In the wild, chinchillas are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and meat. However, they eat mostly vegetation and seeds. Occasionally, they will eat insects and bird eggs.
What shouldn’t chinchillas eat?
There are a number of foods that are poisonous to chinchillas so always double check before you feed them. DO NOT FEED your chinchilla with the following: asparagus, avocado, peas, cabbage, corn, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, rhubarb and rhubarb leaves. Other dangerous foods are banana, sunflower seeds and peanuts.
Some suitable veggie options for chinchillas are carrots, kale, parsley, dandelion greens, lettuce, collard greens and turnip greens. Fruit choices include strawberries, pears, bananas and apples. Always chop vegetables and fruits up into very small bites.
Can a chinchilla eat grass?
Chinchillas naturally eat grasses, leaves and twigs. ” Chinchillas’ teeth grow continuously throughout their life needing wearing down and keeping at the correct length/shape by eating grass/ hay/grass-based chinchilla pellets.
Besides the genuinely reasonable excuses for wanting to hunt this rodent, it’s also surprisingly tasty. Viscacha meat is tender and much less intense than other game. It’s flavour is to rabbit what turkey’s is to chicken”unless you’re told what you’re eating, you wouldn’t really notice the difference.
What is a chinchillas favorite food?
80-90% of a chinchilla’s diet should be high quality grass hay, such as timothy hay or orchard grass hay. Your chinchilla should always have hay available. Pellets should be plain, hay-based pellets, with no seeds, nuts, or dried fruit.
Can chinchillas eat raw carrots?
What treats do chinchillas like? Small amounts of dried fruit and root vegetables, such as raisins, sultanas and carrots. Some sources recommend nuts and seeds as treats but you must bear in mind the high fat content in those.
Can chinchillas eat cheerios?
Cheerios are a popular, healthy breakfast cereal that many people enjoy, but can chinchillas eat this famous cereal? Yes, chinchillas can eat Cheerios, but they should only be given in moderation. Cheerios have a higher concentration of phosphorus than chinchillas need, so too much can cause a nutritional imbalance.
Can chinchillas eat banana peels?
Unless otherwise stated, leaving the skin, rind, or peel on the fruit is preferred as long as the food is washed and rinsed thoroughly with warm soap and water. Feeding too much fruit can cause serious digestive upset. It is a good habit to find a food that your chinchilla enjoys to use as a treat.
Why do chinchillas cry?
Cry: Chinchillas make this noise when they are in pain. Teeth Chattering: Chinchillas make this noise when they are in pain or feeling threatened; however, sometimes this noise means your chinchilla is content.
Do chinchillas like to be held?
They are typically active and playful as pets. And, with gentle handling from a young age, most chinchillas can become quite tame and bond closely with their owners. But don’t expect them to like being held and cuddled like many dogs and cats.
Can chinchillas have paper bedding?
Paper bedding isn’t toxic, however, it becomes dangerous when chinchillas eat it. If they eat enough of it, the bedding can cause a blockage in their intestines. Paper bedding usually swells when it gets wet, so even a small amount can be deadly.
How do chinchillas bathe?
In lieu of soap and water, chinchillas “bathe” in fine dust which helps evenly distribute natural oils, clears away dirt and debris, and keeps their fur silky soft. In their native, arid habitats in the mountainous regions of South America, chinchillas use volcanic ash to keep clean.
How often do chinchillas need dust baths?
Chinchillas will take dust baths a couple times per week. A dust bath can take around 5-10 minutes and is usually best in the evening when they are most active. Dust baths should be available to your chinchilla at least twice a week, but it shouldn’t be available in their habitat during all hours of the day.
Can chinchillas eat grapes?
Chinchillas can eat grapes, but only in strict moderation as occasional treats, as the high sugar content can be harmful to them.
How long does a chinchilla live?
Lifespan
What is a good snack for chinchillas?
Can chinchillas eat raw potatoes?
They can eat celery, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, carrot, alfalfa, and kale regularly. When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, chinchillas can only be fed with these options occasionally and in moderation. Fruits and vegetables should not account for more than 10% of a chinchilla’s diet.
Can you cuddle a chinchilla?
While chinchillas prefer not to cuddle, they are still very affectionate with their pet parents. They are naturally curious and enjoy being out of their chinchilla cages whenever possible”supervised by their pet parent, of course!
Can chinchillas see in the dark?
Chinchillas are not truly nocturnal animals, but they do have excellent vision that allows them to see well in the dark. This makes them successful at nocturnal life, although they prefer a crepuscular lifestyle.
Can chinchillas eat blueberries?
Can chinchillas eat blueberries and are they as good for them as they are for people? Yes, your chinchilla can eat blueberries as a treat, but a chinchilla should only eat a very small quantity of blueberries and other fruits.
Can chinchillas eat peanuts?
Even humans can quickly become addicted to foods with incredibly high caloric densities. Even though your chinchilla may love peanuts and they aren’t outright poisonous, veterinarians would recommend that you avoid feeding your chinchilla peanuts because they can cause the chinchilla to gain weight too quickly.
Do chinchillas like Hot or cold?
With their dense fur coats, chinchillas do not tolerate high temperature or humidity well. Ideally, their cage should be placed in a cool, dry area with adequate ventilation. The ideal temperature should be kept between 60°F and 75°F, and humidity should be kept at less than 60% relative.
Can a chinchilla eat strawberries?
In a nutshell, most chinchillas can have strawberries, but only sparingly. That is, maybe once in a while as a special treat. For the most part, though, it’s better to avoid giving your chinchilla strawberries or any other kind of fruit to be on the safe side.
Can chinchillas just eat hay?
Your chinchilla is a herbivore, which means he eats only plant material. Grass hay should be the high-fiber cornerstone of every chinchilla’s diet. The fiber in hay helps meet the important digestive health and dental needs of herbivores such as chinchillas.
What dried fruit can chinchillas eat?
Dried apples, mangoes, and goji berries are, in my opinion, better than craisins and raisins for the simple fact that they have a lower sugar content dispersed in a larger piece of the fruit. Raisins and craisins have a lot more sugar packed into a tiny little area, making them more dangerous for chins in the long run.
Can chinchillas eat watermelon?
Chinchillas should never eat watermelon, as it is not compatible with their system and can pose a severe health risk. Watermelon is high in sugar and water content.
Can chinchillas eat peaches?
Some commonly used treats include grains, carrots, green vegetables, raisins, or dried cranberries and apples. Some hard objects should also be available to the chinchilla for gnawing, such as young tree branches (elm, ash, maple, or birch) or bark from fruit trees (apple, pear, or peach).
How do I know if my chinchilla is happy?
A happy chinchilla can also communicate its mood through behaviors such as smiling, winking, wall surfing, pop corning and tail wagging. Winking usually occurs when the chinchilla is content or acknowledging a communication from its owner. Wall surfing consists of running around, jumping up and bouncing off the walls.
How do chinchillas show affection?
If your chinchilla wants to display affection, it will spend time close to you. It can let you pick it up, or it may sit near you on your shoulder or lap. However, if it doesn’t like you, it will avoid. When you let it out of its cage, it will not sit or stay near you and instead turn away to do its things.
What sounds do chinchillas make when they are happy?
1. Low, gentle squeaking. A low, gentle, and irregular sound, characterized by a high-pitched squeaking, is usually a sign that all is okay in your Chinchilla’s world. This sound is a sign to other Chinchillas and to you that they are happy and content and that everything is safe.
How do I talk to my chinchilla?
Speak to your chinchilla in a soft, comforting voice, but do not try to touch him. It is best for him to get used to your voice while you’re still across cage bars from each other. With time your chinchilla will be more comfortable and may come up to the side of the cage to greet you when you enter the room.
Do chinchillas have favorite people?
Despite being an exotic pet, chinchillas have friendly, sociable, and cuddly personalities around humans. Because of this fact, the average chinchilla likes to be held and cuddled. In fact, many chinchillas get sad and depressed if not given enough attention by other chinchilla friends and humans.
How do you get a chinchilla to like you?
What toys do chinchillas like?
Chew Toys for Chinchillas Chinchillas often favor a variety of branches for chewing but make sure you choose a safe wood such as willow, apple, poplar, and aspen tree branches. Avoid branches from cherry, citrus fruit trees, redwood, cedar, and other evergreen trees.
Do chinchillas need a wheel?
Chinchillas are very active creatures, and, living in a cage, you’ll need to ensure they have access to a wheel to exercise, and plenty of space to run around in. A wheel also keeps them entertained, while also providing essential exercise.
Do chinchillas need sawdust?
Lined with clean, dry bedding. Hay, shredded paper, recycled wood pulp or cardboard litter are suitable bedding types. Any bedding used should be dust-free. Don’t use shredded newspaper because the ink can be toxic for small pets like chinchillas.
How do chinchillas sleep?
Chinchillas sleep with their faces forward, on top of their front feet. Their ears are also angled down with the rest of the body. Despite being asleep, chinchillas remain alert and can quickly be woken up by any type of noise.
Can chinchillas get fleas?
Chinchilla fur is difficult for fleas to penetrate, making a flea infestation of your chinchilla very unlikely, but chinchillas can get fleas. Luckily, fleas are rare in chinchillas. That does not mean you should automatically rule out fleas as a cause for symptoms like itching and hair loss.
Do chinchillas like water?
But just because chinchillas don’t like warm climates and taking water baths, doesn’t mean they don’t drink water. In the wild, these rodents get most of their water from cacti and other plants but as pets, chinchillas need water bottles to stay hydrated.
Do chinchillas need to be let out of their cage?
Your chinchilla absolutely requires supervision when it’s out of its cage. Remember that chinchillas are sensitive and curious creatures, and leaving them alone, even in a chinchilla-proof area, can be potentially harmful.
How often should a chinchilla cage be cleaned?
Why is my chinchillas chin wet?
Chinchillas with dental problems often have what is called “Slobbers” or excessive drooling making the chin wet. At first glance they may seem to be eating voraciously, but sometimes they are just dropping the food back out of their mouths because they can’t chew.
Can chinchillas eat almonds?
Chinchillas Can Technically Eat Almonds, But Should They? Chinchillas can technically eat almonds, but that does not mean almonds should be made a regular part of their diet. Almonds are high in calories and fat, both of which can contribute to obesity and future health problems.
Can chinchillas eat radishes?
Suggested greens: Beet greens (tops), carrot tops (and no more than 1-2 baby carrots per day), Cilantro, Clover, Collard greens, Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides), Endive, Escarole, Mustard greens, Parsley, Peppermint leaves, Raddichio, Radish tops, Raspberry leaves, Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light …
Can chinchillas eat bread?
Chinchillas do well on a basic diet of pellets and good-quality hay. A treat now and then would be appreciated, though, and among the dried raisins and leafy greens, you may wonder if the crust from your sandwich is a good idea. Bread isn’t poisonous to chinchillas and they can eat it.