Can Chinchillas Eat Apricots? What You Need to Know
Hay, pellets, and water are good enough for chinchillas to live a healthy life. In spite of that, you might think of treating your chinchilla with some apricots.
But can chinchillas eat apricots? No. We don’t suggest offering fresh apricots to your chinchilla. It can upset the sensitive stomach of your pet and even cause diarrhea. Digestive and dental problems might also occur if you provide apricots to your chinchilla. But chinchillas can eat apricots under specific conditions, such as dried apricots.
However, before your chinchilla is fed this fruit, know its nutritional value, health benefits, and risks. Also, check how much and how often you can feed this fruit to your chinchilla.
Are Apricots Safe for Chinchillas?
No. Fresh apricots aren’t safe for chinchillas. The GI tract (Gastrointestinal tract) of chinchillas is much smaller than their cecum. And the single-chamber stomach is very sensitive. So, if the diet isn’t right, it can cause multiple health issues in chinchillas.
And these are the facts why apricots are not suitable for them.
● High Water Content
Chinchillas live on hay and pellets containing high amounts of fiber. The fiber in their diet is crucial to keep their digestive system working properly.
When the water content in a food is high, the digestive system can’t cope with the changed situation. As a result, your chinchilla might face bloating, diarrhea, or other digestive problems. Apricots have a high water content, so it isn’t safe for chinchillas.
● Low Fiber
Another important factor is the low fiber content. When the fiber content is high in their diet, the digestive system works continuously to process the fiber, and it is good for their health. As chinchillas need a lot of fiber to keep healthy, apricots are not good for these furry pets.
● High Sugar
Apricot is a sweet fruit that has a high amount of sugar. And the high sugar content isn’t good for chinchillas. If you continue to feed apricots to your chinchillas, it will make them obese. Dental problems can also happen due to the added sugar in their diet.
● Mineral Imbalance
Chinchillas need some calcium in their diet. But apricot has a high amount of phosphorus compared to calcium. Though phosphorus isn’t harmful, it prevents the calcium from being absorbed in the body. As a result, chinchillas can face issues related to teeth or bones.
Can Chinchillas Eat Dried Apricots?
Yes, they can. But this should always be in moderation. Dried apricots aren’t as risky as fresh apricots as the water content is low and the fiber content is high.
But the sugar content is still high in dried apricots. Hence, you can provide a few bites of dried apricots every week.
Nutritional Contents of Dried Apricots
The sugar content in 100g of dried apricots is 53g, which is way higher than raw apricots. So, it isn’t good for chinchillas.
The protein content increases from 1.4g to 3.4g in dried apricots. And dried apricots have 5g more dietary fiber compared to raw apricots. Though these are better, you shouldn’t give your chinchilla a lot of dried apricots due to their high sugar content.
Health Benefits of Dried Apricots for Chinchillas
Fresh apricots have no health benefits for chinchillas. But dried apricots can be beneficial in some ways.
- The fiber content rises in dried apricots to 7.3g, which is more than triple the amount in raw apricots. So, dried apricots are more suitable.
- When apricots are dried, the water content drops from 86.4g to about 30g per 100g of apricots. So they cause fewer digestive issues.
How Many Dried Apricots Can Chinchillas Eat?
Though chinchillas can sometimes eat dried apricots, the amount should be limited.
- One teaspoon of dried apricots is good enough for your chinchillas.
- If you don’t limit the amount, chinchillas will continue eating the delicious fruit as long as they can.
So, be careful while giving this treat to chinchillas and ensure measuring the fruit correctly every time you feed it.
How to Prepare Dried Apricots for Chinchillas?
Dried fruits always require the least preparation. Giving apricots as a whole isn’t a good idea. Follow these tips to prepare apricots for chinchillas.
- Cut dried apricots into small, bite-sized pieces. The cubes should be no longer than 1cm.
- Serve chopped pieces of dried apricots in the feeding bowl or spread them across the cage. Handfeeding is also good if you want to bond with your pet.
How Often Should I Give Dried Apricots to Chinchillas?
Apricots should never be a part of chinchillas’ diet. Rather, you should give it as an occasional treat.
- And such treats should be provided only 2 or 3 times a week.
- Every time you provide apricots to your chinchilla, no more than one teaspoon of dried apricots is suggested.
- So, that totals about three teaspoons of apricots per week.
Nutritional Value of Apricots
Here is the nutritional value chart of raw apricots from USDA. Check it before feeding apricots to your chinchillas.
| Nutrients | Amount per 100g |
| Water | 86.4g |
| Energy | 48 kcal |
| Protein | 1.4g |
| Total lipid | 0.39g |
| Carbohydrate | 11.1g |
| Total Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Total Sugar | 9.24g |
| Calcium | 13mg |
| Iron | 0.39mg |
| Magnesium | 10mg |
| Phosphorus | 23mg |
| Sodium | 1mg |
| Vitamin C | 10mg |
As you might see in the chart, the water and sugar content is too high in raw apricots compared to dietary fiber. So, it isn’t a safe option for chinchillas.
Risks of Over feeding Dried Apricots to Chinchillas
Even if you give dried apricots to your chinchillas, you are imposing some risks.
- Dried apricots have concentrated sugar, which is about 53.44g per 100g of apricots. So, feeding them to chinchillas can be too risky.
- They can become obese and have dental problems due to high sugar.
What Other Fruits Can Chinchillas Eat Instead of Apricots
As apricots have too many health risks for chinchillas, you might be thinking, what should they eat then? Here is an alternate list of fruits that you can feed your chinchillas.
- Apples
- Pears
- Strawberries
- Raisins
- Mixed Dry Fruits
Importance of Feeding Dried Fruits
No matter if the fruit is safe for chinchillas or not, you shouldn’t feed any fresh fruit to chinchillas. Almost all fresh fruits are high in water and sugar. Also, they have low fiber content. So, you should only be feeding dried fruits to your chinchillas.
- Dried fruits contain higher fiber than fresh fruits. They are better for the digestive system of chinchillas.
- As less water is present in dried fruits, they don’t cause diarrhea or other digestive problems.
- Crushing dried fruits requires more use of chinchillas’ teeth. So, the continuous growth of their teeth is checked by feeding them dried fruits.
Is Dried Apricots Good for Chinchillas?
Even though dried apricots don’t have water, they can still not be that good for chinchillas. It is because of the nutritional value of dried apricots.
Can chinchillas eat apricot skin?
Yes. There is no need to peel off the apricot skin, and chinchillas can eat the skin without any issues. It improves the texture and is rich in nutrients.
Can chinchillas eat apricot pits or seeds?
No. You should never let chinchillas eat apricot pits or seeds. The pit contains amygdalin, which releases cyanide after digestion. So, it can be fatal for your chinchilla.
In the End
While we eat fruits, it is tempting to share some with our lovely chinchillas. The same goes for apricots. We often tend to feed this sweet fruit to chinchillas. But can chinchillas eat apricots? As we have discussed in this guide, apricots have no essential nutrition for chinchillas.
Moreover, high water, low fiber, and high sugar in apricots are risky for these little pets with sensitive stomachs. So, you should never feed raw apricots. Dried apricots are allowed, but the amount should not be more than three teaspoons a week.
