Know everything about chinchilla nutrition

Before adopting a chinchilla, it is essential to find out about its diet, because its digestive system is very fragile. Truth be told, this is where his vulnerability lies. In its natural habitat, the chinchilla consumes relatively dry and fairly monotonous plants. He does not have access to fatty and sugary food sources that are unsuitable for his assimilation capacities. You must therefore be careful to only give it foods dedicated to chinchillas.

A daily ration of hay for good transit and good tooth wear

As with rabbits, hay is the absolutely essential food that your chinchilla must have constant access to. Indeed, hay has two functions that are indisputably essential to the well-being of your animal:

• facilitate the intestinal transit of the chinchilla thanks to its fibers,
• the wear of the incisors and molars, which in itself is absolutely vital for him, because poor wear of the teeth can lead to complications. The chinchilla's teeth grow several millimeters per month, so it is essential that he can wear them down.

To do this, choose perfectly dry hay, first cut, large stem, not dusty and obviously not polluted with pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Preferably, opt for organic hay, timothy or alpine pastures. A handful of hay per day is enough. It's then up to you to adjust his ration according to the waste he leaves.

Store hay in a dry place, protected from humidity.

Only pellets dedicated to chinchilla

It is necessary to distribute to your chinchilla specific pellets , dedicated to feeding the chinchilla. Indeed, its fragile digestive system does not require the same intake of vitamins, proteins, lipids or even cellulose as other rodents. It is therefore absolutely vital for him to only give him special chinchilla pellets.

It is recommended to distribute approximately 30 grams of granules dedicated to chinchilla per day (the equivalent of a tablespoon). Do not give too much as this risks causing obesity or constipation.

Preferably, distribute the pellets at a fixed time and once a day. The chinchilla being a nocturnal animal, this distribution can be done in the early evening, at which point it will become active.

Clean, fresh water every day

As with any animal, your chinchilla's water should be changed daily, or even several times a day in summer.

In addition, the chinchilla being very sensitive to its quality, you should ensure that the pH parameter of its water is between 6 and 7. It must absolutely not exceed 7.2. Indeed, water that does not respect this parameter could cause serious health problems for your chinchilla, or even worse, cause its death.

On the other hand, it must not be too mineralized and above all not contain chlorine. To ensure this, look at the dry residue content on the label of bottles sold in stores, for which it must not exceed 150 mg/L.

Distribute your chinchilla's water in an automatic drinker or in a classic bottle . It must remain clean and fresh, in fact, the cup does not seem recommended because the water can easily become contaminated.

Enough to wiggle the mustaches from time to time

The chinchilla's strict diet still allows for some small treats such as dried flowers and herbs such as nettle, dandelion, thistle, rose hips, rose buds, etc.

However, these treats should be given in tiny amounts and should not be given daily. They can be used to create a bond when taming it or to reward it.

Do not give him fresh fruits and vegetables

In its natural habitat (arid and mountainous), the chinchilla does not have access to fresh, water-rich food. It is therefore essential to respect your original diet as much as possible. It is still preferable to provide him with dried fruits and vegetables in small quantities.

Giving fresh fruits and vegetables risks causing diarrhea in your chinchilla, which can be fatal (in less than 24 hours). Indeed, fresh fruits and vegetables contain large quantities of water, except the chinchilla has very little access to water in its natural environment. It is therefore very important not to overhydrate him and to only provide him with dried foods.

Foods prohibited because they are toxic for your chinchilla

It goes without saying, but let's remember that we do not give our pets what we eat, such as chocolate, candy, cakes, bread, or any other sweets. this genre.

Seeds, such as almond or sunflower, are very dangerous for your chinchilla and should absolutely be avoided from its menu.

Above all, do not let your chinchilla eat indoor plants as they are toxic. The same goes for the flowers and leaves of the garden, in particular the oleander, the anemone, the rhododendron, the fern and the lily.

In conclusion

You will have understood that although the chinchilla's diet is relatively strict, mainly based on hay and special chinchilla pellets, some taste distractions can be given to it sparingly. Check the quality of the water you give it, that its pH is between 6 and 7, but also that its content of dry residues, that is to say the mineral elements which remain after evaporation, are less than 150 mg/L.

Above all, do not suddenly change its diet because the chinchilla is very sensitive to changes in diet. You must therefore go slowly and in small quantities.

Finally, if your chinchilla shows little interest in the food you give him, if he loses weight, if he becomes aggressive or if his behavior changes, consult a veterinarian, this is certainly a sign that something is wrong. do not go.

The good health and longevity of your chinchilla therefore depends largely on what it eats, do not neglect its diet and thus a beautiful and long love story awaits you!