Small Animal Food Guide

Small Animal Food Guide

You can find food mixtures specifically made for each of the popular small pets. These food mixes are formulated for the dietary needs of each animal, and help provide a well-rounded diet.

You may find it easiest to feed from a heavy ceramic bowl, as it is less likely to be knocked over (creating a mess to clean up) in the cage by your pet when it runs and plays.

Never feed your small pet a mixture formulated for a different species. Rabbit food can be harmful to smaller animals, for example.

Most small animals will enjoy supplementary treats such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Make sure to feed in small pieces though, and only as much as your pet will eat. This avoids the problem of moldy food developing in the cage. Try to limit the amount of treats that are high in sugar or fat, as this can lead to obesity.

Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas and Rabbits also require a constant supply of hay (timothy hay is recommended). These small animals chew on hay to balance their diet and to grind down their teeth which grow continuously. Many of the animals will also use the hay as bedding.

A supply of fresh water must be available at all times for your small pet. The easiest way to ensure this is to purchase a water bottle which hangs on the side of the cage. This eliminates the problem of spilled water from a dish as well. As some small animals may not know how to use a water bottle, a water dish may be necessary to ensure they receive the water they require. Water should be changed daily.

For increased nutrition, you can also purchase vitamin drops which can be added to your pet's water. Be sure to change the water regularly to maintain freshness.

Animal	Good Foods	Treats/Limited	Avoid	Notes
Gerbils and Hamsters	gerbil and hamster pellets or mixed food carrots cucumber leafy greens peas	Up to 10% of the diet: apples bananas blueberries sweet potato squash	raw potatoes almonds citrus fruit garlic and onions rhubarb chocolate sugar and salt sunflower seeds	If feeding loose seeds, make sure your pet eats a variety and not just his favorites out of the mix.
Guinea Pigs	guinea pig pellets timothy hay (or other grass hay) leafy greens green pepper tomato	apple banana carrot blueberries	raw potato/potato skin cabbage broccoli cauliflower iceberg lettuce sugar and salt	Guinea pigs need vitamin C in their diets. Feed a guinea pig food to make sure they get enough.
Rabbits	rabbit pellets timothy hay (or other grass hay) leafy greens beets and beet greens peas tomato	apple blueberry melon pineapple plum pear strawberry	legumes and beans nuts sugar and salt	Rabbits need to chew and eat a lot of fiber. Make sure they always have hay available – it helps for both!
Ferrets	ferret dry kibble wet food	bits of cooked meat hard boiled eggs insects ferret treats	fruits vegetables grains	Ferrets are carnivores. Fruits and vegetables can be bad for their digestion.
Chinchillas	chinchilla pellets timothy hay (or other grass hay) anise or yucca supplements	Very small amounts of fruit, vegetables, or seeds (1 teaspoon a day)	Avoid variety	Chinchillas have very sensitive digestive tracts. Too much change may cause health problems.
Mice	mouse or hamster pellets timothy hay (or other grass hay)	Up to 1 teaspoon/day: apples bananas carrots broccoli arugula turnip leafy greens	sunflower seeds cabbage sugar and salt peanuts onions	Mice are small – treat portions sizes should also be small.
Rats	rat pellets	Just about anything, in small quantities!	sugar and salt peanut butter onions	Rats eat most things and like a variety of foods. Offer small bits of different foods as treats to make sure they don’t overeat.

Small Animal Food Guide

Small Animal Food Guide

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