Quick answer: Feed unlimited grass hay first, then a measured scoop of uniform chinchilla pellets. Skip seed mixes and sugary treats. Hay should make up most of the day’s food.
An adult chinchilla’s food is unlimited grass hay plus about two tablespoons of uniform pellets, not a seed mix. This page is a 2026 spec comparison of currently sold pellets and grass hays. We did not run feeding trials, weigh animals in a colony, or assay opened bags.
The Uniform Pellet and Grass Hay Rule
Our research team used one selection rule. A product had to be currently sold, name chinchillas on the maker page, and publish a guaranteed analysis there.
Pellets had to be a single daily diet, not a treat bag. Hay had to be one grass species, not a flavored topper.
We left out seed mixes, muesli, yogurt drops, and rabbit-only pellets. We also left out any bag with no maker-page analysis.
That rule is why four pellets and two timothy hays appear below. Colorful forage cups do not.
Comparing published specs is not the same as watching an animal eat. Labels still show protein, fiber, scoop size, and first ingredients side by side.
Top 7 Chinchilla food
The picks below are the 7 chinchilla foods on sale right now, listed with what each suits best and an honest drawback. Any comparison table above comes from maker specifications and may cover different models.
1. Kaytee Fiesta Chinchilla Food
Best for: Budget owners wanting colorful mealtime variety
Kaytee sells Fiesta as a colorful gourmet mix of fruits, seeds, grains, and shapes. At $9.95 it is the bargain listing on this page, built for variety rather than a single pellet. Owners often report chinchillas pick the bright pieces first and leave the rest.
Pros: Low grocery-aisle price; Colorful mix of textures Cons: Mix invites selective eating
2. Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Food
Best for: Daily staple seekers wanting uniform pellets
Oxbow’s Essentials line is a uniform pellet the maker describes as a complete food for chinchillas of all ages. There are no candy-colored mix-ins, which is why care guides treat it as a daily staple. The $18.22 price is the premium for that even bite; owners who leave mixes say selective eating usually drops.
Pros: Uniform everyday pellet; Premium staple brand price Cons: Higher everyday bag price
3. Kaytee Food from the Wild Chinchilla (Chinchilla Food)
Best for: Owners who want forage-style feeding
Kaytee’s Food from the Wild line is a forage-style blend: pellets plus botanicals the maker lists as rose hip, marigold, sweet potato, and timothy hay. This listing shows no price, and the bag is meant to look like a wild snack tray. Owners who want enrichment like the mixed textures; owners who want a clean bowl report more leftover bits.
Pros: Forage-style botanical blend; Pellets plus hay pieces Cons: Mixed pieces invite picking
4. Supreme Petfoods Tiny Friends Farm Charlie Chinchilla Food
Best for: Households that prefer a UK tasty mix
Supreme’s Tiny Friends Farm Charlie is a UK tasty mix, not a one-shape pellet. Maker copy leans on timothy hay, carrot, and cereal flakes as an everyday bowl at $15.99. Owners say chinchillas enjoy the variety, and the same reports note they may skip the less exciting pieces.
Pros: Familiar UK tasty mix; Mid-tier bag price Cons: Not a uniform pellet
5. Oxbow Animal Health Garden Select Chinchilla Food
Best for: Picky chins that like garden pellets
Oxbow’s Garden Select is a uniform pellet with a garden-herb recipe, not the alfalfa Essentials formula. The maker describes grass hays plus garden extras, and the $12.82 price sits under the Essentials listing. Owners who want a pellet that smells more like a garden than a barn tend to land here.
Pros: Garden-inspired uniform pellets; Mid-tier Oxbow pricing Cons: Herb recipe splits picky eaters
6. Supremepetfoods Charlie Chinchilla Food
Best for: Owners restocking imported Charlie bags
This is another Supreme Charlie listing, priced at $18.99. The name still points to the Charlie mix style, not a lab pellet. Owners restocking an imported Charlie bag will know the brand; they are paying more for that familiar mix.
Pros: Recognizable Charlie mix brand; Same tasty-mix format Cons: Steeper Charlie list price
7. Mazuri Chinchilla Food | 2.5 Pound (2.5 lb.)
Best for: Single-chin homes needing a compact bag
Mazuri’s chinchilla food is a uniform pellet from a zoo-diet brand, sold here as a 2.5-pound bag for $12.79. Maker pages pitch it as a complete pellet for all life stages, not a seed mix. The compact bag suits one chin; a pair will empty it faster than a bulk sack.
Pros: Stated 2.5-pound bag; Uniform zoo-brand pellet Cons: Small bag needs frequent restock
Comparison: Chinchilla food at a Glance
Want to browse every option? See the full range of chinchilla food on Amazon →
What chinchilla food is, and what it is not
Chinchilla food is a two-part ration. Long-strand grass hay is the bulk. A measured, species-labeled pellet fills nutrient gaps.
The MSD Veterinary Manual, in its September 2025 pet-owner diet review, puts the split in plain terms. Unlimited timothy hay comes first. A small amount of pellets, listed as 1–2 tablespoons a day, comes second.
The same MSD page says commercial pellets can run high in carbohydrates and calories. It also notes that pellets crumble and do little to wear constantly growing teeth.
Hay does the chewing work. Pellets do the vitamin and mineral work. Treats do neither job well.
The MSD Veterinary Manual tells owners to avoid dried fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts. Those items can upset a chinchilla’s stomach.
A seed mix is not chinchilla food. It is a snack pile that invites picking.
How AAFCO labels let you compare bags
The Association of American Feed Control Officials, on its Reading Labels page, lists four required pet-food guarantees. Those are minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, and maximum moisture.
AAFCO also says every ingredient must appear in descending order by weight. The first plant meal on a pellet bag is the heaviest plant input, not a flavor note.
AAFCO’s public label guide is written around dog and cat food. It does not publish a chinchilla nutrient profile the way it does for those species.
A chinchilla bag can still carry a guaranteed analysis. It cannot lean on an AAFCO chinchilla feeding profile that does not exist on that page.
AAFCO states that federal animal-food labeling rules apply to products that cross state lines. We are quoting AAFCO’s statement, not a page we opened on the FDA site.
Read the analysis as as-fed numbers. They are legal floors and ceilings. They are not a feeding-trial score.
Alfalfa meal on a pellet label is a concentrated plant ingredient. That label logic matches what chicken meal is in dog food. It is not the same as a flake of loose hay.
Meal versus the whole plant also changes the weight on the list. That is the same order-of-predominance problem we walk through in meat meal versus meat in dog food.
Pellets and hay compared by published specs
Our research team compared six maker pages in September 2026. Four are pellets. Two are timothy hays.
Oxbow Animal Health lists Essentials Chinchilla Food at 18.00% minimum crude protein and 2.50% minimum crude fat. Crude fiber sits between 18.00% and 23.00%. Calcium is 0.60% to 1.10%.
The first ingredient is alfalfa meal. Oxbow tells owners to feed adults older than one year 1/8–1/4 cup plus free-choice grass hay. Animals younger than one year get the pellets free-choice, with grass hay and alfalfa.
Mazuri lists Chinchilla Diet, formula 5M01, at 20.00% minimum crude protein and 3.00% minimum crude fat. Crude fiber is not more than 18.00%. Calcium is not less than 0.75%.
Omega-3 fatty acids are not less than 0.50%. Total microorganisms are not less than 270,000 CFU/g. Mazuri prints the pellet size as 5/32 inch by 3/8 inch.
Adult intake on that Mazuri page is about 20 grams, written as 2 tablespoons, plus unlimited hay.
Kaytee lists Forti-Diet Pro Health Chinchilla Food at 17.0% minimum crude protein and 3.0% minimum crude fat. Crude fiber is 17.0% maximum. Omega-3 fatty acids are 0.4% minimum.
Total Bacillus species are 60,000 CFU/g. Kaytee also says 2 tablespoons, about 20 grams. The 3-pound bag is listed at 3.75 by 5.5 by 8.5 inches.
Kaytee’s ingredient list includes titanium dioxide and FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, and Red #40. It is the only pellet in this set that prints those color additives.
Supreme Petfoods, on its U.S. Science Selective Chinchilla page, lists 14.0% minimum crude protein and 1.0% minimum crude fat. Crude fibre is 22.0% maximum. Moisture is 11.0% maximum.
Calcium is 0.5% to 1.4%. Vitamin A is 10,000 IU/kg. Adult feeding on that page is 30–40 grams a day, in a 4.4-pound pack.
The same Supreme page markets the nugget as 16% protein and 19% fiber. It also prints calcium at 0.8% and phosphorus at 0.4%. Those marketing lines are not the U.S. guaranteed-analysis floors.
Oxbow Western Timothy Hay lists 7.00% minimum crude protein and 1.50% minimum crude fat. Crude fiber is 32.00% maximum. Moisture is 15.00% maximum.
The only ingredient is timothy grass hay. Bag sizes on the maker page run from 15 ounces to 50 pounds.
Small Pet Select lists 1st Cutting Timothy Hay at 6.99% minimum crude protein and 1.25% minimum crude fat. Crude fiber is 36.64% maximum. Moisture is 9.11% maximum.
That page tells owners to keep hay at 80% of intake. It also says to refresh the hay at least once a day.
| Product | Form | First listed plant input | Crude protein (min) | Crude fiber on label | Adult amount on maker page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Food | Uniform pellet | Alfalfa meal | 18.00% | 18.00–23.00% | 1/8–1/4 cup plus free-choice grass hay |
| Mazuri Chinchilla Diet 5M01 | Pellet, 5/32 in × 3/8 in | Dehydrated alfalfa meal | 20.00% | max 18.00% | 20 g (2 Tbsp) plus unlimited hay |
| Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Chinchilla Food | Mixed crunchy pieces | Sun-cured alfalfa meal | 17.0% | max 17.0% | 2 Tbsp (about 20 g) |
| Science Selective Chinchilla | Extruded nugget | Alfalfa meal pellets | 14.0% | max 22.0% | 30–40 g plus hay |
| Oxbow Western Timothy Hay | Long-strand grass hay | Timothy grass hay | 7.00% | max 32.00% | Large handfuls daily |
| Small Pet Select 1st Cutting Timothy Hay | Long-strand 1st-cut hay | 100% 1st-cutting timothy | 6.99% | max 36.64% | 80% of daily intake |
One label gap is easy to miss. Kaytee’s fiber ceiling is 17.0%. Oxbow Essentials’ fiber floor is 18.00%.
Those two guarantees do not overlap.
Another gap sits in the probiotic lines. Mazuri prints 270,000 CFU/g. Kaytee prints 60,000 CFU/g.
That is a 4.5-times spread on the published count. It is not a finding from our lab.
Scoop size also disagrees. Mazuri and Kaytee both land near 20 grams. Science Selective lands at 30–40 grams.
Oxbow uses cups, not grams.
Hay fiber sits far above every pellet. Oxbow’s timothy max is 32.00%. Small Pet Select’s 1st cutting max is 36.64%.
That is why hay, not the bowl of pellets, does the dental and gut work.
How much to feed, and how to switch
Start with hay that never runs out. Then measure the pellet scoop the maker printed.
Oxbow’s adult cup range is 1/8–1/4 cup. That is a wider band than Mazuri’s 20-gram line. Watch body condition, not the bag’s optimism.
Young animals get a different rule on two pages. Oxbow feeds Essentials free-choice before one year. Mazuri feeds juveniles and lactating females unlimited pellets.
Do not jump bags overnight. Oxbow publishes a four-week mix.
Week one is three parts old to one part new. Later weeks move to even parts, then one to three, then the new food alone.
Kaytee publishes a shorter window. Mix old and new food over 7 to 10 days.
The MSD Veterinary Manual says new foods should come in slowly over several days. Fast swaps can bring wet or sticky droppings and gas.
A stalled hindgut is an emergency pattern, not a picky-eating phase. Food that never moves is a problem in any species. Dogs show a similar stall when a whole meal comes back in why a dog throws up undigested food.
Mazuri tells owners to store open feed at 75°F or colder. Use it within 1 year of the bag date.
Kaytee tells owners to use an opened, naturally preserved bag within 30–45 days. Those two clocks are not interchangeable.
A 25-pound pellet sack stays fresh only if the seal and the room stay dry.
Throw uneaten wet food out each day. The MSD Veterinary Manual says leftover food can grow mold.
Water belongs next to the hay. The MSD Veterinary Manual prefers bottles for cleanliness. It still warns that some animals will not use one.
Produce, treats, and foods that do not belong
The MSD Veterinary Manual allows a handful of dark leafy lettuce each day. It also allows a few vegetables. It names romaine, green leaf lettuce, bell peppers, carrot tops, and celery.
Fruit is a narrow extra on that page. A slice of apple or pear may appear. Fruit should stay under 10% of the diet.
Dried fruit is out.
The same page flags high-calcium greens and alfalfa hay as bladder-stone risks. It names kale, parsley, and dandelion greens. Carrots are a rare item because of sugar.
Mazuri is stricter on extras than the manual’s produce list. Its feeding directions say vegetables and fruits are not required.
If offered, they should stay under 10% of the total diet. Treats should stay under 2%.
Supreme’s U.S. page still asks for fresh vegetables with the 30–40 gram nugget scoop. That is a maker instruction. It is not a reason to crowd out hay.
Oxbow’s adult hay rule is grass first. Alfalfa hay is an occasional treat after one year.
If a bag looks like breakfast cereal, leave it. Color, seeds, and dried fruit are selection flags, not enrichment.
Salt blocks are not on any of the six maker pages we compared. Do not add one because a pet-store endcap suggested it.
FAQ
How much hay should a chinchilla eat each day?
Hay should be in front of the animal at all times. Small Pet Select’s 1st Cutting page sets hay at 80% of intake. Refresh it at least once daily. The MSD Veterinary Manual also calls for unlimited timothy hay.
How many pellets should an adult get?
Maker pages do not agree on one scoop. Mazuri and Kaytee both list about 20 grams, or 2 tablespoons. Science Selective lists 30–40 grams. Oxbow lists 1/8–1/4 cup plus free-choice grass hay.
Is alfalfa hay acceptable?
Oxbow feeds alfalfa with grass hay for animals under one year. For adults, Oxbow calls alfalfa hay an occasional treat. The MSD Veterinary Manual tells owners to avoid alfalfa hay because it can contribute to bladder stones.
Can I feed a rabbit or guinea pig pellet instead?
Not under our selection rule. This article only covers bags that name chinchillas on the maker page. Rabbit and guinea pig formulas use different calcium and vitamin targets.
Why do some pellets list alfalfa if hay should be timothy?
Alfalfa meal is a concentrated pellet ingredient, not a pile of loose alfalfa hay. All four pellets here lead with an alfalfa meal. The grass hay beside the bowl is still the dental tool. Read meal as a label-weight term, the way chicken meal is read on a dog bag.
Do colored or mixed pieces matter?
Yes, if you care about even intake. Oxbow and Supreme sell uniform bites so the animal cannot sort. Kaytee’s own page mentions larger crunchy pieces and lists FD&C colors.
How fast should I change pellet brands?
Follow the slower clock when two brands disagree. Oxbow’s printed switch is four weeks. Kaytee’s is 7 to 10 days. The MSD Veterinary Manual says several days at minimum.
