Chinchilla Food in Their Natural Habitat
Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountains in South America. They are crepuscular rodents, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn, and sleep the rest of the day. Chinchillas are slightly larger than common squirrels and, in the wild, they make their homes in rock crevices. Due to excessive hunting for their fur, these rodents have become endangered in the wild.
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Significance
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Although chinchillas have been bred in captivity for many years, they still need to be fed foods that are similar to the diet they would have experienced in the wild. According to pet health website Pet Health and Care, chinchillas have fragile digestive systems and the wrong foods can seriously affect their health or even kill them. Special chinchilla food is available from pet shops, but knowing what food your rodent would eat in the wild will give you a better idea about what to feed it in captivity.
Geography
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Due to the altitude, rocky terrain and cooler climate of their natural habitat in the Andes, the chinchilla's food selection is limited to the vegetation that is specific to the region. Amy Deane, of Indiana State University's Save the Wild Chinchillas program, demonstrates that many of the plants and seeds chinchillas eat in the wild are indigenous to Chile, including the rumpiato and carbonillo seeds. Therefore, while most chinchilla foods contain the necessary nutrients to keep these rodents healthy, they cannot directly replicate the food they consume in their natural habitat.
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Types
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Chinchillas are herbivores and, therefore, only eat vegetation. In the wild, their diet consists of seeds, leaves, roots and grasses. They occasionally eat fruit, such as the copao, but, according to vet Ron Hines, DVM, too much sugar is dangerous for the rodent's health and only small amounts should be given in captivity. Hay and other grasses make up the majority of their diet and it is important to ensure they always have a fresh supply.
Considerations
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A chinchilla's teeth are constantly growing. If they become too long, they can cause serious health problems for the rodent. In the wild, chinchillas will naturally wear their teeth down by foraging for food. However, in captivity they will need special toys or materials they can chew to help keep their teeth at a suitable length. Vet Ron Hines, DVM, recommends blocks of maple wood, fruit woods, beach and non-resinous pine as good chewing blocks.
Warning
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Unlike other rodents, chinchillas must not be fed meat. They exist on a herbivore diet in the wild and therefore meat is very difficult for them to digest. According to pet information websites Pet Health and Care, chinchillas can't digest much protein or fat so they should not be fed foods with high quantities of these nutrients. Vet Ron Hines, DVM, also recommends against feeding the chinchilla any foods that are high in carbohydrates for the same reason. They don't consume large amounts of this nutrient in the wild, and an excess of carbohydrate can poison the chinchilla's digestive bacteria.
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References
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- Photo Credit desert image by Dusan Radivojevic from Fotolia.com
