In the wild, chinchillas are native to the mountainous heights of the Andes. Today, these beady-eyed small animals are becoming more and more popular as pets in this country. However, there are a few things to bear in mind for chinchilla owners – especially when it comes to food.

Hay is an excellent source of energy for chinchillas. The benefits of this food are obvious: as hay contains a lot of crude fibre, it supports healthy digestion. Hay also helps the small animal’s tooth abrasion and contains many minerals and vitamins when ground up. Hence, as an owner, you should ensure that your pet is always provided with a large amount of fresh, dry and clean hay. A hay rack is particularly suitable for this purpose.
In addition to hay, chinchillas also like to eat dried herbs, leaves and flowers. At Maxi Zoo you can get many varieties, including dandelion, ribwort, fennel and nettle. These plants also contain a high proportion of crude fibre. Dry feed mixes specially formulated for chinchillas, which are often fed as pellets, are also popular. They contain many nutrients from herbs and grasses. However, you should only give your chinchilla a moderate amount of the nutritious dry feed, as they tend to become overweight fairly quickly if fed too much.

Apart from dried meadow green, chinchillas also like to eat fresh grass. Leaves, grasses and herbs, as well as blossoms are also very popular with these small animals. However, you should accustom your chinchilla slowly to the green feed by only feeding small amounts to begin with.
You can also give your chinchilla fresh fruit and vegetables from time to time. Nevertheless, make sure that the fruit does not contain too much acid or too much sugar. In their natural habitat, chinchillas almost never come across fruit plants, which is why they do not tolerate many fruits well. For this reason, you should accustom your pet very gradually to fresh fruit and vegetables and never give it too much. It is also essential that you always provide your chinchilla with clean drinking water. You should change it every day if possible.
Would you like to buy food for your chinchilla? In the Maxi Zoo online shop you will find a wide selection of hay and special food products that taste great and support your chinchilla’s health.