Jan. 28/2026

                              
What Do Chinchillas Eat?

By Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP. Reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM

3/31/2025

When cared for & fed properly, chinchillas can make great companions. A proper chinchilla diet is key to good health & a long, happy life for your pet.

So, what exactly do chinchillas eat? Let’s look at everything you need to know about chinchilla food.

What Do Pet Chinchillas Eat?

Chinchillas are South American rodents. Wild chinchillas tend to consume most of their food early in the morning & late at night. Similarly, pet parents should offer their chinchillas food twice a day, once in the morning & again in the evening.

Chinchilla pellets should be given to your pet, but offer these in limited quantities. Approximately 1–2 tablespoons of high-quality chinchilla pellets per day is appropriate. 

Chinchillas have continuously growing, open-rooted teeth. Because of this, a chinchilla diet should also consist of unlimited chinchilla hay, such as timothy, oat, meadow, & orchard grass.

Small fruits such as apples can be offered once a week, & low calcium vegetables such as celery should only be 1–10% of the total diet.

Chinchillas may consume food throughout the day, as they tend to eat more slowly than other small animals such as rabbits & guinea pigs.

Chinchillas in the wild eat grass, cactus fruit, leaves, & bark from small shrubs or bushes.

Growing, pregnant, & nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger number of pellets or unlimited amounts to provide additional calories, protein, fat, & calcium.

They should also be fed large handfuls of alfalfa hay during the stages of growth, pregnancy, or nursing.

What Can Chinchillas Not Eat?

Feeding your chinchilla excessive amounts of pellets does not supply enough fiber for their microbes in the cecum of the gastrointestinal tracts, where they break down the fiber into vitamins & nutrients.

Feeding just pellets also doesn’t wear down their growing teeth like hay & roughage does.

Your chinchilla should not be given the following:

Dried fruit—Dried fruit contains too much sugar & can cause obesity, diarrhea, & stomach upset.

Grains—Grains are low in fiber & high in carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain & an upset stomach.

Nuts & seeds—These are high in fat & low in fiber, which can cause obesity & can also be a choking hazard.

Branches from fruit trees (cherry, cedar, plum, redwood)—These woods are toxic & can be deadly if ingested because they contain cyanide.

Candy—Candy is high in sugar & can cause digestive issues in chinchillas.

Dairy products—Dairy is high in fat & most chinchillas are lactose intolerant.

Caffeine & chocolate—These products are toxic due to theobromine.

Meat or eggs—Chinchillas are herbivores, & this can cause digestive issues.

Dog or cat food—Dog & cat food are too high in protein & fat.

Alcohol—Alcohol is toxic to chinchillas.

When in doubt, call your primary veterinarian before feeding a food item to make sure it’s safe for your chinchilla.

Can Chinchillas Eat Fruits & Vegetables?

Yes!

Fresh greens, such as dark green lettuces, should be given to your chinchilla to provide additional water & fiber.

Make sure to feed low calcium vegetables to prevent the formation of calcium stones. 1–2 cups of greens per day can be added to their diet.

Romaine lettuce

Red leaf lettuce

Green leaf lettuce

Celery

Bell peppers

Butter lettuce

Small amounts of fruit can be offered once a week as an occasional treat. Safe fruits for chinchillas include:

Apples

Bananas

Pears

Peaches

Strawberries

Chinchilla Water Requirements

As part of a healthy chinchilla diet, pet parents should offer fresh drinking water daily in a chinchilla bowl or bottle.

The bowl & bottle should be cleaned daily & scrubbed with dish soap or run through the dish washer.

It’s especially important to use a tiny scrub brush in the small sipper spout on the bottle to prevent any bacterial overgrowth on the inside. Replace with fresh water every day & refill bowls/bottles as needed throughout the day, so water is always accessible.

Chinchilla Diet-Related Issues

A chinchilla’s diet is important to their overall health & well-being. Deviation from their recommended dietary needs can lead to unfortunate health issues.

Chinchilla diet issues may include:

Tooth impaction—When chinchillas are not offered enough hay & only consume pellets, their top & bottom teeth can collide. This can cause a tooth impaction. Once this condition occurs, there is nothing that can be done other than to provide pain medication & soft foods.

Obesity— Overconsumption of pellets & treats can be fattening, leading to obesity, as well as diarrhea.

Diarrhea—Overfeeding fresh greens can lead to soft stools & diarrhea.

Bladder stones—Feeding large amounts of high-calcium alfalfa hay to non-breeding, adult chinchillas have been associated with the development bladder stones. Instead, offer your adult chinchilla timothy hay or other low-calcium grass hays, such as orchard or meadow grass.

Choking—Since chinchillas can’t vomit, small or hard foods such as dried fruit, nuts, seeds, or raisins can get stuck in the back of the mouth or esophagus leading to salivation, gagging, lack of appetite & possible problems breathing.

Intestinal obstructions—Indigestible bedding, such as wood shavings, can cause obstructions. 

Bloat—Gas distension in the gastrointestinal tract can occur with sudden dietary changes.

Constipation—Lack of fecal production can occur with diet changes, lack of fiber, or an inappropriate diet.

Diabetes—Diabetes can occur in overweight chinchillas eating an inappropriate high carbohydrate diet or a diet high in sugar.

A diet of hay, pellets, fresh greens, & limited treats is essential for keeping your chinchilla happy & healthy.

Avoiding harmful foods & providing a balanced diet helps limit diet-related medical issues & allows your pet to live a long & healthy life.

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5 Fun Facts About Chinchillas

By Teresa Manucy, DVM

8/ 7/ 2023

What Is a Chinchilla?

Chinchillas are small social rodents known for their soft, plush fur as well as their quiet & shy demeanor. They are agile & athletic with the ability to climb well & jump up to 6 feet. Chinchillas require constant chewing to keep their continually growing teeth trimmed. They often sit upright to sunbathe, groom, & to eat with their front paws.

Chinchillas can make great family pets due to their small size & are comparable to a small cat or rabbit. They are naturally clean & odorless. Their timid, peaceful demeanor is better suited for adults & older children. Chinchillas are mostly active around dawn & dusk & tend to be more awake at night. A few fun facts about chinchillas include the following:

#1 Baby Chinchillas Are Called Kits

Baby chinchillas are known as kits & are born fully covered in fur. They weigh between 30–60 grams or 1–2 ounces. At birth, chinchilla eyes & ears are open & functional, making them one of the most independent newborn animals. The average chinchilla litter size is 2 kits but may range from 1 to 6. They will reach sexual maturity around 8 months of age.

#2 Chinchillas Like Dust Baths

Chinchillas will take occasional dust baths to keep their fur conditioned. Their fur should not be bathed in water or get wet since it takes too long to dry & may cause the skin to become inflamed. A dust bath will counter their naturally oily skin & helps maintain the softness of their fur. These dust baths should be offered to pet chinchillas at least 2 to 3 times per week. Offering too frequent dust baths may dry out their skin.

A chinchilla bath house or a plastic dishpan container that measures 6” x 6” x 12” may be filled with chinchilla dust 1–2 inches deep. It may be offered for an hour at a time or maintained with daily cleaning & weekly replacement of the dust. Sand should not be used as it may cause irritation of the skin or eyes & may damage the fur.

#3 Chinchilla Coats Make the Species Endangered

Chinchillas have very dense fur that has up to 60 hairs per follicle & 20,000 hairs per square inch which causes it to feel very soft & fluffy. This makes chinchilla fur desirable to fur traders who have over-hunted them to near extinction. Chinchillas are native to western South America & make their home in the rocky slopes of the Andes mountains. The species C. chinchilla is especially sought after for their higher quality fur & larger size than the common domesticated species C. lanigera. Chinchillas are currently on the endangered list & are protected in the wild. Their numbers continue to decline due to loss of habitat & excessive trapping.

#4 Chinchilla Lifespans Are Longer Than Many Small Pets

Chinchillas are expected to live between 10–15 years in captivity, though in the wild they are only expected to live 8–10 years due to the threat of predators including humans. This makes chinchillas much longer lived than other small pets such as guinea pigs or hamsters. One theory for why chinchillas have a longer lifespan than other small pet species is that their physical development is delayed in comparison. Another possible explanation is that chinchillas have fewer overall health concerns as a species.

#5 Chinchillas Are Pets for Every Family

Chinchillas can be great family pets due to their small size & quiet nature. While they are naturally clean & odorless, they can also be potty trained. They enjoy bonding with their pet parents or another same-gender chinchilla. They have simple dietary requirements, & are less active during the daytime, which is ideal for pet parents that are busy or away.

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