Feeding my chinchilla?

Question

is it okay to feed my chinchilla pellets, AND have a constant rack with timothy hay and alfalfa hay? or should i have one or the other?

Answer 1

You definitely need to offer both pellets and an unlimited supply of hay.  The hay is absolutely essential to keeping their teeth and digestive tract healthy.  When I fostered some chins I offered them an alfalfa based pellet and unlimited timothy hay.

Answer 2

Your chinchilla needs to have both pellets and hay at all times. The hay is for their molars in their teeth to be kept down and not too big, and the pellets are good for their digestive system/food. Also make sure you have a good source of Kiln-Dried Pine, or aspen wood so they can grind their teeth down. Believe me, it costs hundreds to have your chinchillas teeth grinded down. =(

EDIT: in response to the person below me, a chinchilla should get no more than one treat a week. Even Rainsins are bad for chinchillas -- they are the reason why so many chinchillas get fatty liver disease and die. Just stick to their regular diet, its the most healthy thing for them. Treats have sugar in them and sugar is bad for chinchillas.

Answer 3

I would think it is perfectly all right to offer both.

I have a chinchilla and it seems to me that he knows just how much of the pellets to eat in order to get the nutrients he needs each day.  I've given him supplemental treats (raisins, carrots, apples, nuts) and no matter what, he always eats from his pellet tray as well.

So sure - give him a nice variety!  :)

Answer 4

Not much is know about the chinchillas diet. They originated in the mountains of chile. When they tried to copy their diet they did well on timothy hay and chinchilla pellets.My chinchilla does well on just pellets and hay. Be sure to buy pellets and not the mixed food. The chinchillas will just eat the stuff they like if you buy mixed. If you give them fruit it has the be dried first. They cannot eat fruits with a large seed in the middle.(mango and avocado for example)

They have treat cans just for chinchillas. Another fruit they like are raisins. Per day you should give them no more than 1-2 teaspoons of treats because they have delicate digestive systems.