How much hay does a chinchilla need?

Hay should be available at all times and eaten in large quantities relative to a chinchilla's size — it is the foundation of the diet, not a side item. A chinchilla that is visibly eating less hay than usual is worth watching closely.

Can chinchillas eat too many pellets?

Yes, and it is a common mistake. Pellets should only ever be a small measured daily amount on top of hay, not a replacement for it — too many pellets and not enough hay is linked to obesity and digestive problems.

Can chinchillas eat raisins and dried fruit?

In very small amounts occasionally, yes, but these treats are sugary relative to a chinchilla's normal diet and should be limited to a small piece once or twice a week rather than offered daily.

Should chinchillas drink from a bottle or a bowl?

A bottle is generally preferred, since chinchillas can easily tip over or foul an open water dish with hay and droppings. Check the bottle daily to make sure it is flowing properly and has not become blocked.

Why has my chinchilla stopped eating?

This needs prompt attention from a vet rather than waiting at home, since a chinchilla's digestive system can deteriorate quickly once it slows down. A drop in droppings alongside reduced eating is a particularly urgent combination.

What do chinchillas eat?

Chinchillas have a sensitive digestive system built for a very high-fibre diet, and hay should make up the great majority of what one eats — far more than the pellets or treats an owner might think of first. Getting the balance wrong, especially by overfeeding pellets or sugary treats, is one of the most common causes of digestive and dental problems in pet chinchillas.

Hay: the foundation of the diet

Good-quality grass hay, such as timothy hay, should be available to a chinchilla at all times and eaten in large quantities relative to the animal's size. Hay does two jobs at once: it provides the fibre a chinchilla's gut needs to work properly, and the constant chewing wears down teeth that grow continuously throughout life.

Fresh hay should be topped up regularly rather than left to go stale or dusty in the enclosure, and a chinchilla that is not working through a reasonable amount of hay each day is worth watching closely, since a drop in hay intake is often one of the first signs something is wrong.

Pellets and treats, kept small

A small, measured daily amount of chinchilla-specific pellets tops up the diet, but pellets should never replace hay as the main food — chinchillas fed too many pellets and not enough hay are prone to obesity and digestive upset. Stick to the amount recommended on the packaging rather than filling the bowl freely.

Treats such as raisins or dried fruit are popular with chinchillas but are very sugary relative to their normal diet, so they should be given sparingly — a small piece once or twice a week at most, not daily. Sudden changes to diet, including introducing new treats, are best done gradually to avoid upsetting a sensitive gut.

Water and watching for problems

Fresh water should be available at all times, usually from a bottle rather than an open dish, which chinchillas can tip over or foul with hay and droppings. Check the bottle daily to make sure it has not become blocked, since chinchillas can go off their food surprisingly quickly if their water supply fails.

A chinchilla that stops eating or produces noticeably fewer or smaller droppings needs to be seen by a vet promptly, since chinchillas can deteriorate quickly once their gut slows down. This is not something to wait out at home.

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Common questions

How much hay does a chinchilla need?: Hay should be available at all times and eaten in large quantities relative to a chinchilla's size — it is the foundation of the diet, not a side item. A chinchilla that is visibly eating less hay than usual is worth watching closely.
Can chinchillas eat too many pellets?: Yes, and it is a common mistake. Pellets should only ever be a small measured daily amount on top of hay, not a replacement for it — too many pellets and not enough hay is linked to obesity and digestive problems.
Can chinchillas eat raisins and dried fruit?: In very small amounts occasionally, yes, but these treats are sugary relative to a chinchilla's normal diet and should be limited to a small piece once or twice a week rather than offered daily.
Should chinchillas drink from a bottle or a bowl?: A bottle is generally preferred, since chinchillas can easily tip over or foul an open water dish with hay and droppings. Check the bottle daily to make sure it is flowing properly and has not become blocked.
Why has my chinchilla stopped eating?: This needs prompt attention from a vet rather than waiting at home, since a chinchilla's digestive system can deteriorate quickly once it slows down. A drop in droppings alongside reduced eating is a particularly urgent combination.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

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.