They do chew these in the wild so I'm assuming they are perfectly fine. I then noticed she wasn't able to eat properly, she was just sucking on a raisin, pulling it in and out of her mouth. This can give him bloat which is a dangerous condition. Infact a made up recipe can also work. I've seen the few pages in the exotic small animal text and it's super short! Ingredients There is also papaya and pineapple in it. 3 whole banana chips for one chin in one day is way too much sugar! They are popular pets due to their playful and gentle nature, and their soft and dense fur. please search before you give while I was gone my lovely mother was eating eggs and felt my chinchilla was hungry and gave her some. Plenty of apple sticks, cholla, and his shelves/houses are kiln dried pine so his teeth are kept nice from all these chewing. I have just adopted a Chinchilla and its cage. I am simply doing some research. My rats are given a varied diet they eat food that's been left over & it's probably better than the commercial stuff I just don't give folk the ammunition to have ago & act self righteous. Also it's best to feed you chinchilla just pellets. It's not THAT a food plant can be sprayed with one of the most deadly plant killers on the market, right up to harvest, it is THAT these food plants ARE sprayed with the most deadly plant killers on the market. Obviously letting it cool prior to giving it to the chins. If you can get untreated wood it's best. Then there is the high oil content, corn oil comes from it, after all. Particle board is VERY bad as it often contains nasty polymers like formaldehyde glues. Although this would be a processed product and it would possibly not only loose nutritional content but also the chew factor. what type of human foods can chinchillas eat. So now I have two water bottles and a small bowl. . Just wanted to share that little story with you, Oh yes, my chinchilla also loves chips, and sourdough bites. Although moderation is definitely important, a few here and there are a welcome treat. seriously! Orchard grass can be found at Feed & Seed stores by the flake cheap and fresh. They are rich in nutrients, including protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They need to use dust bath to clean their fur as their fur gets oily at times. I just recently found out through the specialist dentist that I bring my chinchilla's to that malocclusion is a human created problem. The nutrient composition. Some people give their chins a raisin once or twice a week. Thank God he didnt get electrocuted. I love your reply my 2female chinnies I give them fresh farm hay the same as my other rodents. Zoe was great, but one night she died. He had the sniffles and was dead a few hours later. Raisins have a moderately high sugar content. Chinchillas are omnivores and their diet consists of hay, pellets, vegetables, and occasional fruits. Chinchillas may be herbavores, but they are not Hipsters. Scared of progress? He also loves the carrot, corn, & alfalfa slims. At some point during your care of your chinchilla you'll probably wonder whether it's safe to feed your chinchilla a particular food. Hope this information helped! One of the biggest risks of feeding pistachios to chinchillas is that they are high in fat. Saw the one about Honey Nut Cherrios. Of course, Timothy hay is the largest part of their diet and the seeds are just toppers. But why are we as humans being told corn puffs and of all things, caramel corn is healthy. Now Im sure none of you mistreat your chinchilla(s), but they definitely are one of the most mistreated when it comes to space, diet, and stuff inside of the cage. That's whay people practice slow introduction to new food items, as the microorganisms need to cultivate the appendix. Provide them with safe wood such as apple wood for their teeth to chew on. Hope this info helped! Let them come to you for awhile to gain their trust, then it will be easier to handle them. I purchased some without sugar or preservatives from a health food store. Alfalfa hay has high calcium. This was very helpful, I recommend reading it. They would eat split peas but I found the sugar is abit much for them (not used to treats due to their previous home) so too much gives them the plops. I learned alot from Dr. Legendre. I would not rely on everything in the non poisonous list as being non poisonous as I believe Eucaliptus is (Except to sloths) and California Poppy's do have trace amounts of opium in their latex. Unfortunately he died of old age. People have no idea how high maintenance chins are. i have had a chinchilla for 2 years and we have given him stuff like apples( fresh) and cheerrios and strawberrys and carrotts and peppers and stuff like that. Can chinchillas eat acorns? What exists in the Andes Mountains? Not eating the right diet can lead to serious dental disease. (Yes & How Much)Continue, There is a common belief that turtles will eat just about anything, including cockroaches. In fact, pistachios can be beneficial for chinchillas. is. Charlie loves them we call them his donuts and he goes nuts!!! Debra, I wouldn't suggest feeding your chins corn. Also read: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cantalope, Pistachios are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, thiamin, phosphorus, and copper. too much fat. They will come to trust you, sooner. There is a lot of options that's better for him than fruit. I use them in cakes at that point. Nearly two weeks ago I brought home two adorable 9 week old chinchilla brothers. I'm not saying go ahead and feed your chinchilla cactus, but it's definately not DEADLY. I may incorporate some things you suggested as well into my chins diet. I am on my second chinchilla for my classroom. All of the fruits, even with the sugar are not bad if given in moderation. Is it found in the arid high mountains? Your concerns are well warranted. He's been around for about 15 years now. Picking the day after a rainfall also helps with the clean part. Fizzysweete Hi, I just wanted to let you know they really need a large piece of wood to chew on to keep their teeth shortened(I didn't know when I first got mine). I have a hamster water bottle hung up in her cage. When you are going to a pet store to find treats I would suggest making sure it doesn't have any sugar in the treat. Like children, if you give them an easier and tastier option, they will take it, leaving the one which is better for them. Too many pistachios can cause gastrointestinal upset in chinchillas. 8 is not old for a chinchilla, nor is having one a sign of a reputable source. We do recommend going to a vet with experience with "exotic" pets in general or chinchillas in particular. Some people will give their chin a raisin once or twice a week. Bethy. Sure they do not really eat the branch, just chew it, but there is still back molar movement so the chewing is doing its intended job of wearing down the molars. But every chin is different, if you take that fom me take that - THEY ALL ARE DIFFERENT!! A safe treat to give your chins is plain cheerios. Kim. You can also give them small pieces of fresh fruit or fresh lettuce and carrots. I know these are pesticide free, so I cut those up, toss em in the microwave, or steam them to kill any possible buggies. As Dr. Legendre (world renowned chin dentist) told me, the more they chew the better. Giving proper care to a chinchilla has nothing to do with self esteem or being a dick head. Is a fan ok on low temp days when air conditioning is not need.I let them out of there cage twice a day 4 a couple of hrs, Is this enough play time out of time? He went about exploring but stopped by my garbage can and seemed VERY interestsed in my popcorn bag (no i didn't let him have it, and have since my garbage to a desk behind me) :), Kupcak, some people gives their chins air popped, popcorn with no salt and butter. I had this apple and my chinchilla toke it right out of my hand. The fiber content is also good for chinchillas, as it helps to keep their digestive system healthy. Just be careful with the raisins. That was over 2 years ago, and nothing ever happened, and she's in perfect health. an some of the things I have in her cage. Despite what the main article says rabbit pellets are okay if using high quality brands and in many cases are better than most of the crap that most people feed. Sometimes they will get to share about a teaspoon of old fashion oats. Raisins and anything with high sugar content can cause tooth rot and diarrhea. Chinchillas are small, delicate animals that require a very specific diet in order to stay healthy. The cage came with an affixed water bowl, which I thought was normal until I did some reading. If everyone does this the companies will be forced to manufacture in countries with higher standards. Actually it's not dumb to tell people to avoide pellets made for other species. I want to make a "Tunnel" section like the rocks and caves their ancestors have in Peru but in this new massive cage. Your reasoning in why these foods are safe or not does not make sense. As chinchillas can't retain vitamin c, I give my chinchillas these in their diet as they are high in vitamin c. I don't give them it very often as I try and keep their diet to a minimum but they love it and the vet recommended it. they love an occasional treat! DO NOT feel your cinch Avocado. Chinchillas should have a good quality kibble to balance nutritional needs. Chinchillas should avoid eating nuts, they're high in fats, which isn't healthy for them. . Orchard grass is another kind thats sweeter than timmothy but theyre only supposed to have small amounts. Right now I am trying to find a food supplement or anything to help her gain weight while she is healing. While cockroaches may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to chicken feed, they can actually be a good source of protein for your chickens. If you insist on standing strong on your opinion, please at least look up the symptoms of fatty liver disease so you can watch out for them. In the wild, they eat grass, berries, and nuts to fulfill their energy requirements. He was around 5 when we adopted him in 2003. Just use plain, though, no frosting, and get organic if you can. Chinchilla's livers cant filter out fat and sugar well and this can lead to liver damage over time. The treats are not safe at all! Dust baths 3-4 times a week with special ingredients like lava ash that is not cheap to provide. Also, the latter 3 WILL cause barnyard bum. Maybe even Timothy hay. well, guess what. I am not slamming oxbow pellets because of that, I am slamming ALL brands of pellets as a product designed purely for lazy pet owners. #3 Shirley Poppy. They cannot digest fruits, vegetables and nuts. Overall, pistachios can be a healthy treat for chinchillas, but they should be given in moderation. Pistachios are also a good source of fiber. Thank you, Liz. Please keep in mind that most fruits such as apples and bananas have sugar in them. Make sure the incisors do not overgrow and feel around the lower back of their chin and around their nose. Here are the few vegetables chinchillas can eat and the benefits they get from . At least the leaves. This will help to prevent digestive issues. I just wanted to comment on your statement that rodents don't eat meat. We run our Chins daily. if u r still interested in this reply please feel free to email me and i will reply back if u still have him??? A few posts above I mentioned Scooter. Some woods are unsafe for chinchillas. Chins can not process sugars, consider them diabetic for all food purposes. If your vet only clips their front teeth, you may ask for him/her to xray your chin. Note: Every chinchilla is different and just because a food is listed as safe doesn't guarantee that your chinchilla won't have a bad reaction. High fibre which requires mastication to break down. You can give them occasionally unsweetened shredded wheat or unsweetened cheerios. I collect pruned sticks from peoples apple trees. The list of vegetable chinchillas can eat isn't that long. I believe grape is ok, but I would double check on that one. If you give him one through the cage he will come back for more he will keep eating them. Yes he fed her skittles, This article is actually not very accurate, as fruits and vegetables can cause seizures, bloat, diabetes, and more. We live in West Virginia, rescued them from a friend who lives close. I let my chinchilla run around my entire living room for about an hour every evening. I had my chinchillas out in the bathroom(which I thought I had done a good job of chinchilla-proofing) little did I know Camille could jump high enough, and bounce off the wall to get up onto the counter-where I had a cactus plant. Some people believe that the quality of the food from Kaytee will not be as high as from other sources. I also have two uncoloured pumice chews on different levels of their cage, but can anyone give me further suggestions on how to prevent this? I do not know how accurate this is, but I would not want to risk it. Why do you need to dry the wood and cook leaves? 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. A variety of vegetables is okay for chinchillas, but avoid fruits and seeds, as they can cause harm to your chinchilla. I guess he doesn't like the pellets. Meat. Is there a reason for why pet Chinchillias should be provided with a water bottle instead of a water bowl? I disagree with a ton of things on that list. I don't know who told you the green were low fat when compared to the white, whomever they are was obviously beat with a stupid stick :) . Careful though, one every few days as you do not want to bung them up. I always check on the side of cereal boxes for the fat and sugar content. Be sure to not give more than one a day. He is so loveable and never had a health issue. Stick with timothy hay for everyday foliage. They are too high in fat and calories so can make chinchillas overweight. I mean.. could it harm the baby chinchilla? I was wondering if you can give chins dandillaions ?? Research should always be done before considering adopting an exotic animal. Im so sorry for your loss! i am a chinchilla lover and i learn lots from them!!! My chins love the rosehips. Chinchillas can't assimilate sweets in the liver. They have thick fur that helps to protect them from the cold weather in their natural habitat. When I got them they were fed to many carrots so I gradually cut them down. Chinchillas are a type of rodent that is often kept as a pet. He may love them, and 8 is still young for a chinchilla. Hope this helped! A lot of wrong advise out there. First, pistachios are high in fat. JUST the plan ones! I would appreciate any information on this topic! It's so cute! yes, i think she will be okay. I looked up some information about what happened if he ate a small rock from the garden and said that the type of rock it was is safe. However, pistachios are high in calories and should be given in moderation. Sadly most chinchillas in captivity suffer at the hands of their owners are often neglected and never properly cared for in the environment they actually require. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. I had to have one of my chins put down several years ago and it broke my heart! if not unsafe, too much sugar. However, their high-fat content isnt healthy for chinchillas, so pistachios should only be given as a treat on occasion. Cooper and his younger brother Chaos came to us from the Vancouver SPCA when one of the vets taking care of Scooter at the Vancouver pet ER noticed how far I go to take care of our babies. I'm assuming the fat content which can cause fatty liver disease (may take more than 8 years to develop but will ensure a nasty death for your much loved chinchilla. Less is better. what can i feed it as a treat that i can get from my kitchen or outside? Here's a list of food items that, based on extensive use by fellow pet owners, are thought to be safe and unsafe. Yes, everyone has to decide what's best for their pet, I totally agree with this. Oh ya, one quick addition. [1] Try using an already-opened shell half to pry open a new pistachio. No, chinchillas shouldn't eat pistachios. Also, peanut butter is known to cause constipation. The worse the hay (Coarse etc) the better. I've seen one on pintrest but I know nothing about chins and cement structures like thatHelp and thanks for your time! They also really love rains bUT you should really do some research on your own. She even goes after your hand to bite it, making it hard to pet my other female, Pippa, because they're in the cage together. Hello Heinz,Thank you so much for the great info-I feed all my chins quinoa seeds but couldn't find any this week apart from puffed quinoa seed which I'd never heard of till now lol-Anyway do you think these would be okay to eat until my local has the usual? I have heard about Cheereo's before, but with all the Monsanto stuff out there, I, personally, shy away from commercially processed human food. just be in a cage with a cardboard box as a hide. My ledges simply go the entire width of the cage. in moderation. I took her to the vet and he cut her upper and lower teeth to match the broken one. Their bodies need high amounts of fiber to remain fit. Hey all I just recently had to take my chin to get her teeth clipped, and she is underweight. I mix the Oxbow Essential and the Garden Select because the Essential has Alfalfa as the first ingredient which can cause urinary problems but has a lot of other good ingredients. If they get too much water content they could develop diarrhea. Pistachios are safe for chinchillas to eat, but they should be given in moderation, Chinchillas have sensitive stomachs, so too many pistachios can cause digestive issues. They are higher in fiber with no problems in regards to sugar/acid/fat. I also give them two large handfuls of high quality Timothy hay daily. As Shawn said chinchillas should only eat two tablespoons a day. Leslie - we pick dandelions, leaves & flowers once in a while and feed them to our Chins - they absolutely love them! I could never refer to a pet as an "It" my wife as cousin It, on a bad hair day, but beyond that :p, LOL i nearly spit out my cereal! Just my opinion Im not a chinchilla expert but I think some chinchillas are different from each other and mabie one likes one food but the other will not. I have been reading that sweet fruits can be harmful to a chins digestive tract. The digestive tract of the chinchillas is a bit sensitive, which reduces the list of foods it can eat. Chinchillas CAN eat the following, however only the top two can be given in unlimited quantities! If you choose to feed your chinchilla pistachios, make sure to do so in moderation and monitor their health closely. I love him to death and sometimes I wake up when he's loose at night and I find him on my face sniffing or lightly nibbling my ear; never biting :) I love him to death; he's only maybe a year old now, and I wanna give him a great life. I put the rest of the Apple in a plastic bag after squeezing lemon juice all over the portion of exposed. Do you think kale would be safe for a chinchilla to eat?? All this mumbo jumbo of not giving fresh fruit and veggies or dried herbs is garbage and I would really like to know who made up that garbage. I used to give my chins sunflower seeds, but stopped because of the high fat content. All he needs is timothy hay, chin pellets, and wood toys to chew on. So obviously once wasn't enough to scare you enough to protect him from exposure to those things? The diet of the chinchilla is relatively new territory. While they can eat a variety of different foods, there are some that are better for them than others. They will play "King Of The Mountain" on our back and head while cage maintenance is happening! Here it's not uncommon for breeders to offer their chinchillas a pierce of apple when they are at shows. I'm not saying this is why corn is bad, I just kinda found it interesting. Can chinchillas eat oats? Absolutely not. The thing with chinchillas is, surgery requiring anaesthesia is a race against time. His stool seems ok so far and the pieces get replaced with fresh ones. We save our small apple tree twigs after harvest when its trimming time - after they are fully dry we give them to our Chins to chew on along with a pumice stone for their teeth - is this OK? The last thing you want is any weird stuff in their digestive system. What fruits can chinchillas eat? If their teeth gets too long, they cant eat and will die. I leave a bowl of food avalible for my chinchilla at all times, Should I be doing this? Early in my chinchilla owning experience, I lost a young mother & 3 babies from different litters. heya, i have recently been given a Chinny and have seen quite alot of advice saying that they are not able to digest fats properly so nuts are a no no.. :) it makes sense too, as nuts are hugely nutritious and chins evolved to live on a very nutrition poor diet. Last edited by Marios Alexandrou. this can cause fatty liver disease which will kill. I'm sure it will soon be followed by another product which is immune to the poisonous effects. Also, try to make sure they dont consume too much cardboard. But some contributors are saying pellets are bad? One per day is what I give them, but this is probably to much! They definitely know our voices. They also like things like dried honeysuckle, rises and Rose hips. You should probably tell that to my 15 year old chinchilla Chewbacca, he gets dried fruit, seeds, and dried peas and carrots along with his hay and pellets. I've read owners talk about vets who they'll "never go back to" because the Vet dared to tell them that a few fresh dandelion leaves were safe! Do you recommend a water bottle appose to a water bowl? New game. Always feed your chin chinchilla pellets and timothy hay everyday to keep him healthy. 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. who is a chinchilla expert and she said all that was fine moderation. These should be avoided. (That's why I think unsalted unsweetened banana chips are great, plus they gnaw on them!) Thanks again. I don't give him more than three raisins a day, he eats the 2 tbsp of plain pellet I put in his bowl, and I let him run around at night. Is your vet a chinchilla expert? After being flamed by many for my anti pellet stance on facelessbook, I started a page called Chinchilla Health. Which is not advised but u can't Molly coddle any pet . That's where the logic ends. note, i am by no means discounting the importance of a vet. Both became lethargic to the point of not being able to stand! safe, but in moderation. This discussion will focus on whether nuts are appropriate treats for your furry friends or not. You want to make sure you give yours the right ones and prevent issues such as food poisoning or worse. The high fat content in pistachios can cause digestive problems, such as diarrhea, for chinchillas. I see people bragging that they had their chinchilla for 2 yrs and it's fine that's only 10% of their life span OK, I can relate to that. Hope this information helps! On the topic of seed stocks, Millet sprays seem to be quite popular, although I believe there is an oil content, so moderation and variety is key. Proper pellets (NOT RABBIT those have introduced hormones that rabbits need while chins, pigs, do not!) I remember my mom being scared to use hers. So, we must be doing something right! No you don't give them vegetables or fruits at any given time. So I sit there and share a fresh banana with them. They are the same plant, it's just a different stage of growth. I have heard they cause constipation. This is what I feed my chinchilla. Well clinically malocclusion, but chinchilla tooth problems are caused by the pellets we feed them. I don't have the resources to make my own food or treats. I also add in this organic multigrain crushed grain cereal (looks like oatmeal but with kamut, bran, oat and a few others) AS A TREAT IN MODERATION due to the softer nature. But all have been given a clean bill of health at every Vet Check-up they get. Wheat, Wheat Flour, Turnip Seeds, Rice, Barley, Buckwheat, Corn Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Propionate (a Preservative), Honey, Lecithin, Vegetable Oil, Color Added (Yellow 5, Yellow 6), Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement. Maybe to the general public, which shouldn't own them or any other exotic anyway. He even sleeps with me sometimes. Required fields are marked *. Wedge your thumbnails into the crack and pull them apart in opposite directions. Hope this information helped! if chinchillas can eat mandarins. I need to check out the nutritional content, but they just love Fennagreek seeds. Specially Fruits that have high sugar and can cause gass, bloat, diabetes, blindness and death. I want to know if this product is ok to give and is this company reputable ? Hey I just got my chinchilla today I was wondering if i can am able to feed them fruits and veggies often or not. After talking to both the vet and the small animal dentist (Dr. Legendre, as a zoology major, if you have a chance to talk to this guy, do so, I know Dr Upjohn also does some teaching and he is very knowledgeable) The key to dental health is to encourage chewing. Going to be 13 on April 19, and it's true that he has become more loveable and cuddly the older he gets. Debra, Im sure the vitacraft treats are ok as long as it doesn't have a lot of sugar or high fat content in them. i think they teach me more than i learn myself and they give alot of love and i do have one that does not like to be handled but still love my affection and responds every time!!! I am a little concerned about the treat list above. Their room stays @ 64, relative humidity less than 50%. I just wanted to let people know I am now raising my second chin. My website is not about chinchillas not does it have much in the way of relevant chinchilla information, I own an alarm company and I found posting pictures of chinchillas more agreeable to my way of doing things than the standard fear mongering pictures of some random Sara and Romeo breaking into someone's home. I just scoop it up with a spoon and let him eat it from there. Be sure to check the ingredients label on mixed treats - and check their smell for the distinct cinnamon odor. The thing is, chinchillas will eat what they like not necissarily what is good for them. I simply went to the lumber yard and grabbed some untreated kiln dried pine 2 x 6 chunks of wood along with some headless bolts which can be screwed into the wood leaving an open end for a washer and nut to be screwed on. I was just wondering how much fruit would be too much to feed your chinchilla daily because she loves fruit but you are I heard you are only supposed to give them 2 raisins a day so I was wondering if there was a limit for fruit too. Temps in WV can and do get into the 90's with humidity to match. I have rat who can bite that's because they are scared but he is caring towards his companion ? what other fruits can they have, how long should they be outta their cage. Sadly we're not sure if that extends to fresh corn.