That link will take you to that article.
The major problem with grapes is their water content.
But raisins are a different beast. They do not contain much water.
Can chinchillas eat raisins then? And if so, can they have a lot, or just a tiny amount again?
Well, if you remember, there was another issue with grapes. And that issue stays the same with raisins.
In fact, it actually gets worse.
Keep reading to learn what the major issue is with raisins and if it means that a chinchilla can’t have this delicious dried fruit.
Can Chinchillas Eat Raisins?
Yes, chinchillas can eat raisins. Any kind of dried fruit is always a great snack. And chinchillas especially love raisins. But you should only feed them to your chinchilla as a small treat every now and then.
The reason for that is the high sugar content. As explained in our article on whether chinchillas can eat grapes, grapes are high in water and sugar. Both pose a problem for chinchillas if they get too much of them, so they can only eat a tiny amount of grape.
With raisins, the water content is no longer an issue. But the sugar content is even higher, since all of he water is removed, making the sugar more concentrated. This means you still need to strictly limit how much raisin you give your chinchilla. Only a small treat and never a meal.
Raisins As A Treat
If your chinchilla is already eating a healthy diet that is primarily hay and pellets, then there is no reason why it can’t have raisins as a treat.
As a dried fruit, raisins are a great treat to feed your chinchilla, since there is no water in them. Chinchillas don’t need a lot of water. In fact, getting too much can lead to bloating and sickness.
This is a result of having adapt to their natural habitat in the Andes mountains, where there is minimal moisture. Their bodies have learned to retain water for longer, so that they can survive without it. But if they get a lot of it, retaining it means they bloat and can even die.
But raisins do still have a high amount of sugar in them, which is why you should only feed them to your chinchilla as a treat, just like grapes or other fruits.
How Many Raisins Can A Chinchillas Eat?
Feeding your chinchilla too much sugar can lead to obesity, dental problems, sickness and diarrhoea. I recommend only feeding your chinchilla a single raisin once or twice a week.
At a maximum, you could give it two small raisins up to 3 times a week. But I would err on the side of caution and stick to just one raisin, up to twice a week.
Can Chinchillas Eat Golden Raisins?
Yes, chinchillas can eat golden raisins. These are simple made from different grapes. Specifically, they are made with seedless grapes. Everything said in this article about raisins in general, goes for golden raisins as well.
Can Chinchillas Eat Sultanas?
Sultanas are actually the same thing as golden raisins. In the US, they are generally referred to as golden raisins, or sometimes sultana raisins. In other English speaking countries, they are usually called sultanas.
What Should I Be Feeding My Chinchilla?
For your chinchilla to live a healthy life, what you feed it should mostly resemble what it would eat in the wild. This means a lot of hay, since they eat a lot of dry grasses in the wild.
Hay won’t aggravate your chinchilla’s sensitive digestive system and it will also help to wear down its constantly growing teeth. This is vital, in order to help your pet avoid any nasty dental conditions.
You should also add pellets to your chinchilla’s diet. These mostly consist of hay, too, but they have additional ingredients that ensure your chinchilla gets all the necessary vitamins and nutrients it needs to feel fit and healthy.
I like to give my pet pellets once or twice a da and just keep the hay feeder stocked with hay all the time, so that my chin can graze on hay whenever it feels like it. You ca buy both hay and pellets at your local pet store or online. This article covers the best pellets for chinchillas, and this one covers the best hay brands.
What Foods Should I Not Feed My Chinchilla?
There are a few foods you should avoid giving your chinchilla. You don’t want to make your pet sick in any way or give it bad food that will mean less play time for you!
An obvious food to avoid feeding your chinchilla is chocolate. But at least that means you can have more! Chocolate has a high sugar and fat content and your little friend may struggle to digest it.
It is also generally best to avoid feeding your chinchilla fresh fruit and vegetables. While it may not be as harmful as chocolate and many owners like to feed their pets fruits or vegetables, most do contain a high amount of sugar, water or both.
This can also lead to digestive issues with your chinchilla such as bloating or diarrhea and can even cause severe stomach pains. If you want to feed your chinchilla fruit and vegetables, make sure you limit the amounts.
This article lists the fruits a chinchilla can and can’t eat and this one does the same for vegetables.
Nuts and seeds should also be a no-go with your chinchilla’s diet. They’re full of fat and protein, which chinchillas don’t eat a lot in the wild, so it can affect their digestive systems. Again, tiny amounts are ok, but not more than that.
What Other Dried Fruits Can Chinchillas Eat?
Chinchillas also love other dried fruits that are similar to raisins, such as sultanas and cranberries. They also love dried bananas, apples or pineapple.
Dried fruits are the healthiest fruit option to feed your chinchilla. They are high in fibre with very little water content. Just like with raisins, you should only feed your chinchilla small amounts of other dried fruits, due to the sugar content.
Keep it to a small amount only about the size of your fingernail, once or twice a week. You should only feed any dried fruit to your chinchilla as an occasional treat. It should never be a major part of your pet’s diet.
Can Chinchillas Have Raisins: Final Thoughts
Chinchillas can eat raisins. In fact, they are far better than fresh grapes. This is true of all dried fruits. They are always better for chinchillas than their fresh counterparts.
The reason for that is the high water content in fruit. It can cause a lot of trouble for a chinchilla’s sensitive digestive system. But it is not the only thing in fruit that can cause problems.
Sugar is also problematic. And dried fruits have even more sugar by weight than fresh. This means you still need to limit the amount you feed your pet, if you give it raisins, just as you have to with grapes. A single raisin once or twice a week is a good amount.
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