Yes, chinchillas can eat cheerios every once in a while. However, cheerios contain more phosphorus than chinchillas need. That means cheerios should be given sparingly so that you don’t create a calcium-phosphorus imbalance in your chinchilla’s diet. Chinchillas need a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus. Cheerios are 1 to 1, which doesn’t allow them to have the calcium they require.
What are Cheerios?
Cheerios are a popular breakfast cereal made from whole grain oats, corn starch, sugar, salt, tripotassium phosphate, and vitamin E to preserve freshness. None of these ingredients is terrible for a chinchilla, but as stated above, too much is not a good thing. Cheerios also contain sugar which isn’t great for your chinchilla either. They are treats, and treats are extra little bits that you give your chinchilla occasionally because you love them.
So, what are the nutritional values of cheerios? They are as follows, and as you can see, calcium and phosphorus are both at 10%, giving them a one to one ratio.
Nutritional Information
Calories 100
Calories from Fat 15
% Daily Value
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 3%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 140mg 6%
Potassium 180mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Soluble Fiber 1g
Sugars 1g
Other Carbohydrate 16g
Protein 3g
Vitamin A 10%
Vitamin C 10%
Calcium 10%
Iron 45%
Vitamin D 10%
Thiamin 25%
Riboflavin 2%
Niacin 25%
Vitamin B6 25%
Folic Acid 50%
Vitamin B12 25%
Phosphorus 10%
Magnesium 8%
Zinc 25%
Should I give my Chinchilla Cheerios?
Now that we know chinchillas can have cheerios, should you give them cheerios? It is perfectly acceptable to give your chinchilla a few cheerios now and then. Special treats made just for chinchillas or small rodents/rabbits would be a better way to go because they formulate them for chinchilla needs. However, if you have a box of cheerios and want to treat your furry friend, there is nothing wrong with giving them one as a treat. My chinchillas actually learned to raid cereal boxes. I would sometimes eat while I was on the floor socializing them during playtime. One of them in particular would hone right in on the box, bounce on it to knock it over, and then crawl right in and munch away to his heart’s content. Adorable, but annoying if you are hungry and trying to eat!
Conclusion
Chinchillas can eat cheerios. They should eat them in moderation as a treat. They don’t have the nutritional value that would make them suitable for more than a snack. They are too high in phosphorus, which can cause problems. What do you think? Do you or would you give cheerios to your chinchilla for a treat? Let me know by leaving your comment below, I’d love to hear from you.