What Fruits, Vegetables, and Snacks Can Chinchillas Eat?

1 Fruits, Vegetables, and Snacks for Chinchillas

Chinchillas are strict herbivores on timothy and alfalfa hay, but the same food gets boring, so occasional dried fruit or veg improves appetite. Here is what they like.

1. Fruits

Apples (no seeds – toxic), banana, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, grape (seedless), kiwi, lychee, plum (no pit), strawberry, pear, raspberry. Cautions: no FRESH fruit (too watery causes diarrhea) – only dried, except occasional fresh apple. Dried fruit only about weekly (high sugar harms teeth and weight). Mango and lychee only sparingly (they ‘heat’ the body and some are allergic) – test a little first.

2. Vegetables

Asparagus, carrot, celery, lettuce, cilantro, corn, cucumber, kale, chicory, parsley, okra, zucchini, water chestnut, sprouts, watercress, bok choy. Cautions: no fresh veg (watery causes diarrhea), especially lettuce, cabbage, cucumber. No soybean – it swells in the gut causing bloat, pain, and blockage, even death.

3. Snacks

1) Apple Branches

Slightly sweet, chinchillas love to chew them, and they wear down teeth.

2) Herbs and Flowers

Dandelion, sage, basil, raspberry leaves, chamomile, mulberry rolls – some have medicinal, anti-inflammatory effects.

3) Seeds

Raw sunflower seeds have linoleic acid for a healthy coat; never roasted/salted – the acid is gone and salt/additives remain.

4) Chinchilla Treats

Commercial small-pet treats like lactobacillus tablets and herb biscuits, occasional only.

Tastes vary, so try a few; but do not overfeed treats or the chinchilla gets picky.