Can Chinchillas Eat Pistachios? (Read an Owner’s Experience)

When you have a pet chinchilla, you should imitate their natural diet pattern to ensure they get proper nutrients. As various nuts, such as pistachios, are popular with humans, many pet owners tend to offer pistachios to chinchillas. But can chinchillas eat pistachios?

Yes, chinchillas can eat pistachios. Only a small amount of pistachios can be allowed to eat as occasional treats. But it is not good for chinchilla health. In fact, no nuts are good for chinchillas if they consume a lot.

I faced a lot of issues with my chinnie about feeding nuts. From that experience, I will share the nutrition facts of pistachios, their health benefits & risks, and how to serve pistachios in the correct way. Read till the end to be more careful about your chinchillas’ diet.

Can Chinchillas Have Pistachios?

Yes, chinchillas can. As pistachios don’t have any toxins, they are generally safe for chinchillas. But the problem occurs when chinchillas eat them a lot. This is because pistachios, like all other nuts, are high in fat and protein.

Too much fat and protein are detrimental for chinchillas. The sensitive chinchilla digestive system faces a tough time digesting the fat content in food. This results in burping, bloating, or other digestive problems.

Besides, chinchillas can gain weight faster due to the high-fat content in pistachios. The high carbohydrates present in pistachios can accelerate the process. These tasty nuts can cause other health issues as well.

But they aren’t downright dangerous for chinchillas. So, feeding a little pistachios won’t do much harm.

Nutritional Value Of Pistachios

Pistachios are from the cashew family, which is native to Central Asia. As I have talked about the cashew family, you may ask, can chinchillas eat cashews? Well, cashews are also high in fat, so chinchillas should avoid them.

To understand why chinchillas should or shouldn’t have pistachios, you need to know their nutritional values. Take a closer look.

Nutritional Chart of Pistachios

I found the following nutritional chart of pistachios on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

Nutrients	Amount per 100g
Water	4.37 g
Energy	560 kcal
Protein	20.2 g
Total Fat	45.3 g
Carbohydrates	27.2 g
Total Dietary Fiber	10.6 g
Total Sugar	7.66 g
Calcium	105 mg
Iron	3.92 mg
Magnesium	121 mg
Phosphorus	490 mg
Potassium	1020 mg
Sodium	1 mg
Vitamin C	5.6 mg
Thiamin	0.87 mg
Niacin	1.3 mg
Vitamin B6	1.7 mg

Health Benefits of Pistachios for Chinchillas

Despite the high fat and protein, pistachios can benefit chinchillas in the following ways.

• Chinchillas can get a portion of their necessary protein from pistachios. Their daily protein requirement is 4-8g. Eating a small amount of pistachios will provide about 0.5g of protein.
• As you can see in the above chart, pistachios have 10% of dietary fiber in them. So, chinchillas can get a portion of their necessary fiber from pistachios.
• Pistachios are high in carbohydrates and calories. As chinchillas need to lead an active life, the extra energy can help chinchillas. Of the 35% carbohydrate requirement, pistachios can provide a large amount of carbs.
• Pistachios are a good source of necessary vitamins and minerals. For example, it has calcium and phosphorus, which are important for bone and dental health.

How to Feed Pistachios to Chinchillas?

As pistachios aren’t that healthy, you should feed them in moderation. Here is how I do it.

• I choose raw pistachios and remove the shells first.
• The nut is still slightly big for chinchillas. So, I prefer to crush or chop the nut.
• Then, I offer one or two small pieces of nuts as treats.

Mixing nuts with other foods, such as hay, isn’t a good idea. Chinchillas can choke on it if they don’t notice.

Ideal Serving Size and Frequency of Pistachios for Chinchilla?

You should remember that pistachios shouldn’t be a part of chinchillas’ regular diet. Pistachios, or other nuts, should only be fed once or twice a week.

As I have already stated, chinchillas consume about 40g of food per day. If they have a high-activity routine, they can eat slightly more food. In all cases, the total amount of fat shouldn’t exceed 5% of their diet. So, it comes down to 2g of fat at most.

And that amount of fat can be found in roughly 5g of pistachios. If you want to give pistachios to chinchillas, make sure you don’t give more than 5g in one day. And don’t give this more than twice a week.

Can Chinchillas Eat Salted Pistachios?

You might have already seen that raw pistachios have a low sodium content. But when these nuts are roasted and salted, the sodium content rises up to 389mg per 100g of salted pistachios.

This much sodium is harmful to chinchillas. So, they can’t eat salted pistachios. In fact, you should avoid any other salty or processed food in the chinchilla diet.

Can Chinchillas Eat Pistachios Shells?

No, pistachio shells don’t have any nutritional value. Plus, they are too hard for little chins and your pet can choke on the shells. Broken shells or splinters can also hurt the sensitive digestive tract of chinchillas.

Health Risks of Overfeeding Pistachios to Chinchillas

Before you are too glad that you can now share pistachios with your chinchilla; see what veterinarians say about the risks.

• It is evident from the nutritional chart that pistachios are packed with nutrients. But the problem is these nutrients are not good for chinchillas. For example, pistachios have a 45.3% fat content. But chinchillas only need 2-5% fat in their daily diet.
• The protein content is also high in pistachios at about 20%. Chinchillas need 16-20% of protein in their diet. When nuts are added to the diet, the overall protein content can rise. According to the Association of Pet Behavior Counsellors, high-protein diets can cause severe digestive issues. It can turn into gut stasis over time.
• According to research by Margaret Hughes from the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, chinchillas can synthesize Vitamin C, so they don’t need it from external sources. So, these nuts don’t have many nutritional benefits for chinchillas. You may ask, can chinchillas eat pecans or other nuts? Well, those nuts are also high in fat. So, they won’t make a good chinchilla diet for your little rodent.
• Chinchillas may pick fatty food frequently if they get used to it. As a result, they will start ignoring healthier options. So, you shouldn’t offer pistachios often.
• Fibrous food is essential to keep chinchilla teeth trimmed. If they eat more pistachios instead of fibrous food, teeth will overgrow and be misaligned.
• Taking pistachios as a regular diet will make your chinchillas obese. They can suffer from diabetes due to obesity.

Alternative to Pistachios for Chinchillas

As pistachios aren’t a great option as a treat for chinchillas, I tried to find some healthier alternatives. Check the following list.

• Dried chamomile flower
• Sweet hay
• Dried dandelions
• Rose hips
• Rolled oats
• Dried herbs
• Lavender

Almost Done

Unlike other rodents, chinchillas are sensitive to a lot of food items that we think are suitable for them. So, pet owners should be extra cautious before giving them anything new. Especially when it is a fatty food like pistachios, you should know the details first.

I clarified everything regarding the topic. From the nutritional value of pistachios to their health benefits and risks, you have all the information here. Plus, the guide should help you moderate the amount and frequency of pistachios for your cute little pet.