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No, we would not give a chinchilla strawberries. Our sources do not name strawberries, but the PDSA says sugary fruit is best avoided and that moist treats cause loose stools, and Woodgreen says chinchillas should not be fed fruit at all. Strawberries are soft, wet and sweet, so they are a no. Dried raspberry or blackberry leaf makes a safe treat.
| Safe? | No, best avoided |
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all; dried berry leaves instead |
| Watch out for | Soft droppings, dried strawberry in treat mixes |
Why strawberries aren't right for chinchillas
Chinchillas live on hay. The PDSA says it should be the main part of their diet and on offer all the time, with only 1 to 2 tablespoons of pellets a day. Strawberries are mostly water and sugar, the two things a chinchilla's gut copes with worst. The PDSA warns that moist treats can cause loose stools.
No source we use covers strawberries on their own, so we have reasoned from what they say about fruit. The PDSA names grapes and bananas as best avoided for their sugar, and apples as likely to upset a chinchilla's tummy. Woodgreen rules out fruit completely. We put strawberries with them.
Do any vets allow a little?
PetMD says small amounts of fruit such as apples can be given about once a week, and Chewy's vet-reviewed sheet allows plain cherries and small bits of apple. Neither names strawberries. If you follow that line, a piece the size of your little fingernail, once a week at most, never for a young chinchilla. We'd rather skip it.
Fresh, dried, leaves and other forms
- Fresh strawberries: no.
- Dried or freeze-dried strawberries: no. VCA says dried fruit can cause severe digestive upset, and PetMD says dried fruit should not be offered.
- Strawberry leaves and tops: not covered by our sources, so leave them out. Woodgreen lists dried raspberry and blackberry leaf instead.
- Strawberry yoghurt drops and flavoured treats: no. The PDSA says most shop-bought treats aren't suitable.
If your chinchilla has already eaten some strawberries, 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 strawberries?
All chinchillas, and especially young ones and any with a sensitive tummy.
What to offer instead
Dried raspberry leaf or blackberry leaf from Woodgreen's forage list, a dried rose hip, or a few dried dandelion flowers. Other berries and fruit are no safer: see blueberries and grapes. For the full list, see what can chinchillas eat, our chinchilla diet guide and our chinchilla care guide.
Strawberry questions
Can chinchillas eat strawberry leaves?
Our sources don't cover strawberry leaves. Woodgreen does list dried raspberry leaf and dried blackberry leaf as safe forage for chinchillas, so we would use those instead.
Can chinchillas eat freeze-dried strawberries?
No. Freeze-dried fruit is still concentrated sugar. VCA warns that dried fruit can cause severe digestive upset in chinchillas, and PetMD and Chewy both list dried fruit as something not to offer.
Are strawberries toxic to chinchillas?
Not as far as our sources say. The problem is sugar and water, which can upset the gut and loosen droppings. The UK charities advise against fruit for that reason.
