Not eating his food

[felix]

My boyfriend and I just got a chinchilla he is almost 3 years old. We got him last Saturday. I was wondering how much they are suppose to eat because he doesn't seem to be eating hardly anything. I have been mixing pellets and and a mixed food with sunflower seeds some Timothy hay and a bunch of other stuff! But he doesn't seem to eat it, he will eat timothy hay when I give it to him separately and we give him sunflower seeds as treats, which he eats. We give him 2-5 sunflower seeds a day as treats, since we are trying to train him to come to us, but that seems to be all he eats. Is this normal?

 

[tunes]

He's not eating his food because you're giving him junk food. If you offer a child a choice between brussels sprouts and a candy bar, which is he going to choose? Your chin is choosing the candy. Cut out all treats, and I wouldn't give sunflower seeds as a treat anyway, and only offer pellets and hay until you are sure he is eating well.

No raisins, no sunflower seeds, no fruits, no veggies, no pet store junk treats, etc. If you want to give him treats eventually, offer a dried rosehip, an organic rosebud, the occasional cheerio, a bite sized nonsugared shredded wheat, a pinch of old fashioned oats, and lots of wood chews. Here's a link to the FAQ regarding safe wood chews: http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34

Also be sure you are feeding him a good quality pellet, again, not pet store junk. These would include:
Nutrena Nature Wise 16%
Purina Advanced Nutrition Rabbit Pro or Sho
Tradition
Oxbow
APD
Mazuri

So yes, it's normal that he's eating the junk and not the pellets. Is it good for him? Nope.

Welcome to CnH.

 

[nicky]

Tunes is right. They're just like little kids! He's kind of new too, so maybe he needs a little bit more time to adjust. I'd let him get used to his enviornment and develop healthy eating habits (his pellets and hay only) for a good couple of weeks. Give him a treat here and there and that's it for now. He may have been fed lots of junk at his old home and needs to develop the right eating habits (kind of like people). Once he gets used to eating more of the plan old pellets and hay, then start giving him treats sparingly. You'll have plenty of time to train him to come to you. Don't rush it. It's more important to get him eating right again first.