Safe and Unsafe Treats | Chinchillacrew

Safe Treats and Woods

This section is an amalgamation of knowledge gained through books, websites, forums and my own experiences both as a chinchilla parent and as an animal nutritionist.

Neither of these lists are fully comprehensive or exclusive and I would like to add that more research into safe/unsafe foods for chinchillas is being done constantly so always check for updated information online. If you would like to add any food to these lists or help to update my information please message me, in the meantime I hope these come in useful for you.

Safe and Healthy Treats

Alfalfa cubes - high in calcium
Dried Rose Hips – potentially the healthiest treat option, high in vit C and fibre
Chamomile and marigold flowers – a safe option for daily treats
Dried Mountain Ash Berries – good for healthy antioxidents and can be fed daily
Herbs (dry or fresh) – especially rosemary, hibiscus, parsley. can be offered 3-4 times a week in small amounts or mixed into hay if dry
Sticks and twigs from seed fruit trees such as apple but not from stone fruit trees (eg: peach)
Dandelion, Nettle and Hawthorn leaves – best offered dried to avoid harmful bacteria and can be offered daily

Safe but Less Healthy

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Dried Carrot – DRIED Carrots are the only vegetable that are safe for chins to eat and only in very small doses
Grains – unfrosted shredded wheat in small amounts 4-5 times a week, these are high in carbohydrates and phosphorus
Oats – similar to grains these should not be fed too often as they can lead to calcium deficiency and tooth problems
Dried strawberry and blackberry leaves – in small doses can increase health but never feed the berries
Treat sticks – with herbs not seeds, should not be offered more than once every 3 months and should not be given with other treats. Be careful they are not mixed with honey.

Unsafe Treats

Most chinchilla treats sold in pet stores
Human Food – anything really made for humans, especially chocolate
Protein in excess – Protein intake above 20% can cause liver damage
Acidic and citrus Fruits – such as lemons/tomatoes
Watery Fruits – watermelon and berries can give chins diarrhoea
Vegetables and greens – except dried carrot all vegetables are dangerous to chins, even peas. Veg will cause bloating which can be fatal. Do not confuse chinchillas with rabbits or guinea pigs.
Corn/maize – also causes fatal bloat (you’ll notice it is in a lot of mixed chinchilla muesli)
Food containing animal ingredients – dairy and meat can have fatal consequences for chins
Nuts and Seeds – full of fat and high levels of protein which can cause liver damage

Important Notes for Feeding Treats

Chinchillas that are sick, pregnant or have an underlying health issue should not be fed treats as it can have a negative effect on their health. Chinchilla kits should not be given any treats and should only be offered the pellets and hay given to their dam. Chinchillas under 6 months of age shouldn’t be fed any treats not listed as ‘safe and healthy’.

A NOTE ON RAISINS: One of the most debated chinchilla treat items is the raisin. For a long time it was believed that raisins can be given to chinchillas as occasional treats without negative impacts on health and many owners still promote raisins as a safe treat in moderation, even some webpages and forums will tell you that this is a good treat for your pet, however, the chinchilla digestive system is not capable of processing such a high amount of sugar. Even a single raisin has a higher sugar quantity than a chins daily allowance and as such cannot be considered a safe treat for chins. If you see a website or other source of information that says fruits or raisins are safe foods for chinchillas discount their dietary page and take all their other information with a pinch of salt as they are spreading outdated information.

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