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Chinchillas are a type of rodent that lives in the wild in South America. They are closely related to squirrels. Chinchillas have small beady eyes, large ears, and long fur that ranges in color from black to gray to white on their backs and bellies.
They also make adorable pets that don’t require a lot of room. But if you choose a chinchilla as a pet, you should know how to feed them.
If you’re thinking about getting a chinchilla, it’s helpful to know what foods they can eat and which ones can be harmful. Chinchillas are rodents and can eat some of the same things as squirrels, such as nuts and seeds. But chinchillas also have specific dietary needs, so you shouldn’t give them any old snacks.
What Kind of Diet Do Chinchillas Eat?
Chinchillas eat hay, pellets, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Hay is the main part of their diet; they will need a steady supply of it to stay healthy. Pellets are made from chinchilla food ingredients, so they contain some of the nutrients a chinchilla needs but do not provide enough variety for a balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables provide additional vitamins and minerals that complement the hay in your pet chinchilla’s diet.
Can they eat sweet potatoes?
But what about sweet potatoes? Can they be part of a chinchilla’s diet? Despite their nutrient density and benefits, be careful feeding sweet potatoes to a chinchilla.
First, you should never give chinchillas raw white potatoes. They contain solanine, an alkaloid that is toxic to humans and animals in large quantities. Potatoes with green areas contain higher levels of solanine and are especially dangerous for chinchillas and other animals. They can be toxic to humans. That is why people do not eat raw potatoes.
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Fortunately, even raw sweet potatoes do not contain solanine and cooking sweet potatoes reduces some of the substances in sweet potatoes that are unhealthy for chinchillas in large quantities.
So, it’s best to cook a sweet potato before offering it to your chinchilla, but how many chinchillas enjoy soft sweet potatoes? They’d rather have something crispier that they can sink their teeth into. That is why sweet potatoes are not the best choice for chinchillas. If you do give them raw sweet potatoes, keep the amount small and only occasionally.
Sweet Potatoes Have Major Nutrients
So, can chinchillas eat sweet potatoes? Yes, but only in small quantities. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of fiber and vitamins for your chinchilla. Despite their nutritional benefits, they are also high in sugar.
Although they contain fiber, which helps reduce the negative effects of sweet potato sugar, the fiber is mainly in the outer skin of the sweet potato.
Chinchillas Should Get Hay Too
As PetMD.com points out, most of the chinchilla’s diet should be replaced with hay and other foods, including pellets and leafy greens for more fiber. Hay is important for a chinchilla’s overall health and dentition.
Including hay in their diet helps cut teeth that continue to grow throughout their lives. They also eat branches in the wild to cut their teeth.
Without hair or branches, they can experience lengthening of their teeth, leading to pain and dental issues. Feeding chinchillas too many foods high in sugar, including sugar, can also cause dental problems in chinchillas.
That is why you should book a check-up for your chinchilla by a vet once or twice a year. The vet can check their teeth and make sure they don’t have any dental problems.
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Chinchillas can also have vegetables and dried fruits as food. However, treats should not be a chinchilla’s main diet. They also need basic hay and pellets and can also benefit from chewing on chew blocks to ensure their teeth don’t grow too long.
Final Thoughts
Feeding a chinchilla a healthy diet will help maximize its lifespan, which can be up to 20 years if they receive proper care and attention. Chinchillas will eat anything they can get their paws on! The best way to keep your chinchilla on a healthy diet is by giving them a variety of foods that contain essential nutrients for optimal health, along with hay and pellets.
Sources:
- “What to Feed a Pet Chinchilla | RSPCA.” https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/chinchillas/diet.
- “What Do Chinchillas Eat? | PetMD.” 13 Jun 2016, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/nutrition/what-do-chinchillas-eat.
- “Grown, Painful Teeth in Chinchillas | PetMD.” 08 Sept. 2017, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/mouth/overgrown-teeth-and-dental-issues-chinchillas.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not intended to replace diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals showing signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
