As you know, chinchillas are very active, so they run around a lot. You should thus monitor it at all times to make sure it doesnt hunt down your chinchilla. Those products can be harmful to your digestive system in large quantities, so keep small portions in hand. Instead, you should only feed them a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of fresh green leaves and grass. Pelleted diets are better than a mixture of loose items. Fresh vegetables and fruits can occasionally be fed to your chinchillas, but only some of the fruit and vegetables your chinchillas digestive system can bear. This means it should comprise 35% carbohydrates, 30% fiber, 15% protein, 4% protein, and less than 3.5% fat. Most tap water is clean, however, dirty water can contain giardia and would not be suitable for use in your Chinchilla Water Bottle. Chinchillas with these signs should be examined immediately by a veterinarian to have the lodged material extracted. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. If a chinchilla were to eat dry cat food, it would likely experience digestive issues and may even die. Gastrointestinal Disorders. I'm the main author of Pocket Pets Forever. [4] You can buy hay at most pet stores or online. What Nutrients Are Unhealthy If Overfed to Your Chinchilla? All greens and veggies should be offered in limited quantities and in moderation. 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. As a general rule of thumb, chinchillas dont need fruit to be considered healthy and they dont need it in their diet. Yucca. If you're looking for a reasonably priced cage that comes with a variety of accessories, try the Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage with Wheel. Most importantly, you need to know what they can and cant eat! We recommend that you stick to simple and researched greens and vegetables rather than experimenting with all sorts of different options that really arent needed, remember, a chinchilla only needs a simple diet to be both happy and healthy. The foods below are considered unsafe or too unhealthy to feed to your chinchilla and therefore should be avoided. This is because wet cat food contains a lot of moisture and, as such, its difficult for chinchillas to digest. 1 What Foods Are Poisonous To Chinchillas? No fruits, seeds, nuts or vegetables. 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. Make sure to read the product form to know what you are getting when buying treats. 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. Make sure to cut these fruits and vegetables into small tiny pieces of cubes to feed them and know the proper quantity that they can handle through your pets vet. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. From their increased curiosity and affection to their unmatched affordability, chinchillas will always be amazing pets. To be more specific, the diet should have 30% fiber, 16% protein, 35% carbohydrates, and the rest should be filled with fat, minerals, and sugar. Treats such as dried fruit, grains, nuts and seeds should not be offered, as they are not easily digested and may lead to tooth damage. Copyright tagDiv. Humans have food, and chinchillas have hay. The answer is that chinchillas do need fresh water daily and if they dont have access to water they will become dehydrated and eventually become ill and die. The best way to safeguard your chinchilla from your cat is by placing its cage far from the reach of your cat. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Chinchillas are very friendly animals. Read on for everything that you'll need to know. So, can rabbits eat chinchilla food? Chinchillas in captivity often require a balanced diet of low fat, low moisture, low carbohydrates, and high fiber. Finally, chinchillas need foods that help to keep their teeth grounded over time. In this article, we'll answer the above questions by taking an in-depth look at what kind of diet is best for your beloved pet chinchilla. djvstock. Its important to offer your chinchillas an unlimited amount of fresh hay in their cage daily so they can continually consume the large amounts of fibre they need. Line the cage with a few inches of dye-free paper bedding. 1. Chinchillas are South American rodents that have continuously growing, open-rooted teeth to compensate for the wear that occurs from chewing on very abrasive, high-fiber grass and hay. So, what should you feed a chinchilla? Like most animals in the world, chinchillas require a variety of nutrients to be considered healthy and for their organs to work correctly. Reasons Why Theyre SmartContinue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. This means your cat gets to see your chinchilla but isnt in a position to touch it.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-portrait-1','ezslot_19',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-portrait-1-0'); You also need to make sure that this area is just as comfy as where your chinchilla is to avoid your cat from wanting to stretch inside the cage bars.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetshq_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-4-0'); Moreover, make sure there isnt a bed positioned over the chinchillas cage to prevent your cat from having a post from where it might try and reach the chinchilla. Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . Never change your chinchillas' diet suddenly, as this could upset their digestive system and make them very ill. Note: Its important to understand that this is a guide only. I blog about their care, where to buy them, breeders, and more. Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. As rodents, their standard diet tends to follow a more opportunistic model, with chinchillas eating plants, seeds, fruits, and insects that it can get its paws on. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. 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. Below we have listed the most common greens that your chinchillas can safely eat in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet. As we mentioned earlier, hay is the most important part of a chinchillas diet. While hay should be offered in unlimited quantities, feeding large amounts of high-calcium alfalfa hay to non-breeding, adult chinchillas has been associated with the development calcium-based bladder stones. Once this condition occurs, there is nothing that can be done other than to provide pain medication and soft foods. Behavior & Training Food & Nutrition . Please remember that there are hundreds of greens and vegetables from around the world. Dog food is not nutritionally balanced for chinchillas and can make them sick. Always offer small amounts of sugar to your chinchillas and seek advice from your vet if you still arent sure. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. 4. Also note: the initial interaction shall be concise, lasting only a few minutes. Avoid using wooden toy balls. Long-tailed chinchillas are primarily herbivorous. Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. What is more, this intelligence defines how much they will learn about their, Read More Are chinchillas Smart? Hamsters vs. Gerbils: Whats the Difference. Chinchillas can eat leaves and twigs in captivity, yet these types of food are more difficult to find when not in the wild. Second, not all rabbit foods are created equal. This is a general rule for most small animals such as hedgehogs and even the majority of reptiles. Do make sure to feed them every day and check if their droppings are dry and normal. Hibiscus is known to be a healthy treat for chinchillas if offered in small quantities and is often used in commercial chinchilla treats. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. Just make sure that they are safe. You'll need to make sure you'll be sharing your home with an animal that suits your lifestyle, available space, and even your personality type. Image 1 is the male father & Image 2 is the female mother.. When it comes to pellets for chinchillas, its important that you purchase pellets that are specifically designed for chinchillas. If you want to give your chinchilla some treats, then these should be carefully selected. 2.2 Dried Fruits And Herbs. Another important thing that they eat is pellets. Fruit can cause problems to chinchillas such as. head over to our post that shares all you need to know. Chinchillas dont need a whole lot of greens in their diet but they are still important in the right quantities. Grapes and raisins have shown to be toxic to dogs, ferrets and cats. cute cat; Cat cartoon; cat eat; 1. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). If this is a problem you were undergoing, reading this insightful article has enlightened you to understand better if cats and chinchillas can get along. It should be bright green and smell fresh, or else it can be harmful to your chinchilla. By doing this, you can be confident that your chinchilla doesnt suffer any physical harm plus is safe from any stress. Remember that treats are only supposed to be offered sparingly and not in large amounts daily. Special emphasis on nutritional support. Some of the more common culprits include inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, ulcers, etc. A good quality pellet usually contains vitamins such as vitamins A, B12, D3 & E. In contrast to hay, where you should provide it in large quantities, pellets should be offered in smaller amounts and make up more of the remaining 10% of your chinchillas diet. Monitoring your chinchillas' diet. "Hay should be offered free choice 24 hours a day and should be the main component of your chinchilla's diet." Hay should be replaced daily with fresh hay to prevent bacteria and mold growth. Purebred Chinchilla's. $1,200. As you can see from everything weve discussed above, you should never feed cat food to a chinchilla. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you! Therefore, you need to make sure your chinchilla is safe in the cage placed in a different room your cat cant go into. Anu wood sticks you offer your chin needs to be from non-toxic trees and free from pesticides. Hey is extremely high in fibre which is important as the dietary tract of a chinchilla requires constant movement and large amounts of fibre are essential to help with this process. Fat is another nutrient that chinchillas need in very small amounts to be considered healthy. These tend to be expensive but, over time, theyre worth the investment. link to How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? Chinchillas also need their diets to be supplemented with pellets to round off and balance their nutritional needs. 2.4 Certain Breakfast Cereals. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. If you decide to collect your own wood then you need to make sure you do a few things before handing it over to your chinchilla. The bottom line is, chinchillas dont need treats, but if you feel bad or want your chinchilla to be happy, then you can give them treats occasionally.
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