Can Chinchillas Eat Rice? (And What Happens If They Do?)

Rice is the most consumed food in the world.

Over half of the population eats rice as a staple dish.

But that’s humans. Can chinchillas eat rice, too?

These little rodents have famously sensitives digestive systems.

As a result, many foods that are good for us actually cause serious problems for our little furry friends.

And yes, rice is on that list, too. Sort of.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about feeding rice to your chinchilla.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Rice?

Chinchillas can not eat rice. It is not toxic, so if they do eat some, it won’t kill them. But rice is high in carbohydrates, making it too difficult for a chinchilla to digest.

Plus, rice does not really offer chinchilla’s much in the way of nutrients. There are far better snacks that they also enjoy eating more. In short: there is no good reason to feed your chinchilla rice. Let’s go ahead and take a closer look at what makes rice bad.

 

Why Is Rice Bad For Chinchillas?

Chinchillas are omnivores, but the majority of their diet should be plant-based. While grains are plants, they are the wrong parts of the plants. Grains like rice simply contain far too many carbohydrates for your chinchilla to consume.

Rice can even cause blockages in your chinchilla’s digestive system, because these little rodents have incredibly sensitive systems. This could cause your chinchilla stomach pains and bloating, and could end up making it very sick and potentially require a visit to the vet.

If you want to feed your chinchilla rice, you should make sure it is only a very small amount, no more that a few grains. And it should only be an occasional treat. I would not suggest feeding your chinchilla rice any more than once a week.

 

Can I Mix Rice With Hay Or Pellets?

I would not recommend mixing rice with your pet’s hay or pellets. It is too easy to accidentally feed your chinchilla too much of the grain, which will cause it to become sick. And again, there is no real reason to feed these animals rice anyway.

If you want to mix another food in with your chinchilla’s hay or pellets to add some variety, you could try leafy vegetables such as kale or spinach. This will fit in better with your chinchilla’s diet, since they need a lot of fiber.

However, vegetables do contain a lot of water, so you’ll want to limit how much you feed. This article covers vegetables for chinchillas.

 

Which Rice Is Best?

If you must feed your chinchilla rice, you should stick to brown instead of white. Brown rice is more nutritious, because it is a whole grain. This means it has more fiber, making it easier for your chinchilla to digest.

You should only feed your chinchilla plain rice. And whatever you do, do not feed your chinchilla any spicy rice. It will be too much for their bodies and may result in your chinchilla becoming incredibly ill.

If you notice that your chinchilla seems to be in pain or is suffering from bloating or diarrhea, you should visit a vet right away.

 

Can I Feed My Chinchilla Boiled Rice?

Boiled rice is ok to feed your chinchilla. It is easier for your chinchilla to chew and digest than raw rice. However, I would still suggest not feeding your chinchilla any rice at all. And you should particularly stay away from any flavored rice.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Rice Krispies

You can feed your chinchilla rice krispies as a treat. You should make sure that they are plain rice krispies, because sugary cereals can upset your pet’s stomach.

I would only feed your chinchilla a couple of rice krispies at one time, and only once or twice a week. They should never be more than an occasional treat, perhaps as a way to reward your chinchilla for good behavior.

That said, there are better cereals to feed your pet than rice krispies. Corn flakes, Cheerios, and shredded wheat cereals are the best choices. These all make great treats.

Of course, it should go without saying, that you should only feed the plain versions, and not frosted ones. This goes for any human foods for chinchillas: always unprocessed and with no added sugars, salts, etc.

 

What Grains Can Chinchillas Eat?

You should avoid feeding your chinchilla any type of grain on a regular basis. You should keep them as treats to feed your pet a couple of times a week. Grains that they will enjoy include shredded wheat, rolled oats, barley, millet, linseed and maize.

Chinchillas are curious animals so they will be willing to try any type of grain that you give them. You should make sure any grain you feed your chinchilla is plain and not flavoured or sugared in any way as this could cause harm to your chinchilla’s digestive system.

Make sure you are only feeding your chinchilla small amounts of any grain, I would suggest no more than a thumb-nail amount and no more than twice a week.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Rice: Final Thoughts

Chinchillas can eat rice, but only in very small amounts. Cooked rice is better than raw and brown rice is better than white. It should only ever be plain rice.

All that said, it is best not to give your chinchilla any rice at all. It contains too many carbohydrates and it does not have much nutritional value for a chinchilla. Moreover, there are a number of healthier foods that also taste better to chinchillas. Flowers are always a good choice.