetables should be given to them. Make sure to read the product form to know what you are getting when buying treats. The bottom line is, chinchillas don’t need treats, but if you feel bad or want your chinchilla to be happy, then you can give them treats occasionally. Just make sure that they are safe.
How to keep chinchillas healthy?
Selecting the best pellets: How to select the best healthy pellet to keep chinchilla healthy? Well, make sure that the pellets that you choose are plain and without any additives like seeds, nuts, and dried fruits, as these can be harmful to their digestive health. Make sure not to give them unlimited pellets unless the chinchilla is lactating or juvenile. Moreover, buy a good quality pellet and excellent feed for your chinchilla.
How much fiber should chinchillas eat?
To be more specific, the diet should have 30% fiber, 16% protein, 35% carbohydrates, and the rest should be filled with fat, minerals, and sugar. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met.
What do acrobatic animals eat?
Food items that need to be provided to them continuously are hay and clean drinking water. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. This acrobatic animal eats food with a sweet smell as they are very picky.
What is the best food for a chinchilla?
Hay is very important in your chinchilla's diet. What nutrients they don't get from their pellets they get from their hay, and what they lack in hay they get from their pellets. Hay not only is a good staple in keeping a Chinchilla's digestive track on track, but it's also one of the main sources for keeping teeth healthy.
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 are chinchillas prone to liver disease?
Fatty liver disease is known as a "silent killer" in chinchillas because they'll be gone before you realize that was the cause of any problems.
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, ...
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.
Most Important Facts about Chinchillas
There are two facts about chinchillas that are important to know in order to keep them happy and healthy throughout their life.
Recap
The two most important items in your chinchilla’s diet are water and grass hay. Fresh, clean water should be provided at all times and grassy hay should be constantly available. Pellets, vegetables, and treats should be measured and kept to a minimum.
What is the best food for chinchillas?
If it is impossible for you to get a good quality chinchilla diet, many experts suggest substituting a good rabbit or guinea pig pellet with similar characteristics but this should only be done temporarily and in emergency situations. Online stores should be utilized if your local pet store does not carry a quality chinchilla formula. Chinchillas have specific dietary requirements that are different than other rodents and their health will suffer if they are not fed quality, chinchilla-specific food.
What do chinchillas eat?
Instead, feed your chinchilla quality chinchilla pellets supplemented with plenty of fresh grass hay.
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.
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 Treats Can I Feed My Chinchilla?
Chinchillas can eat carrots, raisins, and sultanas as treats but only in very small amounts!
What is the diet of a chinchilla?
Chinchillas are herbivorous. Their diet consists of foods with high protein and fibers. It’s extremely important to feed your chinchilla the correct diet, otherwise, they may start developing health problems.
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.
How to keep chinchillas clean?
Chinchillas require constant access to clean drinking water. Use a drinking bottle to maintain water cleanliness and to prevent getting your chinchilla wet.
Why do chinchillas chew their teeth?
Chewing and gnawing is natural for chinchillas and is vital to help wear down their teeth.
Why do chinchillas eat bark?
In the wild, chinchillas eat the bark off trees to obtain fiber, which is essential in the diet.
What is the difference between a chinchilla and a second cut?
The first cut is coarse-stemmed and has many heads. The second cut is a mixture of green hay and is very soft, while the third cut is smooth and leafy making it an ideal choice for fussy chinchillas.
What is the best food for chinchillas?
Oxbow is one of the best foods you can give your chinchilla. It is rich in fiber content suitable for the chinchilla, and the fiber helps maintain digestion. Oxbow is based on the alfalfa pellet formula and with blends of various nutrients. Some of the nutrients in the feeds include vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin E, fiber, and other healthy nutrients.
Why is chinchilla food important?
A lot of research has been done on this topic and found that a good quality chinchilla food is essential for their health and longevity.
How long can a chinchilla live without food?
The chinchilla cannot survive without food for more than 24 hours. They can go for several hours without food. However, it is not recommended to leave your chinchilla without food for more than 24 hours.
Does Oxbow help chinchillas?
Oxbow is formulated in a way that gives your chinchilla a natural balanced diet. It will provide all the essentials nutrients needed by the chinchilla. Thanks to its great making, it does not affect the digestive truck of chinchillas. It is from a trusted brand that deals with high-quality pet foods.
Is chinchilla food healthy?
Choosing the right chinchilla food is not such an easy task. It should provide the right balance of nutrients and vitamins. They should be free from toxic chemicals. They should be healthy for them and should not cause any digestive issues.
Can chinchillas eat whole food?
Usually, they come with additional fats and sugars. It would be best to give your chinchilla the whole food as daily portion food. This is considered high quality to your chinchilla. Most of the whole foods contain minerals that are essential for a healthy diet of your provide your chinchilla. In short, one should select the best food that will give your chinchilla a balanced diet.
Can you give a chinchilla too much food?
Know that you will have a huge responsibility when buying a chinchilla. Keep in mind that chinchillas are very sensitive as compared to other rodents. Giving them too much food can make them chubby, and if you provide a small amount, you may starve them. Therefore, you should determine the correct amount of food for your chinchilla.
