A very popular pet in many households is actually a rodent, but instead of scavenging as most do, chinchilla food choices are of a much more sophisticated nature. In fact, because of a delicate and sensitive digestive system, anyone who has a chinchilla as a pet needs to know some very important facts about the food they require.

A chinchilla is a small animal that is indigenous to the South American region of the Andes Mountains. In its natural habitat, the chinchilla makes its home within crannies of rocks or by burrowing into the ground. Various types of plants, seeds and fruits common to the Chilean climate comprise the diets of the wild chinchilla. Two species of the animal are currently recognized: Chinchilla brevicaudata and Chinchilla lanigera.