Can Chinchillas Eat Leafy Greens? (Be Very Careful!)

Leafy greens are healthy.

We all know that.

But any chinchilla owner also knows that what is healthy for humans is not always healthy for our pets.

With that in mind, can chinchillas eat leafy greens?

Or are they another in the long list of vegetables that can cause digestive issues for chinchillas?

Keep reading to find out.

We will cover all common leafy greens and go over how good or bad they are for chinchillas. We will also give you a safe amount of each to feed your pet, if you want to give it leafy greens.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Leafy Greens?

Yes, chinchillas can eat leafy greens. But, in most cases, it is best not to feed your pet these vegetables. It all depends on what leafy greens you are planning to feed to your chinchilla. Some are healthier than others.

For example, you should not feed chinchillas lettuce due to its high water content. But you can feed greens like kale or spinach. Whatever the green, the important thing is to feed tiny amounts only.

 

What Leafy Greens Can Chinchillas Eat?

Leafy greens you can feed your chinchilla include kale, and collard greens. These leafy greens have more nutritional value, since they are higher in fiber and also contain a bit less water than others.

Can chinchillas eat parsley, too? Or is it different, as an herb. It is not different. Parsley is basically the same as kale and other greens that contain a bit more fiber and less water than greens like lettuce.

Your chinchilla will also love the unique taste of these leafy greens. But remember the warning. Even though your chinchilla can eat these greens, you should still avoid giving them to your pet in a high quantities.

They all still contain a large amount of water and this can cause your chinchilla to bloat, which can become very painful. Any vegetable should never be more than an occasional treat. Feed a small leaf once or twice a week, nothing more.

 

Leafy Greens To Avoid

The main leafy green you should avoid feeding your chinchilla is lettuce, because of its high water content. Lettuce mainly consists of water and does not have much nutritional value.

Since it does not contribute to your pet’s nutrition and can cause it digestive issues even in small amounts, you should avoid feeding it to your pet. That said, lettuce is not toxic for chinchillas, so you don’t have to worry if yours ate some.

If you do want to feed lettuce to your chinchilla, then the amount very small. Feed your pet no more than a pinky finger sized amount of lettuce and only do so once or twice a week.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Cabbage?

You should not feed your chinchilla cabbage. Cabbage is poisonous to a chinchilla. If you feed them cabbage, it could be fatal. It also has a high amount of water which will lead to bloating and stomach problems for your chinchilla.

I would not even recommend feeding a small amount of cabbage to your chinchilla. Keep it just for your own meals and stick to feeding your chinchilla other healthier snacks such as rose hips or dried flowers and fruit.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Arugula?

Yes, chinchillas can eat arugula, or rucola. It is a great leafy green that you can feed to your chinchilla. It is high in fiber, which will aid your chinchilla’s digestive system. Like other greens, you should only ever feed arugula in small amounts. Keep it as just a treat, not a meal.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Collard Greens?

Yes, chinchillas can eat collard greens. They are another leafy green that is a bit higher in fiber and nutrients. But they do contain a lot of water, so keep the amount you feed to a teaspoon of greens once or twice a week.

 

Kale

Can chinchillas eat kale? Yes, they can and they love it . The advice for kale is the same as for other leafy greens that are higher in fiber and nutrients, like collard greens.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Mustard Greens?

Yes, chinchillas can eat mustard greens. The advice for mustard greens is the same as for collard greens, so follow my guideline above.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Lettuce?

No, chinchillas should not eat lettuce. It won’t harm them in small amounts, but the amounts have to be tiny. Never more than a fingernail-sized piece and only once or twice a week. But since lettuce contains a lot of water and little fiber or other nutritional value for chinchillas, it is best to just avoid it. Other greens are better.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Swiss Chard?

Yes, chinchillas can eat swiss chard. This is another healthy green like mustard greens, collard greens and bok choy (see below). As such, the same rules apply: a small amount only and only once or twice a week.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Spinach?

Chinchillas can consume spinach. However, you should not feed them large amounts or incorporate it into their everyday diet. Even though it is healthier than other leafy greens, it still contains a high amount of water.

If eaten in excess, it will cause bloating, stomach pains and diarrhoea. Even though chinchillas like spinach and it has more fiber than lettuce, it is still 90% water.

If you want to feed some to your chinchilla, I suggest not feeding any more than one leaf, twice a week. Spinach also does not contain enough fiber for it to be a healthy staple in your chinchilla’s diet.

Chinchillas need fiber to break down other foods in your chinchilla’s body. Without it, you may find much runnier stools in your pet’s cage than normal. But they get their fiber from hay and pellets, so they do not need it from vegetables.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Bok Choy?

You can feed your chinchilla bok choy. But because it also high in water, you should only feed it to your chinchilla as a snack or treat, to avoid bloating.

But you will be pleased to know it isn’t toxic for your chinchilla. If you feed your pet bok choy, keep it to a small amount. Feed your chinchilla no more than a teaspoon once or twice a week.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Herbs?

Fresh herbs are similar to leafy greens and the same rules apply, also due to the water content. Dries herbs are better, due o the lack of water. Chinchillas can eat any herbs and they like them, too. Can chinchillas eat cilantro, even though many humans hate the taste? Yes, they can. They love the flavor of cilantro, aka coriander.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Leafy Greens: Final Thoughts

Chinchillas can eat all leafy greens, but some are much better than others. Greens like lettuce or cabbage are mostly water and have little other nutritional value for chinchillas. As a result, it makes little sense to feed these, especially since even a small amount can cause digestive issues.

Denser greens with more nutrients, especially fiber, are much better. You still need to limit the amount and frequency with which you feed even the best greens, but there is value in feeding small amounts of leafy greens like spinach or kale once or twice a week.