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No, chinchillas should not eat nuts. VCA says never to feed seeds, nuts or grains, the RSPCA says to avoid nuts because they are high in fat, and PetMD and Chewy agree. That covers peanuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and nut butters. Hazel and apple twigs are safe to chew, but leave the nuts out, including in treat mixes.
| Safe? | No |
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all |
| Watch out for | Nuts in muesli or treat mixes, soft droppings, weight gain |
Why nuts are bad for chinchillas
Nuts are rich in fat, and chinchillas are built for lean, high-fibre food. The RSPCA says to avoid nuts and seeds because they are high in fat. PetMD says seeds, nuts and dried fruit should not be offered because of their sugar and fat. Chewy's vet-reviewed sheet lists nuts with chocolate and caffeine as things never to feed, and warns that mixes with nuts are too fatty.
All four sources agree, which is unusual for chinchilla food. There is no good source that recommends nuts for pet chinchillas.
Which nuts?
- Peanuts and peanut butter: no.
- Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, Brazil nuts: no.
- Hazelnuts: no to the nuts. Hazel twigs are fine to chew: Woodgreen and Burgess both list hazel wood.
- Acorns and chestnuts: no.
- Salted, roasted or chocolate-coated nuts: no. These are human food, which the PDSA says not to offer, and PetMD and Chewy say chinchillas must never have chocolate.
Watch the treat aisle
Many small-pet mixes and treat sticks contain nuts. The PDSA says to avoid muesli-style mixes because chinchillas pick out the parts they like and eat an unbalanced diet, and Burgess gives the same warning. Choose a plain pellet where every piece is the same, as the PDSA advises.
If your chinchilla has already eaten some nuts, a small bite is unlikely to be an emergency. Take away what is left, keep the hay topped up and watch the droppings over the next day or two. The RSPCA says to contact a vet straight away if droppings get fewer or smaller or stop, or if eating or drinking changes. Diarrhoea or a chinchilla that won't eat needs a vet that day.
Who should avoid nuts?
Every chinchilla. Overweight chinchillas and those with a sensitive tummy are at most risk.
What to offer instead
For a treat, the PDSA lists dried dandelions, dried nettles and dried chamomile flowers. We skip grain treats here, as VCA says no grains either. For chewing, dried apple, hazel or willow twigs. For flavour, one dried rose hip. Seeds carry the same fat problem: see sunflower seeds, and for dried fruit see raisins. For the full list, see what can chinchillas eat, our chinchilla diet guide and our chinchilla care guide.
Nut questions
Can chinchillas eat peanuts?
No. Peanuts are high in fat, and VCA, the RSPCA, PetMD and Chewy all say chinchillas should not be fed nuts. Peanut butter is worse, being sticky as well as fatty.
Can chinchillas eat hazelnut wood?
Yes, the wood but not the nut. Woodgreen and Burgess both list hazel twigs as safe chews. Use untreated wood from unsprayed trees, and Burgess suggests washing it and baking it on a low heat for an hour first.
Do wild chinchillas eat nuts?
Burgess says wild chinchillas eat grasses, leaves, twigs, bark, roots, stems and seeds. Pet chinchillas are far less active, and every vet and charity source we use says no nuts for pets.
