Chinchilla care sheet

I get a lot of questions asking about chinchilla care, so I decided to do a blog on it in hopes of answering most people's questions. I will be adding pictures as well to help with any confusion as I know some of my customers do better seeing the product or what to look for.

Diet

A chinchilla diet should be plain pellets meaning no seeds, nuts, colorful pieces etc. That also includes no fruits or vegetables (dried or fresh) which can cause gas and cause several problems.Too much sugar can harm your chinchilla. Chinchillas won't overeat, free feeding them is best. Pellets lose nutrients overtime so it's best not to use anything milled past 90days. There's several types of feeders, metal or ceramic bowls or J feeders are good to use. When switching feeds it needs to be done gradually, not all of a sudden. My system is week 1 75% old feed/ 25% new feed, week 2 50% old feed/ 50% new feed, week 3 25% old feed/ 75% new feed, week 4 100% new feed. Some rabbit pellets can be fed to chinchillas as well.

Examples

(chinchilla based)

-Oxbow essentials (red bag) -Mazuri Chinchilla

-Tradition

(Rabbit based)

-Manna pro Pro -Manna pro Sho

-Ace Hi rabbit feed -Blue seal show hutch

-Producer's pride -Nutrena Naturewise Premium

-Purina rabbit chow show (blue bag)

A good plain pellet should look like this

A bad quality feed would look similar to these

Here's a list of common bad quality feeds

(this isn't a complete list, just some common pet store brands)

-Kaytee (all varieties)

-Higgins (all varieties)

-Vitakraft (all varieties)

-All living things

-Oxbow garden select (green/brown bag)

-Carefresh complete

-Sunseed

Hay

Chinchillas diet should consist of hay and pellets. If your pellet is alfalfa-based, give timothy hay, and vice versa. Most feeds are alfalfa based. Hay is good for your chinchilla's digestive track and also helps trim their teeth. I free feed hay but you can limit it to once a day if desired. Make sure you give good quality hay. It should be green and free of moisture. If it's brown or yellow, you shouldn't feed it. Watch out for moldy hay, if it smells molded don't feed it to your chin. Hay cubes can also be given in place of loose hay or as an extra chewing item.

Examples

-Timothy -Orchard grass

-Brome -Bermuda grass

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

-Bluegrass -Botanical hay

-Alfalfa (due to rich nutrients, should only be fed to young/growing animals or malnourished animals. Can be offered as a treat for adults but not their main hay source. Unless the main pellet is timothy based)

Feeders/ Water bottles

Some feeders aren't good for chinchillas. With ceramic and metal bowls, I recommend to have them hanging as chins will pee and poop in them if on the floor of the cage. With water bottles I recommend glass, you can have a plastic one but your chin will chew on them and you'll have to keep replacing them. A bowl is not a suitable water dish. With J feeders you don't have to cut the wire, you can hang it from the inside if desired.

Examples

-J feeders -Ceramic bowls

-Metal bowls

Examples

With bottles, the kaytee will work but they have been know to leak constantly. My recommended bottle is the lixit 16oz bottle.

-Lixit 16oz -Kaytee

Treats

It's no secret that chinchillas love treats! But they aren't good for them. Treats are okay given in moderation or sparingly (once or twice a week). Chinchillas under 6months shouldn't have treats at all. Herbs are given as treats. Please do research on herbs before giving as some herbs aren't not safe for pregnant/nursing females or if you have a special chin that has a certain disease.

Examples

-Old fashion oats (not quick cook or instant) (just a small pinch)