There are a lot of things that you should be careful with when it comes to feeding your chinchilla. There are certain foods that you should avoid and others that you should give them as a reward for doing well in their trials and tribulations. The best foods to give them include fruit and vegetables, and you should avoid giving them regular rodent pellets. In addition, you should avoid giving your chinchilla high-fiber snacks, such as raisins.
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Dos and don’ts for feeding chinchillas
Providing a nutritious diet for your chinchilla is essential for your pet’s long-term health. There are many foods that are toxic for chinchillas, so it’s crucial to avoid giving your chinchilla these foods. Some of these items include avocado, peas, and corn. You can also avoid feeding them sunflower seeds and peanuts.
Chinchillas should always have access to clean drinking water. It is a good idea to provide them with a drinking bottle so they don’t get wet when drinking. You should also be sure to replace the water every day. In addition to the food that you provide your chinchilla, they need plenty of hay, which should make up about 75 percent of their daily diet. Hay also helps to keep their digestive system efficient.
You should also monitor the chinchilla’s droppings to ensure that they don’t become obese. A chinchilla’s teeth constantly grow and need to be worn down with chewing. If they don’t get enough chewing material, their teeth will grow too large, distorting their jaw.
Raisins
Raisins are a favorite treat of chinchillas and, although they’re not toxic, they have a high sugar content. This can upset their stomachs and lead to diarrhea. The high sugar content in raisins also affects their teeth, which could result in tooth decay and other dental issues. Since chinchillas don’t eat fruit in their natural diet, they need healthy treats that provide their body with the nutrition it needs.
In moderation, raisins are fine for chinchillas. However, too much can cause diarrhea, weight gain and dropsy. If you notice these symptoms, you should separate your chinchilla from its raisin source and consult with an exotic veterinarian. Raisins are an excellent source of glucose and water for chinchillas, but they should not be the staple of their diet.
High-fiber snacks
If you’re worried about what to feed your chinchilla, you’re not alone. Chinchillas need a mixture of pellets and natural food with a high percentage of protein and fiber. They should also get a small amount of fat each day. The recommended daily amount is about two to five grams of fat. However, two tablespoons of pellets are plenty for most healthy chinchillas.
Various types of fruits are not suitable for chinchillas’ diets. Many fruits contain too much fructose and may cause diarrhea. Raisins are the most common chinchilla snack.
Fruit
While it may be tempting to feed your chinchilla fruit, you must avoid it. The high sugar content of most fruits makes them unsuitable for this tiny mammal. Fruit can also cause digestive problems. Chinchillas have a very sensitive digestive system, so the sugar in fruits can cause problems.
Some fruits that aren’t recommended for your pet include pineapples, honeydew melons, and strawberries. These fruit types contain a lot of sugar, phosphorus, and acidity, which are harmful for your chinchilla’s digestive system. You should also avoid feeding your pet watermelon, which contains too much acidity, phosphorus, and sugar and may cause stomach problems. Tangerines are another fruit that should be avoided. These are very sweet and can lead to constipation and upset stomach.
Another fruit that shouldn’t be fed to your chinchilla is corn. Corn has high sugar content, and can even be toxic if stored improperly. It can also cause bloat. Chocolates, meanwhile, are high in fat and sugar and should be avoided. They can cause digestive problems and even lead to diabetes. Similarly, dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and ice cream are not suitable for your chinchilla.
Household objects
Chinchillas are very curious and will explore their surroundings by tasting objects. They need supervision to avoid choking hazards. This is particularly important when young babies are handled as they may not sit still for long. They are better suited to be handled with two hands.
Electrical wires are dangerous to chinchillas and should be kept out of reach. They have been known to electrocute themselves by chewing on electrical wires. Electrical wires should never be left around a chinchilla, but you can provide them with soft toys made of non-pill fleece. Avoid standard soft toys because they are made from unsuitable fabrics and may contain other dangerous items.
