Can Chinchillas Eat Nuts? (Exercise Extreme Caution!)

Chinchillas love nuts!

They provide them with tons of fat and protein.

And they need both of those to keep going. In the wild.

However, things are quite different in captivity.

Pet chinchillas get a steady diet of hay and pellets.  These provide all the nutrition they need.

Can chinchillas eat nuts in addition to their hay and pellets?

That is what we are going to cover below. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about feeding a chinchilla nuts. We will cover every popular type of nut you might want to feed your pet.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Nuts?

No, chinchillas can not eat nuts. While a tiny amount should be fine, it is best to just avoid feeding your chinchilla any nuts altogether, since they are high in fat and protein.

If you absolutely want to feed your pet some nuts, that should be fine. You could give your chinchilla a tiny amount of nuts as a treat every now and then.

But nuts should never be regularly component of your pet’s diet, no matter how much it might love them. And again, it is best to avoid them completely.

 

Will My Chinchilla Like Nuts?

There is no doubt that your chinchilla will love eating nuts. Their diet in the wild is extremely varied and wild chinchillas are always trying new foods. If you feed your pet chinchilla any type of nut or other new food, there’s a high chance it will be eating it very quickly.

Your chinchilla will also love nuts due to their high amount of fat. This makes nuts tastier for your chinchilla, which is usually the case for foods high in fat.

They also need fat to survive and it is hard to come by in the wild. Nuts are a rare treat. However, in captivity they get sufficient fat and adding nuts to their diet can quickly make them obese.

 

Nutrients In Nuts

Nuts are high in fat and protein. They are quite healthy for us humans to eat, as long as we keep the amount in check, due to the fat content. The same goes for a chinchilla, except even a small amount of fat is too much for them, given their small size.

That is why you should limit their intake to a single nut (or perhaps two small ones) once or twice a week. They can be a good treat, but never more than an occasional treat.

The protein in nuts will help to restore and repair your chinchilla’s muscles and also help with growth. But again, only in moderation. The protein in a single nut or two is just the right amount to be of benefit to a chinchilla and provide them with all of the amino acids they need (but the fat content is very high).

Too many nuts will mean too much protein. And they already get the protein they need from their hay and pellets. That said, too much protein is not nearly as much of a problem as too much fat.

The high amount of fat in nuts is what can make them especially harmful to your chinchilla. Eating too much fat can cause your chinchilla to become overweight, which can lead to health conditions such as diabetes. And that is very serious for chinchillas. The fat can also cause damage to the liver.

The high-fat content means nuts are also high in calories, with some even being as high as 600 calories for every 100 grams of nuts. If you limit it to a small number of nuts, then the calories shouldn’t be an issue for your chinchilla. Again, just stick to one or two nuts, no more than once or twice a week.

 

Are Seeds Safe To Feed My Chinchilla?

You should treat seeds the same way you treat nuts. Only feed them to your chinchilla as a treat in small quantities. They also contain a high amount of fat and protein.

Seeds are generally smaller than nuts, so you can feed a few more of them. I recommend feeding your chinchilla no more than four at a time. Use them as a rewarding treat for your chinchilla, for example, if it learns a new trick or is showing signs of good behavior.

Some good seeds to feed chinchillas are pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. But again, only feed either of these seeds in moderation. And it is best not to feed them at all.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Peanuts?

Chinchillas can eat peanuts. However, they don’t hold the best nutritional value for your little friend. Chinchillas enjoy eating peanuts because they are a new and exciting food, but that doesn’t mean that peanuts are a good snack choice.

As a nut, they are still high in fat and protein and too much of this will cause your chinchilla to become overweight. I would also make sure you don’t feed your chinchilla salted peanuts, since these are even unhealthier. The additional salt can also lead to bloating and other digestion issues.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Almonds?

You should not feed raw almonds to your chinchilla on a regular basis. Keep them as a treat for every now and then. Almonds are high in both calories and fat. Unless you want a chinchilla that keeps growing outwards, only feed almonds to it sparingly.

Foods that are high in calories and fat can lead to obesity and other health conditions such as diabetes. Feeding your chinchilla almonds won’t leave much room to give it other, healthier snacks such as rosehips.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Pistachios?

Chinchillas can eat pistachios, too. But the same rules apply. Like all nuts, pistachios are high in protein and fat, so you need to limit the amount you feed.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Walnuts?

Chinchillas can eat walnuts. They are one of the better nuts, but they are high in protein and fat like all nuts. They are also fairly large, so make sure you account for that. Feed one or two pieces the size of a peanut, not more.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Pine Nuts?

Chinchillas can eat pine nuts, but again, the same rules apply. Pine nuts have a similar protein and fat content to other nuts, so limit the amount you feed. They are smaller, so you can perhaps feed one or two more. But I would still stick to one or two of them.

Can chinchillas have pine cones, too? Yes, they can have pine cones, as long as you prepare them properly first to remove any sap, bacteria, dirt, etc. You can also buy pre-cleaned ones from any pet store or online.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Brazil Nuts?

Chinchillas can eat brazil nuts, but only in moderation. With brazil nuts, you have to take into account that they are larger. Even one may be too much. Use the size of a peanut to estimate how much to feed. One or two peanut sized pieces, maximum.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Acorns?

Chinchillas can eat acorns, just like all the other nuts listed here. You will, of course, have to crack them open for your pet. Again, you need to limit the amount you feed and zero is probably the best amount.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Hazelnuts?

Chinchillas can eat hazelnuts, too. As always, limit the amount you feed. Hazelnuts also contain high amounts of protein and fat.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Monkey Nuts?

Chinchillas can not eat monkey nuts. Monkey nuts are just peanuts still contained in the shell. These shells can pose a choking hazard, so you should remove them before feeding peanuts to your pet.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Cashews?

Chinchillas can eat cashews. I’m sure you have caught on to the pattern here: cashews are high in fat and protein, so you should only feed them to your chinchilla in very small amounts.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Nuts: Final Thoughts

Chinchillas can eat nuts, but only in very small quantities. The high protein and fat content are simply too much for these little rodents. The fat and calories are especially problematic and can quickly make your pet obese, which leads to all kinds of health issues.

If you want to feed your pet nuts, never feed more than one (or two small ones) once or twice a week. But it is probably best to just avoid nuts altogether. Given how expensive most nuts have become, it is better for your wallet, too!