Chinchillas could be temperate and might be picky eaters, and you should be careful about, Read More Can Chinchillas Eat Cucumbers And Is It Safe?Continue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. In addition to this, a lot of fruit can actually be harmful to chinchillas and they certainly cant just eat any and all fruits. Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food. This is because rabbits require higher amounts of protein than chinchillas, which is reflected in the content of their food. This is important because these two pets have brains that are programmed to act differently. Providing greens in small amounts and not too often is something you will have to get used to as a chinchillas owner due to the fact that chinchillas have unusual nutritional needs. This leads to problems including diarrhea, weight loss, and stomach ulcers. Guinea Pig Food Doesn't Need To Be Restricted! Here's Why In addition to that, if you have two or more chinchillas, they can become quite protective of the feeding bowl, which can cause fights between the chinchillas, and also, one might eat more than the other. Can Chinchillas Live With Cats? Tips for families who want to own both! You dont need to panic about the role that calcium and phosphorus play in the health of your chinchilla, instead, simply stick to a basic and recommended diet of fresh hay, supplemented with pellets and a small number of fresh greens or vegetables. Small pets like chinchillas have very specific dietary needs. Are Chinchillas Cuddly? Safe and Unsafe Food for Chinchillas | Infolific Specialties: The Wishbone Pet Company has the largest selection of raw diets in Santa Cruz, CA with a strong emphasis on holistic natural care. | Learn More >> You are shopping: Livonia, MI Livonia. Fresh drinking water should be offered daily in a water bowl or bottle. Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. . In the wild, chinchillas live in cold mountains, crevices of rocks, moving from rock to rock to escape from predators and to find food. What Do Chinchillas Eat? - We're All About Pets Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own, Wash The wood Thoroughly (remove all visible dirt), Ensure Sticks Are Totally Dry (should easily snap under pressure), Timothy or Orchard Grass Hay Always Available. This is because cats have an innate hunting instinct. Can Chinchillas Eat Blueberries? - The Whole Portion They eat Royal Canin special Persian cat food and the kittens are eating kitten food. Following this diet routine is to make sure your chinchilla doesnt turn into a malnourished animal. They have very different nutritional needs. and how to get rid of it, The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023, Are chinchillas Smart? 2.2 Nutritional requirements. Either way, you need to be careful when offering your chin both fruit and dried fruit and always check to see if the fruit is recommended for chinchillas and what quantities it should be offered in. Plain Shredded Wheat. Do you see that furry animal? Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. These exotic animals need chinchilla food pellets every day, a well but in a much more controlled quantity. This ensures its overall wellbeing is guaranteed, meaning your chinchilla gets to enjoy a peaceful life. This includes plenty of fresh green leaves and hay. The most important thing is to provide chinchillas with additional water, especially in summer, and monitor their daily water intake. Dried Herbs. Hard objects, such as branches from non-toxic fruit trees (like apple, pear, and peach trees), can be given to promote chewing and teeth wear, but toxic trees (like cherry, cedar, plum and redwood) should be avoided. Do Chinchillas Eat Insects And Does It Affect Their Health - Walkthepets Line the cage with a few inches of dye-free paper bedding. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. By doing this, you can be confident that your chinchilla doesnt suffer any physical harm plus is safe from any stress. Once you do this, you can be sure that your cat wont be able to swipe your chinchilla or its cage as they get used to each others company.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'smallpetshq_com-sky-3','ezslot_21',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-sky-3-0'); While you might be excoriated to introduce your chinchilla to your entire family, and this includes your cat, its vital first to make sure it first gets used to you. No, Apples should not be given on regular basis to Chinchillas but Chinchillas can eat Apples but only in moderation. Always keep an eye on your cat even after your chinchilla and cat have started getting along. Chinchillas are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of hay, vegetables, and a small amount of fruit. This means that feeding too many greens can cause an unbalanced amount of nutrients such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. If your cat does this, theres a high likelihood of it ignoring the chinchilla, which in turn doesnt get so stressed by the cats presence.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',181,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); However, if you have an overly active cat, it might not be a good idea to have these two pets live in the same house. You also need to make sure your cat has a mellow personality to lower the likelihood of it attacking your chinchilla. The chinchilla's digestive system is incompatible with these foods due to their high water content, high acidity, high vitamin C content, high fructose content, and low fiber content, as well as their . Similarly, pet chinchillas should be offered food twice a day but may consume food throughout the day, as they tend to eat more slowly than other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Distilled water isnt as easy to get hold of as water from the tap and it, unfortunately, does not contain any minerals which your Chinchilla needs. They shouldn't be used in place of a proper diet of chinchilla pellets and hay. Alfalfa hay is usually recommended for young, growing chinchillas as it helps them to put on weight quickly but this is usually only offered until the age of around 9 months old. Do have constant clean drinking water; if tap water is not clean, then have bottled water for your pet. However, this isnt something they enjoy doing. The short answer is yes, chinchillas can eat rabbit food. So here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your chinchillas. Arrives by Fri, Mar 31 Buy Auto Feeder Water Dispenser Set Rabbit Cat Dog Chinchilla Food Hanging Gravity at Walmart.com A . Well, you should try to distribute the appropriate amount of food around their cage instead of handing them their feed in a bowl. Chinchillas enjoy dandelions because they have an interesting . Chewing is good for your chinchillas teeth as they continually grow throughout their lives and chewing safe objects will help to keep their teeth short and healthy. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. The short answer is no. Chinchillas require a diet high in fiber and low in fat. Thank you for supporting us on our journey as we continue to publish content with the aim of helping owners care for their pets in the best way possible! Please do not leave them alone at any moment as our pets security is our topmost priority. Collect. Food items that need to be provided to them continuously are hay and clean drinking water. The diet of chinchillas should ideally be high in protein and fiber while containing low moisture and fat content. By doing so, youll be giving your cat and chinchilla ample time to get used to each other behaviors and smells. You should do this by giving your cat ample time to become used to the new smell while making sure your chinchilla remains in the cage. 4. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Nuts? Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. Most customers said their chinchillas can't get enough of these treats. This is because wet cat food contains a lot of moisture and, as such, its difficult for chinchillas to digest. Another important thing that they eat is pellets. Naturally aloof people might not want to be constantly hounded for canine kisses, just as cuddly types might be affronted by some cat breeds . It should be bright green and smell fresh, or else it can be harmful to your chinchilla. Limit fruits and sugary vegetables (e.g., carrots) to <1 teaspoon/day. Are Chinchillas Good Pets: Everything You Need To Know Adult chinchillas are recommended to eat timothy hay as this provides all the nutrients your chinchilla needs and in the correct quantities. Most tap water is clean, however, dirty water can contain giardia and would not be suitable for use in your Chinchilla Water Bottle. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? On the other hand, the natural hamster diet is mainly . 2.6 No Sudden Dietary Changes. Bottles water is safe for chinchillas to use but is an expensive way of providing your Chinchilla with water and some would consider this quite wasteful. What Do Chinchillas Eat in the Wild and as Pets? | Pet Keen Although fruits and nuts are something that can be fed to chinchillas, it is best to avoid them. Thats why they need to have toys and accessories in their houses. Copyright tagDiv. Never change your chinchillas' diet suddenly, as this could upset their digestive system and make them very ill. Overconsumption of pellets can also be fattening and can lead to obesity and diarrhea due to excess carbohydrate ingestion. as it helps them to put on weight quickly but this is usually only offered until the age of around 9 months old. Chinchillas dont need a whole lot of greens in their diet but they are still important in the right quantities. Lets look at some more information that is essential for chinchilla pet owners about pet food. All four have unique and beautiful personalities & are ready for forever homes. Chinchillas require a diet that mainly consists of timothy hay with the addition of supplementary chinchilla pellets.