Chinchilla food
Chinchillas need a diet built mostly around good-quality grass hay, with a measured portion of chinchilla-specific pellets alongside it. Their digestive systems are not built for sugary treats, fruit in any quantity, or the muesli-style mixes sold for other small pets, so what you feed matters more than it might seem.
Hay is the foundation, not an extra
Unlimited access to grass hay, such as timothy or a long-stem hay like Burgess Excel Long Stem Feeding Hay with Marigold, should make up the bulk of a chinchilla's diet. It keeps their constantly-growing teeth worn down naturally and gives their digestive system the fibre it is built to run on.
Hay should always be available, not rationed, and topping it up daily matters more than any other single thing you can do for a chinchilla's diet. A chinchilla who is short on hay is at real risk of dental and digestive problems that show up as far more serious issues later.
Pellets, and what to avoid
A specific chinchilla pellet, fed as a measured portion alongside unlimited hay, covers the nutrients that hay alone does not fully provide. Pellets should be plain rather than a colourful muesli-style mix, since chinchillas will often pick out the tasty bits and leave the rest, ending up with an unbalanced diet despite the bag looking complete.
Fresh fruit, sugary treats and anything high in fat should stay occasional at most, and some are best avoided altogether, since a chinchilla's gut handles sugar and fat far less well than many other small pets. If you are ever unsure whether something is safe to offer, checking with a vet experienced with chinchillas is the safer route than guessing.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Adjustable Tortoise Harness and Lead
An adjustable harness and lead set sized for tortoises and turtles, for safe garden adventures.
£7.99
Four Flags Quick Ferret Muzzle — Grooming & Handling Aid
A temporary, reliable muzzle designed specifically for ferrets — useful for grooming, medicating, and routine handling.
£14.99
Hamster Exercise Ball
A clear rolling exercise ball that lets your hamster roam and stay active safely around the home, with ventilation slots and a secure lid. Supplied in a random colour.
£7.99
Rabbit No-Rinse Dry-Cleaning Foam
A no-rinse foam that gently cleans and freshens your rabbit's coat between full washes, no water needed.
£7.99
PawHut 12-Panel Small Animal Playpen for Guinea Pigs, 105cm, White
Twelve 45 x 35cm panels and multi-angle connectors that build a 105 x 105cm open pen at 45cm high, for evening floor time with guinea pigs or hedgehogs.
£35.99
Poultry Nappy Harness for Chickens, Ducks & Geese
A washable fabric nappy harness for house poultry, catching droppings to keep your home clean.
From£7.99
Hanging Cage Hammock for Small Pets
A soft sherpa-lined cage hammock that gives small pets a warm, lofted spot to curl up.
From£8.99
Selective Timothy Hay
UK-grown Timothy hay for rabbits and other small animals, for unlimited daily feeding
£9.99
Small Pet Carrier Shoulder Bag with Bubble Window
A ventilated travel carrier bag for hamsters, guinea pigs and other small pets, with a clear bubble window and breathable mesh panels. The adjustable shoulder strap makes outings and vet trips easy.
£13.99
Selective Naturals Woodland Loops
Dandelion and rosehip flavoured loop treats for rabbits, guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas
£3.99
Selective Naturals Orchard Loops
Apple-flavoured loop treats for rabbits, guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas
£3.99
Selective Naturals Meadow Loops
Pea-flavoured loop treats for rabbits, guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas
£3.99
Common questions
- How much hay does a chinchilla need?
- Hay should be available at all times rather than given as a set amount, since chinchillas graze on it throughout the day and it supports both their teeth and their digestion. Top it up daily and make sure it stays fresh and dry.
- Can chinchillas eat the same food as rabbits or guinea pigs?
- Not reliably. While the basic hay-first approach is similar, chinchilla-specific pellets are formulated differently, and treats or mixes made for other small pets can be too rich or sugary for a chinchilla's more sensitive digestive system.
- Can chinchillas eat fresh fruit and vegetables?
- Only occasionally and in very small amounts, if at all. Chinchillas are more prone to digestive upset from sugar and moisture-rich foods than many other small pets, so hay and a proper pellet should always come first.
- Why does my chinchilla ignore parts of its food mix?
- A muesli-style mix lets a chinchilla pick out the tastiest pieces and leave the rest, which means they can miss out on nutrients even from a bag that looks complete. A plain, uniform pellet avoids that problem because there is nothing to selectively pick out.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.