How much food, water, and dust bath does my chinchilla need daily?

Question

I found different information about treat and health of chinchillas. I am not sure about the food, should I give my 2 month old chinchilla one spoon or two of pellets and the food should no way be avaible all the time, right? And how much does a young chinchilla drinks water per day? Should the dust be in the case, should it be avaible all the time or not? I'm scared for my little chinchilla bc there are so many different infos so I wanted to check the main things for sure, thank you very much!

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello! Great questions you have about your chinchilla! Thanks for asking! As for food, you should provide both pellets and hay. There are many different commercial pellets available for chinchillas that you can buy at most pet stores. The pellets are designed so your pet can easily eat them and include the correct amounts of protein, fat, and roughage. About 2 tablespoons of food a day is recommended. Of course, some eat more or less than others. My favorite brand of food for chinchillas is made by Mazuri. http://www.mazuri.com/MazuriChinchillaDiet.aspx Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of his daily diet. It also helps keep their teeth healthy. Hay should be available at all times. Timothy hay is a good choice. I would avoid alfalfa hay as a daily part of the diet but you can use it sparingly for a treat. I like Oxbow brand hay: http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/products/type/detail?object=1530 Your chinchilla should always have a source of fresh water. A stoppered water bottle is a great way to supply water as it prevents water from being spilled and helps keep the bedding dry. Chinchillas generally drink between 15 and 30ml of water per day. Bottled water or distilled water is recommended. Regarding dust baths, I recommend you place the dusting powder in a bin separate from the cage and let your chinchilla take a dust bath in there at least twice a week. I hope I answered all your questions. I wish you all the best with your new friend!

How much food, water, and dust bath does my chinchilla need daily?

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