Best Chinchilla Treats (Safe Snack Options) Last updated June 16, 2023 By Josh Leave a Comment Chinchillas are small and they have sensitive digestive systems. He was timid and had trusting issues also. Bananas are high in phosphorus. Chinchillas have delicate digestive systems. and then you look at their profile pic, and its a pic of a chinchilla cage with the very same stuff in it. You should, however, be careful only to feed it in small and safe amounts, most preferably as a treat. Although fruits and nuts are something that can be fed to chinchillas, it is best to avoid them. This doesnt cost you anything additional. Do your own research beyond what anyone, regardless of the letters after their name says. Plain cheerios are safe. You can get these supplies at places like PetSmart or on Amazon. There are a few fruits that are safe to eat, however. Raisins: unsafe, too much sugar A chins teeth is constantly growing and can grow too long. also, since i assume you are in Atlanta (webstats) i would invest in an ac unit with a backup, for the chinchilla room. Living in the Vancouver area, we have lots of wild blackberry bushes and I have a number of Pear and Apple tree's in the yard as well as a somewhat out of control grape vine. lettuce. I don't know if posting it violates any rules, if so the mods can remove it. Im so sorry for your loss! They need them to keep from being constipated. I'm looking to by snacks and treats in bulk to save some money. Hay should be the main component of their diet. I immediately took her to the vet, the vet said to monitor her for the next few days, and if there were any changes in her health to bring her back in. It's totally safe for chins to chew on wood every now and then just as long as its not painted or preserved with any chemicals. As you can imagine the list of possible things to feed a chinchilla are endless. the solution seems to be in this powdered probiotic i picked up at the pet store and a little critical care - She loves those and will lick them off the tip of my finger. Treats - only give your chinchillas small amounts of dried fruit and root vegetables as treats. A better option is shredded wheat. What is the best pellet to use? That's whay people practice slow introduction to new food items, as the microorganisms need to cultivate the appendix. These just take care of the incisors (Front teeth) Although very important, the back ones are the scary teeth which cause major issues. Because quaker oats are loose I am not sure on the measurement to give. The last thing you want is any weird stuff in their digestive system. Trying not to be negative or insulting, ummmm, professionals with a lot more experience with chincillas and a deep knowledge of their complex digestive system say corn is bad. I use a blow dryer to dry the wood after I wipe down the cage? But, I wouldn't suggest giving him watermelon. So if a vet says almonds are ok, I would find a different vet. Here are items we've heard people feed their chinchillas or have been asked about. in MODERATION! Do you even know what sugar is?? It is small for now but I hope it becomes a place for us to easily exchange ideas and experiences without the ego. Step 2. I bought mine on Amazon. Replies to my comments but reply and let me know okay!!! You have to be very careful with what you feed these animals, so here are some food items that you should never feed your chinchilla. A chin's teeth is constantly growing and needs to be kept filed down in order to eat. Pumice stones are great, but I am worried about possible lead content. Additionally, fluids can also make it easier to poop. Someone needed to give away her 2 chinchillas and I gladly accepted them The white seeds has a high fat content. Wishing all of you the best in taking care of your cute chinchillas! Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. As you know, chinchillas are very active, so they run around a lot. I found some really nice freeze dried apples, pears and banana's at Costco. I'll admit my anti pellet opinion is not a common one, but fresh hay is REQUIRED for optimum health, nutritional, intestinal and dental. Every single treat should be very very limited and without sugar. Chinchillas can eat carrots, raisins, and sultanas as treats but only in very small amounts! I only feed the pellets 3tbsps every 2 days, and hay is constantly refilled. Round up ready crops survive this chemical, but humans wouldn't. Avocado is not good for any animal that I know of other than humans. Sorry for the graphic image, but this leads into the reasoning behind my much publicized hatred of pellets for any and all rodents. they may seem hard but once broken up with the incisors. that being said, hay cubes do have some pretty sturdy strands in them so they can work the molars. But some contributors are saying pellets are bad? I recently took in 4 chinchillas as rescues and am being a college student, I want the Health treats and foods for them but unfortunately.. We ballin on a budget. They are absolute nib-noses and love to explore anything new. Temps in WV can and do get into the 90's with humidity to match. Red Clover Flowers: ^ Tap water has chlorine in it. We're sorry to hear that your chinchilla is having problems. Just another suggestion for a treat that should be given sparingly. Sometimes, a raisin once or twice a week is acceptable. 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? Apple, pear and grape are ok, and I assume so is Alder. Heinz, Thanks for taking the time to share information. (More Info) Chinchillas, for the most part, eat a really basic and simple diet that consists of very few foods. :). Pearl barley also is good, in moderation. They love sunflower seeds! Dried Clover: safe i think, but in moderation Cut the rest into cubes.and he'll nearly knock me over to get them!! 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. I'm not saying you need that instruction, but it is amazing how many would do that. 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. Their stomach gets hard and they no longer pass healthy feces, in some cases, bowel movement stops completely. Chinchillas can eat raisins without causing any harm, but they should consume them only in moderation. I am asking because I'm going to get a baby Chinchilla, so is the food going to harm the Chinchilla? this is a green leafy vegetable. This can cause liver damage in the long run! After that I toss them in the oven at just under 300, which it sounds like you did your research on the flashpoint of wood :). They are great!!!! What Can Dogs NOT Eat? | PetMD they can handle things that you might not think they can hadle. bananas. The whole school is in love with the chinchilla. Your email address will not be published. One common challenge owners face with these animals is what to feed them. What Human Food Can Chinchillas Eat? (Be Very Careful!) What Do Chinchillas Eat in the Wild and as Pets? Diet - Pet Keen If feeding the above listed flowers or their leaves, make sure you're not feeding flowers picked from fields or areas that are routinely sprayed with any pesticides or other chemicals. But it's only a nibble chances are it won't hurt them. Especially that rabbit pellets are unsafe. I keep their cage dry & moisture free.How often do I need to replace the wood? I've done a lot of reading and research myself, and I am happy to follow your suggestions on things I haven't found suitable answers to, because you have obviously spent a lot of time, and spoken to experts, before offering your advice :). I have two trees and would love the treat for him *if proven safe lol i dont' use pesticides :). The hay is important because it keeps their digestive system healthy. Our chinchillas love them. Absolutely not. 2 What Vegetables Can Chinchillas Eat? And Rachael is 100% correct, this article is complete bullshit. They are nib-noses and will come in to "help". 8 is not old for a chinchilla, nor is having one a sign of a reputable source. I know I am harsh on pellets, but to completely contradict myself, they probably aren't all that bad IN MODERATION. Cut them down into 5 lengths rinse really well boil drain rinse and bake at 200-250 until they snap when you break in half. Dietary Basics Contents show This article deals with the somewhat "controversial" topic of diet and nutrition. That's funny :) What Do Chinchillas Eat? The Good, Great, & Bad Foods to Know Oxbow has so many good reviews also Mizuri brand does too when it comes to everything chinchilla I get everything from chewy and get it on auto shop to save u some dough. Sorry, but we don't have any specific knowledge about whether watermelon is safe or not. They are higher in fiber with no problems in regards to sugar/acid/fat. I was a wreck when he was in an oxygen tank and that was when I met their baby brother, who also passed at the ER that fateful day. He bit into in 2007 and as soon as he did it and I heard a flop (it was from the object the cord was connected too) I was moving that cage to get him away from it. Anyone know if it will have any bad side effects? but anything else I give the way I think is good. 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. While it doesn't get stored in the body it is hard on the kidney's to remove it and can promote the development of kidney/bladder stones. Shoot me an emailif you have a question! 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. This is the one treat, even the shyest chin will eat while being held. I don't want to hurt my future pet. We've been in that situation. Also she seems to like dried carrots. I would take a look into oxbowanimalhealth.com . Is your self esteem so low you must always attack people? This can lead to liver damage over time. I don't give my chins anything except Timothy hay and their chin food. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. Hi, we have Two year old male chinchilla. A large exercise wheel like the chin spin. These fruits should be given in tiny amounts, no more than 1-2 small pieces a week. Fennel, Millet, and Quinoa are also favorites. Feed them right, and you'll have a happy, cuddly pet for many years. . too much fat. I read that distilled water does not hydrate properly and is worse to give to chin than plain tap water. I have been raised with chins my whole life and have seen more than most of you. Chins don't live forever and I bet yours are happy guys, but they're so little I hope by Dorito you mean a tiny chip off the whole one, right? We are so set on providing our loved pets with all the nutrition they need in a convenient pellet form. Apple, Banana, Raisns, Grapes (can be frozen), prunes, Elbow Noodles, And More and more. We have a total of 5 chinchillas, two boys and 3 girls. Pretty nasty eh! After a small amount of that every day, she has gotten more regular. Dried Dandelion leaves: safe, but in moderation. Although they would love to get their little paws on them, they do not get them. hello Will it kill them to eat them? :). This was very helpful, I recommend reading it. chin die of lots of cases and wrong food is one of them. 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. Aside from raisins, we don't give our chinchillas any of the above for the reasons you cite. These are great for them to chew on and to keep those darn teeth filed down. i know if I put them inthe cage they will be eaten but is it safe?? What are you saying is Apples not good for them I had run out of feed and gave them an Apple and Ban.and carrots until I can find a store around here that has food for them, Please come t to my reply,I have never run out of feed and they are not no stores around here that has any not even Walmart I try to buy a month supply I have had them about 1year they don't seem to be eating oats or ban.or carrots what should I do, get them timothy hay, they can survive off mostly that, that is the main thing they eat, Timmothy hay should be their main food source, the list said bananas are ok but theyre not, bananas should be avoided at all costs. "Just pellets" sorry, not to flame, but that is bad advice and contrary to pretty much everything out there. Has anyone heard of giving Rosemary to them? I would stay away from oily seeds all together or severely limit them. :). These are usually made up of timothy or alfalfa hay, so you will have limited options to choose from. Hi, I have a silly question - but I would really appreciate it if you could please answer it. The treats are not safe at all! Im worried about my little guy. Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. I would recommend trying other options as treats :). As a result, they can't handle many treats, including many that seem healthy like certain fruits and vegetables. 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. Bran Flakes Cereal: im guessing unfrosted? As long as they are organic and everything there probably isn't an issue. Broccoli: Broccoli is a good source of vitamin C, which is necessary for a healthy immune system. I will offer them a very, very small amount of a cranberry fruit. I know these are pesticide free, so I cut those up, toss em in the microwave, or steam them to kill any possible buggies. There is also more on that on the site. Sure they have corn meal in some pellets (not good) but corn is not good for their system and butter / excess amounts of salt are really bad. I just cut a bunch of branches off the apple and hazelnut tree in our yard and have been cutting the bigger ones into disks. Is that alright? You can also buy lava blocks. For a bunch of concerned animal lovers, there is too much animosity. This can give him bloat which is a dangerous condition. What Fruits Can Chinchillas Eat? (Many Healthy Fruits Are Dangerous!) You can give them cheerios as a safe treat. Aside from that, the oil is generally not good for them. cherries, peaches, and plums. What can chinchillas eat? Imagine how you'd feel if someone was always waking you up in the middle of the night. I am on my second chinchilla for my classroom. Hope this information helped! Hope this information helped! I have one who loves crackers (unsalted of course), another one loves french fries and one who loves to have snow in her cage. I give him a treat every other day. The long and short but unrelated, stay away from pet products made in China. 3 whole banana chips for one chin in one day is way too much sugar! Chinchillas are cute rodents that many want to raise. J, some of what you say is accurate, particularly the part about the digestive system, but that has been posted before as has the hay part. She started eating it and if I tried to take it away she barked at me. I know a lot of people are feeding their chinchillas plain Cheerios, and I really need to look at this list because of some of the grains I am feeding ours. safe, but in moderation. Celery: Celery is low in sugar and a good source of fibre, making it an excellent addition to a chinchilla's diet. please search before you give You also need to limit how many treats you give. I have already lost 1 chin to tooth issues therefor I keep a very close eye on their weights. 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. My question is are palm leaves or banana leaves safe to put in their cage? In fact, Mize says gram-for-gram, garlic spices are more harmful in small quantities compared to fresh garlic because they're more concentrated. I was also wondering if it was safe to give them like plain, healthy, yogurt like strawberry or something. hi, I was wondering Noodles, I wouldn't know, but I'm thinking the high levels of starch may be harmful. He had no ill effect, so every once and a while ( maybe a month or two?) Giving proper care to a chinchilla has nothing to do with self esteem or being a dick head. do NOT wash any food with soap. At one point we were spending 200 every six weeks on his surgery, plus he has epilepsy so we have to pay out for his medication for this, plus his painkillers and antibiotics! Only you can decide whats good for your chinchilla. When I squeezed the bottle, she must have drank 3 to 4 tbsp. In the moist year's chinchilla will eat a range of 21 different plants. They still need to have chinchilla pellets for vitamins. Can They Eat Guinea Pig Food? Why does everyone insist on being so frightened of these foods? http://www.rosefloral.com/blog/poisonous-plants. Would it be bad if I feed it too much of that? Its chin crack I tell you. Chinchilla's, lIke any creature with the ability to taste will eat whatever tastes or feels good. Do make sure to feed them every day and check if their droppings are dry and normal. Sometimes critters chew on food items but don't actually Eat them, that could be a reason it's sold as a treat? She holds it close to her chest. 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. I put 2 cardboard boxes together, the second with a 4" mouse hole as entrance after going into 1st one. Now Im not arguing or anything, since I totally understand the frustration, but theyre very very sensitive. Hi, my namesElena Coolidge, and this is my site. How Many Carrots Can a Chinchilla Eat? Luckily this has not been an issue, as I try to stay away from oil seeds. I was wondering if lotus flowers are okay to give to my chinchilla. Peanuts are high in fats and can give chinchillas kidney problems. I decided to do a little more research on corn, I guess to try to determine why the experts say no to corn. Small Pets Select has a couple mixes of herbs and flowers that are safe in small teaspoon servings once a week. Nuts and seeds Alfalfa hay (in moderation) Human treats (e.g., chocolate, candy, chips) Orchard grass hay High-fat or high-sugar foods Occasional treats (e.g., plain cereals, oats, rose hips) Processed foods and dairy The Basic (and Best) Chinchilla Diet The important thing is to make sure that your chinchilla continues to eat his regular food which is where the necessary nutrition comes from. Anyways apparently corn is historically one of the most inbred and now genetically modified food crops. I have heard they cause constipation. He is so loveable and never had a health issue. Just like all other animals, chinchillas need good quality food to survive. So I sit there and share a fresh banana with them. Sometimes, if your chin has digestive problems, you may need to give them bacterial enzymes with acidophilus. 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. if not unsafe, too much sugar. which is typically about 10 a day. seriously! Bananas are also considered acidic and have high sugar, fat, and potassium content. Alfalfa hay has high calcium. I'm so worried about them developing malaclusions. I had a unilateral issue with an edible grass hut made in china. To make sure that your pet eats food properly, you need to make the feeding time fun. I am located in Vancouver, Canada, and I really need a 'great' home for him. Gizmo, Aquarius' mate, suffered from serious malocclusion. Great place to explore and play chase. This means limited water and not a lot of lush vegetation. Once in a while a cheerio. You just need to take it slow when introducing new as it's microorganisms who digest the plantbased material in their gut. For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. Timmothy hay is definitealy ok. While they don't require much nutrition from fruits, they do have digestive issues and should not eat all fruits. Those chins are lucky to have you!! Hopefully, this will solve the problem i am very scared about feeding my chinchilla the wrong food(i havent got it yet ).please what should i feed it. How can he be wrong? What did the Vikings eat? - BBC Travel Plenty of apple sticks, cholla, and his shelves/houses are kiln dried pine so his teeth are kept nice from all these chewing. Use bottled water. One per day is what I give them, but this is probably to much! Once was during the Christmas Holidays when it simply licked a scented pinecone - and the other when it found a teeny piece of cinnamon cereal that had apparently dropped to the floor. Can chinchillas have fresh/dried apples? It was a real difficult challenge to get her digestive system working again. You can do this by understanding how a chinchilla behaves and using that to your advantage. Avocados are apparently one of them! Grapes are known to cause renal failure in other pets, why would you even do it? Distilled water is just too clean, it's missing essential minerals. I am going to get a Chinchilla soon. Your reasoning in why these foods are safe or not does not make sense. Is it ok to give a chinchilla a tiny piece of a oatmeal cookie? What Can Chinchillas Not Eat? - Cheerful Chinchilla I was wondering how many can I give him until he gets sick? Something to consider. no.. chinchillas are rodents just as rabbits ect. Chinchillas - Feeding | VCA Animal Hospitals My chinchilla kevin likes alot of organic foods but recently i gave him a peice of life cereal and afterwards realized that the box said it had the preservative BHT in it. Orchard grass is safe too I give them both. Also, as with people, some chinchillas may not react well to all foods so give new items in small amounts. If this doesn't seem to work, then you may want to try a tiny piece of kiwi fruit.
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