Pellets
Chinchilla pellets provide all the nutrients your pet needs to grow and maintain its health. You should only buy high quality chinchilla pellets; those that do not contain any treats or extra pieces other than pellets or list corn as an ingredient.
Be sure to check the mill or expiration dates, you want the freshest pellets possible and many feeds found in pet stores have a 2 year shelf life so definitely do not buy it if there is less than a year left. It is not advisable to buy pellets out of bulk bins because light destroys nutrients, you don’t know how old it is, and there is no way of knowing if it’s been contaminated. Chinchillas usually eat about 2 Tablespoons of pellets per day but there is no need to limit their pellets as they will not overeat on healthy food. 5 pounds of pellets will last one chinchilla about 3 months; you should not purchase more than what you will use within 3 months at a time.
Hay
Hay should make up the majority of your chinchilla’s diet. Grass hays such as timothy, brome, orchard, bluegrass, and coastal or Bermuda grass should be given daily-as much as your chinchilla will eat. You can also give some alfalfa hay, but introduce it slowly if your chinchilla is not used to this type of hay. Hay cubes are also acceptable and can provide interest to the diet. Look for nice quality green hay; never feed brown or moldy hay to your chinchilla.
Treats
Treats are unneeded and should be given only sparingly if at all. Sugary treats such as raisins and fattening nuts should be avoided. Healthier alternatives are organic rose hips, organic black sunflower seeds, plain shredded wheat, or a plain cheerio. Remember no more than one a day! While not usually considered a treat, small chew sticks will be as enthusiastically enjoyed as the treats above.
Water
Filtered or distilled water is best for your chinchilla. Tap water can contain parasites, chemicals, and sediments that while may not affect you, may have a much larger effect on a small chinchilla. Chinchillas drink on average 1.2 oz of water per day so there is no need for a huge water bottle.
Q. What brand of chinchilla food is best?
A. There are several quality chinchilla feeds available; any of the following are recommended: Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe, APD, Kline, Mazuri, Tradition, Mana Pro Sho, Purina Advanced Nutrition Rabbit. The “best” is the one from the list you can get reliably and fresh. Any food that contains treats in it is unacceptable. Please note, this list is recommended chinchilla pellets available in the US, if you live elsewhere please contact a reputable breeder in your area to consult with on pellets available in your area.
Q. I see one food on the list is rabbit food, what’s with that?
A. High quality rabbit pellets can be fed to chinchillas provided they contain similar ingredients at a similar nutrition level. Note not all rabbit feeds can be fed to chinchillas! I recommend a chinchilla pellet over rabbit pellets because they tend to be harder but if your choice is a lesser quality chinchilla pellet or high quality rabbit pellet, go for the rabbit pellet. Once again, this is concerning feeds in the US, never feed pellets that have added hormones.
Q. Help, I ran out of pellets, what do I do?
A. If you happen to run out of pellets, your chinchilla will be okay for a day or two on just plain hay just get more pellets asap. Do not buy some other pellets to use for a few days, any new foods should be introduced gradually. It is always a good idea to get more food ahead of time in case something would come up that prevents you from getting to the store or delays shipping.
i barely give my chhcniin treats at all i give him only healthy food and things that have a low fat grade in them~ i dun want him to get bloat >_> he almost died from it once when he was a kid >: now he’s 9 and i’ll never make that mistake again!
Even raisins are not good for chnalhilcis, great treats are dried apple sticks or rosehips. Also, feed your chin Alfalfa pellets, not timothy pelllets, though I am glad he showed a good brand of hay, Oxbow is about the best out there.
That is very bad for them sunflower seeds are full of fat anf ulualsy have salt, which can cause seizures and many other health issues. Make sure your chin doesn’t get ahold of them.
– Chinchillas are herbivores and require a diet primarily consisting of high-quality grass hay, such as timothy hay.
– Fresh water should be available at all times, provided in a sipper bottle to prevent contamination.
– Pelleted chinchilla food can be offered as a supplement to hay, but it should not be the primary component of their diet.
– Avoid feeding chinchillas foods high in fat, sugar, or starch, as they can lead to digestive issues and obesity.
– Occasional treats such as small pieces of dried fruits or vegetables can be given sparingly, as they are high in sugar and should not exceed 10% of the chinchilla’s diet.
– Chinchillas also enjoy chewing on wooden sticks or blocks to maintain dental health, but ensure these are untreated and safe for consumption.
– Monitor the chinchilla’s weight and adjust its diet accordingly to maintain a healthy body condition.