Diet And Nutrition

Chinchillas have issues with many fruits. Of course, some prefer to classify the tomato as a vegetable. See below for a discussion on this. But most vegetables can present a problem for these sensitive rodents, too! Can chinchillas eat tomatoes then, or are they another in a long list of foods that are healthy for us, but bad for our pets? Keep reading to find … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Tomatoes? (Read Before You Feed!)

Fruit in general is problematic for chinchillas. The high sugar and water content can wreak havoc on their sensitive digestive systems. Can chinchillas eat watermelon, then? We all know it contains a lot of water, after all. I mean, it's right there in the name. With many fruits, the answer is not a simple 'yes' or 'no'. With watermelon it is. The answer is … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Watermelon? (A Fruit With Multiple Dangers!)

We've already covered whether chinchillas can have grapes. 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 … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Raisins? (Do Not Feed Until You Read!)

I say this all the time on this site. But it is important, so I will say it again. The only food a chinchilla needs is hay and pellets. Yes, you can also feed your pet some treats, but hay and pellets should make up at least 90% of its daily calories. When it comes to treats, you have a lot of decent options. But only a few really good ones. Where do peaches fit … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Peaches? (Why They Could Be Problematic)

Berries are always problematic. While they are incredibly healthy for us, they can be quite dangerous for chinchillas. Most berries contain far too much water and sugar for these little rodents. As a result, you can only feed them in tiny amount. Or better yet, just avoid them altogether. But some berries are better than others. Do cranberries land on that … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Cranberries? (A Hidden Danger)

They come from very different climates. Coconuts come from the tropics. Hot and humid. Chinchillas come from the Andes mountains in Chile. Cool and arid. In the wild, no chinchilla would ever eat a coconut. But how about in captivity? Can chinchillas eat coconut? Or is it off limits, like so many other fruits and vegetables. It turns out, coconut is a bit … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Coconut? (Read Before You Feed!)

We all know that vegetables are healthy. For humans. You may also know that most vegetables are not all that healthy for chinchillas. Their sensitive digestive system simply isn't built to handle the high water and sugar content. Does that apply to sweet potatoes, too? Or can chinchillas eat sweet potatoes without issue? Like most other vegetables,the answer is … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Sweet Potatoes? (What You Need To Know)

You may already know this. Chinchillas have sensitive digestive systems. As a result, they have a hard time with many foods that are healthy for us human. This includes almost all fruits and vegetables. They can usually eat them in tiny amounts, but any more than that will cause problems. How is it with beans? Can chinchillas eat green beans, at least in tiny … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Green Beans? (Read Before You Feed!)

Cucumbers seem like a harmless food. Surely chinchillas can eat cucumbers without issues, right? Not so fast. Cucumbers might not be toxic for chinchillas, but they do contain one potentially problematic ingredient. But more important is what they do not contain. They do not have much nutritional value for a chinchilla at all, so they make little sense as a … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Cucumbers? (Beware The Potential Danger)

The ideal chinchilla diet is as simple as can be. Hay and pellets are all they need. But many of us like to give our pets the occasional tasty treat. I know I love watching my chin tuck into a delicious little morsel. The problem is that there are so many foods that are bad for them. Including many we see as healthy. Fruits can be especially problematic. Can … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Blueberries? (Why You Need To Be Careful)