are used by vets with Timothy grass. I watch their mouth movement, bowel movement, energy level, hair, and look for ANYTHING out of the norm when adding foods. Actually alfalfa IS good for them and is a staple in good Chinchilla pellets. This is very important. Nuts can also cause bloating in chinchillas. Grapes have a high sugar content, with roughly 16 grams of sugar per 100 grams of grapes. They are a commitment and a chore as they often live at least 10 years. Thanks for the thoughts, Kim. Yes. I don't have the resources to make my own food or treats. They can also eat a variety of fruits. I have an tree in my yard that is losing hundreds of them and the squirrels are having a feast. In the summer, I generally gather CLEAN MOLD FREE clover, wheat stocks and heads, and dandilion leaves. With a few exceptions for certain chinchillas (usually we dont like taking chances though). Hi. I finally told her to stop it and took over. Cheerios are safe because it doesn't have any sugar and very, very low fat content. But at the same time, pet stores sell a lot of stuff that isn't safe for your Chinchilla. A balanced diet for chinchillas. #2 Euphorbia Milii. I'm thinking with the sugar not digesting in the liver process, or whatever they were saying above, who knows how its working in their little bodies. So when it comes to why corn is bad for chinchillas. It is not going to hurt her she is not really swallowing any of the pieces she is only wearing down her teeth which grow very fast You can also get a piece of raw unstained untreated wood and lay on top of the plastic shelf they love that and will chew on it. also, since i assume you are in Atlanta (webstats) i would invest in an ac unit with a backup, for the chinchilla room. Peanuts and Almonds are a prime example. Serving Size: One rosehip per day. 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! You must check the fat, sugar, salt, carbs contents on the back of any treats given to them. can i dry out my own dandylions and clovers and rose petals? Like carrots, lettuce, cabbage. Almost everything in this article is completely wrong!!!!! I do not know how accurate this is, but I would not want to risk it. Dandilion flowers are poisonous to many animals. Then there is the high oil content, corn oil comes from it, after all. They are nib-noses and will come in to "help". I know it is a hard thing to go through. well, guess what. He may love them, and 8 is still young for a chinchilla. I fill my xhinchills food bowl up about halfway and clean stuff out of it and fill it up S needed. I take one and hold it in the middle with a pair of pliers (so it won't melt so fast) over a wash cloth. But, I wouldn't suggest giving him watermelon. But, not honey nut cheerios! A person wouldn't eat cupcakes that were baked over a year ago, but yet people feed their chinchillas food that was made over a year ago, feed loses nutrients after 6 months after the mill date, the mill date is printed on the bag, that is a prime example of how some owners just don't care. I always check on the side of cereal boxes for the fat and sugar content. They do chew these in the wild so I'm assuming they are perfectly fine. But if you really want to treat him to something fresh, give him herb instead. Won't eat cloth though, so my teddy bear is safe! Thank you, Liz. Apple, pear and grape are ok, and I assume so is Alder. Some animals just don't like being picked up. We have a total of 5 chinchillas, two boys and 3 girls. We don't know whether these foods are safe or healthy. My vet suggested to give them kale ( a green leafy type lettuce.) They are hind fermenters and this can cause issues such as fatty liver disease. I just wanted to comment on your statement that rodents don't eat meat. Well. So they quite literally can have their teeth grow into their brains. The Garden Select has Timothy grass as first ingredient but has other questionable ones. Xo, you should give your chinchilla a small amount of dried fruit like and peice of apple each month and same with veggies and they can have many unsalted nuts and also enjoy burnt toast crumbs. When feeding pistachios to a chinchilla, it is best to remove the shell first. Check out my website dedicated to our sweet lost Tigger. Just trying not to spam here. 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. Nuts are generally bad because of the oil content. I think you're safe ;). I used to give my chins sunflower seeds, but stopped because of the high fat content. I would recomend oxbow chinchilla pellets. I absolutely would not continue to do so as its said that not to give your chinchillas acidic foods, even raisins they say to only give a few at most twice a week as a treat due to the acidity of them, and the same with items that contain high amounts of sugar! Just wanted to share that little story with you, Oh yes, my chinchilla also loves chips, and sourdough bites. This is not to say you do not need to take your chin to a vet AS SOON AS YOU NOTICE DIARRHOEA I have just seen it so many times over the last 12 years, and spoken with enough vets I now know some of the dangers to look out for. Contrast this with their staple diet of hay and pellets which can be up to 100% of their diet. Thanks Heinz.I guess I will just have to become an expat or start an revolution in the name of chinchillas! Can chinchillas eat oats? Should I be worried about her chewing or possibly eating the wood? Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are greatly enjoyed by chinchillas but should be fed sparingly or avoided. People say all kinds of things on these forums even Vets are incorrect often. They cannot handle being under for any length of time, which is why it is important to get a vet / dentist VERY familiar with Chinchilla's (Make sure they know you are not talking about a chinchilla rabbit). Chinchillas can't properly assimilate fats because of their delicate livers. Chins cant digest sugar, high fats or fruits and vegetables. The site is a turn-off and I hope not to wander in again. Why would you feed unhealthy treats when there are plenty of healthy options available they they love to eat just as much as the un-healthy ones? in moderation. While there are some risks. Fibre - 30-35%. Do you think something like that is possible? The mountains of Chile - if it doesn't grow there - chances are it isn't safe. I put the rest of the Apple in a plastic bag after squeezing lemon juice all over the portion of exposed. Chins also, need safe wood to chew on to keep the teeth normal. :) get to know how these area's as well as other area's of your chin's look and feel. An elbow noodle is pure sugar; it's starch, which is pure glucose. Chinchillas are relatively new as pets and very little is known about them. As with all pets, a proper diet is key to health and long life in chinchillas. # Raisins Why do people love them as pets?? This site has lots of natural products http://www.chinchillas2shop.co.uk/TREATS.html and my boys seem to love love love apple wood sticks, but I don't want to give them anything that would harm them. When I finally got it away I started looking up if chinchillas could have apples and I never got a straight responses. geez! That and there really isn't all too much healthy in potato chips. You already know that a chinchilla will chew on anything and everything. Some people will give their chin a raisin once or twice a week. We've been in that situation. Chins love to chew wood and need to in order to keep their teeth from growing out of their chins and into their eye sockets. The calories, fat, and protein content are all within the range that is recommended for chinchillas. ever day comes to the cage trying to push her whole face out, and she doesn't even like me that well yet. You can give different tipe of fruit every day. Pretty nasty eh! They can help boost your parakeets immune, Read More Can Parakeets Eat Mango? And they usually die at a very early age. I am going by what my chinchilla specializing vet tells me what to give the chins that I breed and keep.all 17 of them. Just because by some miracle your chinchilla is still alive does not mean it's good, and by you passing on all of this bad information you're only putting other people's chinchillas lives at risk. for now he ( my chinchilla ) has not been allergic do not many things. Do you guys have any suggestions for this? http://www.rosefloral.com/blog/poisonous-plants. you should not give chinchillas moisty food because it's not good for their inner system and it can cause fatal problems at times chinchillas only need try food,you can give him a piece of apple,you actually should.. once in a week or so,and in water you should sip a little little bit of apple vinegar because your chinchilla needs it for his digestion and other stuff.. but keep moisty food away from him, Jessica, the watermelon will not harm your chinchilla. (never tried popcorn or crackers.). Peanut butter is high in fat and sugar content which can cause liver damage in the long run. They do get out of there cage for lots of exercise . You should feed your chinchillas: The girls are a little more accustomed to sweets so peas work for them, in combination with the above seeds. These are great for chewing as are dandelion and blackberry leaves. When I checked her, I was appalled to find her thin and with a broken and abscessed lower tooth. The hay is essential for their digestive system and it also helps to keep those teeth filed down. Please answer ASAP because I don't want to harm him. I kept petting and gently stimulating them throughout the ordeal. for now he ( my chinchilla ) has not been allergic do not many things. So like a grain of sand. Raisins for example, a nice treat but if Aquarius had her way she would eat them even beyond the Onset of severe barnyard bum. I'm sure a small amount won't cause serious issues, as I did do the almond thing until I found out about the problems with some seed oils, I'm not sure about the jasmine. i am not going to argue with some stupid over protective chinchilla owners. I am simply doing some research. (He had a migraine and was refusing to eat. you know what? Their favorite regular treat is pumpkin seeds. Thanks Kim, unfortunately with the internet it's so easy to find a lot of bad advice and people assume that since a website says it, its okay, which adds the to the vicious cycle. They cannot digest fruits, vegetables and nuts. We have no way of knowing what's going on and have to defer to the vet. What is the best pellet to use? There is a reason you will NEVER find corn in chinchilla food. Charlie loves them we call them his donuts and he goes nuts!!! I'm wondering if they're bad for him? I just got my first chinchilla almost two weeks ago, and she has made a habit out of going under my bedside table as a hiding spot when she has free time to run around my room. Salt blocks or wheels are good for chinchillas. Hi, my chinchilla hopped up onto my desk and I think he ate something from my mini zen garden. I agree with Katherine. I will let them have unsweetened cheerios and unsweetened shredded wheat. I hope this info will help many of you. But it's only a nibble chances are it won't hurt them. Last edited by Marios Alexandrou. Provide your pet with chin pellets, timothy hay. I noticed they seem to like uneven surfaces so I leave the mini branches attached. I have noticed conflicting information, on the topic, but I take any reference to danger seriously, when it comes to wood. I found some grape wood in the reptile section of the pet store, and they are great for chewing as are apple and pear branches from the back yard. With chinchilla's, there is a very finite amount of time they can be out. But, sometimes, its hard to keep treats low in sugar, fat content. My chinchilla's favorite treat is raisins. She has been on antibiotics for the last three weeks. However, since there are snacks that aren't so liable to cause health issues like overweight or bloating, we recommend these insteadtreats like shredded wheat or rose hips. And if this person would have actually read the post, he or she would be able to tell that chinchillas dont have the same digestive tract as "other pets". Yes, but this is a post about chincilla's not rats. I got my first Chinchilla when I was 13yrs old and that was 20yrs ago. I love the unique names of your chinchillas! Contents show. As far as having it as a class pet. We had a plastic tray but he didnt like the food. Here is an interesting one which comes complete with a very difficult to digest protien https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarLink_corn_recall. While crackers may not be the healthiest snack for a horse, they can certainly eat them without any problems. Kim. Chinchillas pretty much have to poop constantly, if they stop for extended periods of time, of the turds get small and hard, you need to have them looked at pronto. DO NOT !! If you offer pistachios to your chinchilla, be sure to do so in moderation. I have heard about Cheereo's before, but with all the Monsanto stuff out there, I, personally, shy away from commercially processed human food. He has a real sweet tooth, though. . He was one of the sons of Aquarius. If left untreated, stomach gas will result in the death of your chinchilla. (Yes & How Much)Continue, Tortoises are a type of reptile that is closely related to turtles. Im not certain if jasmine wood is the safest wood for your chins. Sometimes, a raisin once or twice a week is acceptable. # Dried Apples I have had a situation with my male where he was prescribed force feed food. He really likes hay Jen that's great, and I'm sure you don't overfeed those treats! So, can chinchillas eat pistachios? Just try to avoid high fat, sugary, salty, and high carbohydrates in your chins diet. Main thing is lots of fresh hay daily and pellets can be used as a supplement depending on preference. birgit!!!!! Tracy, I used to feed my chins coconut also, but, coconut has a high fat content. I came on this page to find out if it had any drug type interactions. 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. Perhaps there is a site-meister who can dump the uncomfortable comments. They are supposed to have it if you dont give them hay cubes. He was timid and had trusting issues also. It wasn't until a couple of days later that I had noticed a bite(about the size of Camille's mouth) taken out of the cactus plant, and a few peices of her fur on the plant. if so then it is safe, but in moderation. I saw it on the pictures of the chinchilla books and want to know if it's ok to feed it to him everyday. Dried rose hips. Here's a list of food items that, based on extensive use by fellow pet owners, are thought to be safe and unsafe. Chinchillas are popular pets due to their playful and affectionate nature. 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. Chinchillas CAN eat the following, however only the top two can be given in unlimited quantities! My chinchilla, Chi chi doesn't get very many treats because it can make her have a better chance of having diabetes. Scared of progress? They are the same plant, it's just a different stage of growth. What brand of hay is cheap and good for chinchillas,cause i don't have a lot of money:( Why do chinchillas need hay and what are some signs of I would agree with your comment, Kathleen. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring toxin that is. He is much better now) on the list of his force feed food includes soybean meal, wheat germ, Timothy grass meal, and soybean hulls. I avoid most fruits & vegetables (chinchillas are not made to digest much sugar) as well as processed food, Mazuri chinchilla pellets excepted. In addition, pistachios contain a substance called aflatoxin, which can be harmful to animals in large quantities. I am a little concerned about the treat list above. (look above). It is better not to give rabbit food pellets to your chinchillas. Don't give your chinchillas nuts, sweetened treats, fruits or vegetables. They can, but peanuts of all kinds are nutritionally unsuitable for chinchillas. Does anyone have any advice on those treats made by "vitakraft"? The thing is, chinchillas will eat what they like not necissarily what is good for them. Some chinchillas get lucky, but in the end, results show that chinchillas strive off of a strict diet of that, and chinchillas with fruit and veggies usually die earlier on. I give mine parsley choriander mint no apple slight banana. So why do we want the corn to survive round-up?? Yikes, just yikes. Though only in small amounts due to the sugar content. They are also a choking hazard, so it is important to make sure that the pistachios are chopped into small pieces before giving them to your chinchilla. Thank you so much. Hi, Dried Cranberries: unsafe, too much sugar Look up formaldehyde and it's roll in human embalming as well as what happens to blood when it mixes with it. I wandered into this bulletin board after searching for some chinchilla information. Chinchillas cannot consume food meant for guinea pigs, as the two animals have different dietary requirements. They are popular pets due to their playful and gentle nature, and their soft and dense fur. chin die of lots of cases and wrong food is one of them. What about cherrys ? It's important to offer your chinchillas an unlimited amount of fresh hay in their cage daily so they can continually consume the large amounts of fibre they need. Vitacraft treats are highly unhealthy for any pet. Um I'm sorry to join in but why don't you leave this poor girl alone for goodness' sake. They cant have plastic in the cage, they cant have fruits, veggies, or seeds (I believe theres a few dried up fruits you can feed them around once a month). He has wood chew toys and pumice as well as a parrot calcium block. to keep your chin safe, take all plastic out and replace with kd pine ledges. Kanga and her daughter Roo came to us from a wonderful organization SARS BC. The good news is, since introducing Timothy hay, rose hip and giving very minimal pellets, Sidney has now gone 10 weeks with no sign of the malaclusions back just yet:-) so for all you out there who have chinchillas with malaclusions, don't give up hope just yet! Yes! Chickens are known to be omnivores, which means that they will eat just about anything. The fiber content is also good for chinchillas, as it helps to keep their digestive system healthy. Fresh fruits are 100% off-limits. Timothy Hay is the staple diet of Chins, Alfalfa hay which is the common diet for other animals is not good for them. You can buy wooden sticks or lava blocks at petsmart to help keep your chins teeth filed down. A typical chinchilla diet may include hay, pellets, fresh vegetables, and seeds. Healthy treats can be given. Normally, if you go to your local petco or pet smart they will have dried hay specifically for small animals. by payton, we are wondering if you should make a lot of noise around it (its going to be a class pet) As for the free run, as long as she doesn't eat books, wallpaper, electronics and so on, it sounds like haven ;). At some point during your care of your chinchilla you'll probably wonder whether it's safe to feed your chinchilla a particular food. I had 2 chinchillas when I was younger and my dad fed them avacodos. Whats Monsanto have anything to do with food saftey? It's very true that there are limited monographs available for owners And vets! So I stopped feeding my chins coconut. What fruits can chinchillas eat? Had the ingested a larger amount - I believe it would have been fatal. We run our Chins daily. Ive noticed certain seeds seem to require more back of mouth chewing as they are too small to be broken up by incisors and too hard to be simply gummed. I decided to do a little more research on corn, I guess to try to determine why the experts say no to corn. Tap water has chlorine and too many minerals that isn't good for the chins systems. Nothing else. Just my opinion, we all do what we think is best for our babies. Some woods are poisonous to chins. If you give him one through the cage he will come back for more he will keep eating them. If I see a change in his poop I will stop giving it to him. I like using kiln dried pine myself but fruit bearing seeds is ok.Rosehip are an excellent treat as long as you no there's no pesticides on them.Dandelion and nasturtium petals are ok too.