About feeding a chinchilla
Chinchillas are dense-furred Andean herbivores with extremely sensitive digestive systems built for a high-fibre, low-fat, low-moisture diet. More than almost any other small pet, chinchillas are harmed by rich or sugary foods.
How much should a chinchilla eat?
Calorie needs use the veterinary formula 70 × weight(kg)0.75 (the Resting Energy Requirement), multiplied by a lifestyle factor of ×1.4 for a typical chinchilla at the life stage shown. Enter your own animal's details in the calculator for an exact figure.
| Body weight | Daily calories |
|---|---|
| 400 g | 49 kcal |
| 457 g | 54 kcal |
| 514 g | 59 kcal |
| 571 g | 64 kcal |
| 629 g | 69 kcal |
| 686 g | 74 kcal |
| 743 g | 78 kcal |
| 800 g | 83 kcal |
What to feed
The chinchilla diet is unlimited grass hay plus a measured portion of plain chinchilla pellets. Treats should be minimal and dry — a few plain oats or a piece of dried herb. Fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds are too rich and moist and can cause bloat and diarrhoea.
How often to feed
Hay is free-choice at all times; a small measured amount of pellets is given daily (roughly 1-2 tablespoons). Fresh water must always be available.
Common feeding mistakes
- Feeding fruit, vegetables, nuts or seeds, which are too rich/moist for a chinchilla gut.
- Sugary commercial treats that cause bloat and diarrhoea.
- Unlimited pellets instead of unlimited hay.
- Sudden diet changes.
Weight & health
Digestive upset (bloat, diarrhoea), obesity and dental disease are the main risks, nearly all traceable to too-rich diets or too little hay. Hay-first, low-treat feeding keeps a chinchilla's gut and teeth healthy.
Frequently asked questions
What do chinchillas eat?
Unlimited grass hay plus a small measured portion of plain chinchilla pellets. Keep treats minimal and dry; avoid fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, which are too rich and moist.
How much should I feed a chinchilla?
Unlimited hay plus roughly 1-2 tablespoons of plain pellets per day. The hay should always be the largest part of the diet.
Can chinchillas eat fruit or vegetables?
Best avoided. Their sensitive digestive system doesn't handle moist, sugary foods well, and fruit/veg can cause bloat and diarrhoea. Stick to hay and pellets with rare dry treats.
What treats are safe for chinchillas?
A few plain rolled oats, a small piece of dried rosehip or a dried herb, given rarely. Avoid anything sugary, fatty or moist.