Can chinchillas eat lettuce?

Better not: chinchillas shouldn’t eat lettuce. Merck suggests a handful of dark green lettuce such as romaine every day. The University of Minnesota also mentions romaine, and NC State lists romaine and leaf lettuces among greens very low in calcium. Germany’s Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare (TVT), however, says fresh greens often cause diarrhea that can be fatal, and Woodgreen advises against vegetables, so we err on the side of caution.

Good to know: What the TVT says chinchillas need instead – hay, dried herbs and a small amount of chinchilla pellets. If you suspect your chinchilla is in pain, ill or injured, the RSPCA says to see a vet immediately. NC State adds that a chinchilla not eating for more than 12 hours is always an emergency.