Can Chinchillas Eat Watermelon? Reasons Why Should Avoid
While feeding chinchillas, until we have enough understanding, we become perplexed about whether the chins can eat fresh fruits or not as fruits have plenty of nutrients. Even we wonder if watery fruits can be great but can chinchillas eat watermelon?
No chinchilla can’t eat watermelon, avoid any highly watery fruits like watermelon, then acidic fruits such as orange, lemon, or pineapple, and particularly stay away from high sugar and fatty foods. The reason is chinchillas have sensitive stomachs and digestion systems.
Going through this article will share the reasons behind avoiding watermelon for the rat cousin chinchillas. So, make sure you check the list of nutritional value of watermelon. Besides that, you’ll discover what healthy or unhealthy foods you can feed your little chinchillas.
Why Chinchillas Can’t Eat Watermelon?- Reasons
Chinchillas usually need hay, greens, and fiber to keep themselves healthy. But, watermelon is like a toxic food for their health. But what are the reasons your chins cannot eat such watery fruit?
If you check the given facts and reasons, it will clarify why should avoid watermelons for chinchilla.
- Chinchillas should stay away from watery, citrus, high sugar, high fat, or the type of food that is tough to consume with little stomach.
- Watermelon is a type of water-based fruit that is not ideal for chinchillas or rodents because it contains a lot of water.
- Watermelon also has sugar, phosphate, and acidity which cause health complications in a chinchilla’s life.
Aside from watermelon, some pet owners may have to ask, Can chinchillas eat lemons or oranges?” Sadly, no, they can’t. The reason is citrus fruits such as lemons or particularly oranges have high sugar, phosphate, and calcium and are highly acidic.
Can Chinchillas Eat Honeydew Melon?
No chinchilla should not eat honeydew melon. Any type of water-based fruit is bad for chinchillas. So honeydew melons are no exception and you should avoid giving such fruits as it contains high sugar, acidity, and phosphorus levels.
Basically, any fresh fruits are not recommended as a regular diet plan for chinchillas. But some fruits like raisins, berries, and apples can be given as a small portion occasionally.
Additionally, ensure you don’t offer excessive treats or foods because too much may end up making the little creature sick. This can create digestion issues and make the chinchilla unhappy.
Nutritional Value Of Watermelon
We are avoiding watermelon as it contains high water. But as a sincere pet owner, you should know the nutritional value of this fruit.
For your convenience, we are listing the nutrition level for each 100 grams of watermelon.
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Calories | 30 |
| Protein | 0.6 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7.6 g |
| Fiber | 0.4 g |
| Sugar | 6.2 g |
| Vitamin C | 8.1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 28 mg |
| Potassium | 112 mg |
| Magnesium | 10 mg |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg |
| Calcium | 7 mg |
| Iron | 0.2 mg |
| Water | 91.5 g |
Can Chinchillas Have Dried Watermelon?
Not suitable! Dried watermelons have a lower water content than fresh ones, but still, the sugar concentration is high. Here, the problem is chinchillas have sensitivity to sugary fruits.
So, they’ll surely encounter obesity, digestion problems, or maybe dental issues. I would say, please avoid giving dried watermelon.
8 Tips For Offering Fruits To Your Chinchilla
Although fresh foods are not suggested, giving dry fruits as treats occasionally with moderation can be completely fine to cheer the chinchillas. But while serving fruits, remember a few things in mind.
- Chinchillas have a sensitive digestive system.
- Never change the chinchilla’s food diet frequently.
- Take note of how they act while having fruits.
- Offer a small piece of fruit like apples, berries, raisins, or other types of treats to be friendly with them.
- A minimum quantity of fruits is always preferable.
- Sugar is a toxic element for your little pet.
- Acidic fruits are also harmful to such rodents. For example, lemon, orange, lime, or pineapples.
- Watery fruits should be avoided by the pet owner.
Alternative Fruits For Watermelon For Chinchillas
If you are looking for some other fruits instead of high watery watermelon, you can offer:
- Berries
- Apples (No Seed)
- Pears (No Seed)
- Apricots
- Kiwi
- Papaya.
Can Chinchillas Eat Watermelon Rind?
No, chinchillas should avoid all water-based fruits, specifically watermelon as it may trigger the little pet to have severe health issues. But we humans can eat watermelon with such green skin of watermelon that we call it rind.
Can Chinchillas Have Watermelon Seeds?
My personal preference is to avoid giving watermelon seeds to chinchillas. In fact, watermelon is unsafe for chinchillas when given excessively due to high water intake.
The trouble your chinchillas will face is digestion difficulties. Or even there is a risk of suffocation. So, stick to a regular diet rather than such risky parts of melons.
The Bottom Line
Now you know the reasons why chinchilla can’t eat watermelon and it’s because of the high water content along with sugar, acidity, and phosphorus. Plus, the sensitive digestion system of the chins should be valued for the welfare of their health.
If you decide to feed your chins, avoid watery or fresh fruits like watermelon. Or if you want to give fruits, small portions of apples, berries, raisins, sultanas, or any other dry fruits will be best as treats once or twice a week.
