At some point during your care of your chinchilla you'll probably wonder whether it's safe to feed your chinchilla a particular food. We've been in that situation. Here's a list of food items that we know to be safe and unsafe based on extensive use by fellow pet owners.
Known to Be Safe
Although these foods are considered safe, they should be fed in moderation. They shouldn't be used in place of a proper diet of chinchilla pellets and hay. Also, as with people, some chinchillas may not react well to all foods so give new items in small amounts.
- Fresh Apple
- Plain Cheerios
- Dried Cranberries
- Plain Shredded Wheat
- Raisins
- Organic Cranberry Juice
- Prunes
- Fresh Grapes
- Bran Flakes Cereal
- Dried Apples
- Frozen Grapes
- Banana
- Uncooked Elbow Noodle
- Wheat Germ
- Peanuts (unsalted in the shell)
- Chamomile Flowers
- Dried Dandelion leaves
- Dandelion Flowers
- Nasturtium flowers
- Red Clover Flowers
- Dried Clover
- Oats
- Dried Olive Leaves
Known to Be Unsafe or Unhealthy
Many foods are unsafe for chinchillas because of certain chemicals they contain. Others are simply unhealthy. These should be avoided.
- Rabbit Pellets
Not Sure Whether Safe
As you can imagine the list of possible things to feed a chinchilla are endless. Here are items we've heard people feed their chinchillas or have been asked about. We don't know whether these foods are safe or healthy.
Cactus
Entries (RSS)
July 19th, 2006 at 11:07 pm
Hi,
I just got a male Chinchilla and I want to know if giving him house products like fruits and vegetables are good for him and won't do him harm? I'm asking in case I want to give him a treat or snack, by using stuff at home and not waste money by going to the petshop.
July 20th, 2006 at 5:59 am
Jomarie,
Some foods are safe and some aren't. To avoid the extra expense of buying treats from a pet store, go with raisins. Our chinchillas love them. Be sure to not give more than one a day. Other safe foods include apples, carrots, and celery, but we don't know if chinchillas actually like these foods. A general rule of thumb is that if the fruit has a pit, it isn't safe e.g. cherries, peaches, and plums.
The important thing is to make sure that your chinchilla continues to eat his regular food which is where the necessary nutrition comes from.
July 23rd, 2006 at 6:51 pm
I have a chinchilla and he loves dry/fresh fruits and vegetables which you can get at the grocery store in small or large sized bags for cheap. Limit the amount you give them or they will get fat. You can also give them small pieces of fresh fruit or fresh lettuce and carrots. They still need to have chinchilla pellets for vitamins. Be careful how much dry/fresh fruit/vegetables you give to your chin because too much can give them diarrhea or constipation.
July 24th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
I was just wondering if it is bad for a chinchilla to eat watermelon because I gave my male chinchilla, Tazz, some watermelon and I don't know if it will harm him. I didn't give him a lot. Please answer ASAP because I don't want to harm him.
July 25th, 2006 at 6:43 am
Jessica,
Sorry, but we don't have any specific knowledge about whether watermelon is safe or not.
August 17th, 2006 at 11:27 am
I want to get a chinchilla and I may be getting one soon. I was wondering if chinchillas can eat small scraps of meat. I don't want to hurt my future pet.
August 17th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Do not feed your chinchilla meat. Their digestive systems are not designed for the consumption of meat.
September 2nd, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Hi, I have a silly question - but I would really appreciate it if you could please answer it. I have just adopted a Chinchilla and its cage. The cage came with an affixed water bowl, which I thought was normal until I did some reading. So far all material I have read in regards to Chinchillas mentions water bottles, not water bowls. I am a little confused to this since nature does not provide them with water bottles in the wild:) While reading, I grew concerned that this Chin maybe dehydrated. Is there a reason for why pet Chinchillias should be provided with a water bottle instead of a water bowl? Do you recommend a water bottle appose to a water bowl? Thanks.
September 2nd, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Mary,
Wild chinchillas get their water from dew which is quite different than a bowl or bottle. As for which we prefer, it'd have to be a bottle because the water will stay cleaner as there is no way for fur, dust, food bits, or anything else to get in to the bottle. A dish, on the other hand, is a magnet for all sorts of things meaning you'll have to clean it quite regularly.
September 14th, 2006 at 8:59 am
I am a little concerned about the treat list above. Dandilion flowers are poisonous to many animals. And prunes are made from plums, a pitted fruit, and are not recommended. Not to mention the size of them. Chinchillas have very sensitive digestive systems, and don't need vegetables or fruits. Treats are given because people think they need to do so. Treats should be given no more than ONCE a day, and only the size of a raisin.
September 14th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Nicole,
Your concerns are well warranted. Aside from raisins, we don't give our chinchillas any of the above for the reasons you cite. However, we know that people often wonder what other people have fed their chinchillas and so we've compiled this list.
September 14th, 2006 at 10:18 am
My treat preferences are shreddies (unfrosted shredded wheats). We also use the dried fruits, apple, banana, and papaya, rose hips, and chin cookies (not the pet store rodent "treats" cookies made specifically for chins by us). On occasion the girls will pick dandelion leaves as well.
October 1st, 2006 at 6:38 pm
I have found that my Chins love coconut. I purchased some without sugar or preservatives from a health food store. I give them one or two small pieces each day and they even prefer it to raisins. I try to keep their treats to things I know are healthy for them, I hope this is an ok treat. I also feed them apple tree leaves in the summer.
January 18th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
My name is Debbie and I have a baby chin that I have raised since birth due to the passing of her mother. Jane is her name and she is 6 months old. Three weeks ago I noticed after coming home from work that she was not using two of her legs so I took her to the Vet the next day. The Vet said that chins can have arthritis in their joints; she did take x-rays and found swelling in Jane's joints. She has been on antibiotics for the last three weeks. Now, Jane is using all three legs but her good front leg that was working just fine in the beginning is not working now. She holds it close to her chest. If you can tell me anything about what is going on with Jane I would greatly appreciate it because I think the doctor is guessing and I have almost spent $300.00 on vet bills.
I have worked with people with disabilities for the last 15 years and if Jane is going to be disabled that is fine with me. I will continue to love my three legged chinchilla. Thanks
January 18th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Debbie,
We're sorry to hear that your chinchilla is having problems. Unfortunately, we're not vets, just pet owners and enthusiasts. We have no way of knowing what's going on and have to defer to the vet. We do recommend going to a vet with experience with "exotic" pets in general or chinchillas in particular. Most places that treat dogs/cats that we've check in with have no idea what to do with chinchillas.
January 27th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I noticed corn was not on the list and have been feeding my chin raw corn (on the cob in sections) and placing it on that pet cabob the pet shop sells. I saw it on the pictures of the chin books and want to know if it's ok to feed it to him everyday. His stool seems ok so far and the pieces get replaced with fresh ones.
January 27th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Debra,
We've never fed our chinchillas corn so we have no direct experience with it. However, many people feel that dried corn is not healthy. Sadly we're not sure if that extends to fresh corn. Your best bet is to feed your chinchillas a treat that is known to be OK. Whatever treat you go with, we recommend moderate amounts.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
I have just came from the supermarket pet section. Does anyone have any advice on those treats made by "vitakraft"? I bought the nibble rings which contain alfalfa. I noticed a picture of a rabbit, hamster, and gerbil are on the box but says its ok for " small animals". I want to know if this product is ok to give and is this company reputable ?
January 29th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Debra,
Many people will tell you to avoid these sorts of manufactured treats. We prefer to just use them in moderation. However, we do only use ones specifically listed as being for chinchillas. Small animals is just too generic a term for us.
February 24th, 2007 at 5:30 am
We just got a chinchilla and for a treat I gave her some citrus foods such as oranges and lemons. Is that OK to feed to them?
Thanks!
February 24th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Hi. I am going to get a Chinchilla soon. So my dad bought me a Kaytee food bag. When you say "frown upon the common Kaytee food" what do you mean by that? I am asking because I'm going to get a baby Chinchilla, so is the food going to harm the Chinchilla?
February 24th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Bryan,
You should avoid citrus foods. Stick to items like plain cheerios or raisins, but in moderation. Treats are not to replace proper food.
February 24th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Maryann,
Some people believe that the quality of the food from Kaytee will not be as high as from other sources. They also think that the amount of each nutrient are not at the ideal percentages e.g. too much fat.
February 25th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
I mean.. could it harm the baby chinchilla? I hate to harm any animal.
April 12th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I'm thinking of getting a Chin as a pet, but from what I've read, they mostly just run and jump! Why do people love them as pets??
May 10th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Hello,
I have just recently started giving my chin quaker oats and absolutely loves it. My question…. When you say give in moderation, how much is moderate ? I just scoop it up with a spoon and let him eat it from there. Because quaker oats are loose I am not sure on the measurement to give.
May 28th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
My chinchilla's favorite treat is raisins. If you give him one through the cage he will come back for more he will keep eating them. I was wondering how many can I give him until he gets sick?
September 26th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
1-2 raisins should only be given in any one day,
a small segment of apple is ok
a slice of carrot,
half a grape,
this should give you some idea how much to feed a chinchilla.,
only small pieces in small moderation isthe key
these listed above should be a treat not to replace they daily food.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I leave a bowl of food avalible for my chinchilla at all times, Should I be doing this? If not how do i get her out of the habbit of eating when ever she wants?
June 20th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Caroline,
Leaving pellets and hay cubes available at all times is fine. But you need to restrict treats and grains.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
i was wondering if your chinchilla poops in the pellet bowl do you just dump out the food because i have seen that since there stomachs are really senstitive will this make them sick
August 19th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Chin's produce two kinds of droppings: a soft kind loaded with protien which your chin will often eat , and then the hard droppings wich are strictly waste. depending on which type is being left in your chin's food dish you will want to use your own judgement and what you feel is safest for your pet.
November 11th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Hi Chinchilla Planet. . .
I was letting my chinchilla out one day to play around, and I saw him chewing on something. A few minutes later, I found an apple seed lying around. So if he ate one seed, would it be enough to severely harm him? Thanks in advance =)
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Corn, and products that contain corn, is not okay for your chinchilla. Since they do not digest it correctly it causes them to have severe gas which can cause their bellies to bloat. Make sure you check the ingredient list on the premade/processed food, pellets, and treats you give your chinchilla.