For Feeding I feed mine a Good brand of pellets, called Mazuri or Tradition. I get it in bulk, 25 to 50 pound bags. It's very good for them & they seem to like it! It's a lot cheaper too!! (The store kind has bannanas & rasins in it, those shouldn't be feed, but only for an OCCASIONAL TREAT!)

Guinea pig & rabbit food WILL NOT work. The E.G. fat & hormone levels are different for that animal, & would be bad for a chinchilla.

When changing foods, do remember to do it slow, by mixing the two slowly. This will help the over all change!(They have sensitive stomachs)

I give mine freshly dried fruit as a treat on very slim occassion. They are not to have fruit treats often. (also including sweet, salty, or fatty treats!) I dry our fruit treats myself so i know there is no extra sugar, or preservatives, dyies & other matter. I normally only give a piece of dried fruit every other week or so, depending. I feed more of grains, such as cheerios, shredded wheat(without the frosting), burnt toast, & an oat supplement. Why not feed them healthy things for treats verses unhealthy things. Chinchillas under the age of 6 months should NEVER be fed treats as their growing bodies need a good diet to remain strong & healthy.

Don't give treats through the bars, it will start untaming them, causing bad habbits, & possibly making them bite. (expecting a treat every time.)

My chinchillas also love to get their alfalfa cubes. They like them & they love to chew at them. (good for their teeth as well)

I give my chinchillas Tums, for calcium! fruit flavor is the biggest hit. (Pregnant chinchillas can use these a lot!) The chinchillas enjoy a bit of hay a day as well. This also keeps them busy! *they love to play in it* Hay is something that is very needed. I recommend using alfalfa hay for chinchillas 6 months & under, then switching to orchird grasses & or timothy hay.

Once again be creative what you give them, just steer clear of sugar, salts/seasonings, citrus, fat! If you question what you want to feed them refrain from feeding it to them until further research is done!! Keep in mind whatever it is good or not, too much is always not a good idea!! A little goes a long way with such little tummies!