Chinchilla Community Forums

Chinchillas => Health => Topic started by: winterose on May 17, 2012, 07:22:41 PM

Title: Switching food... causing larger, darker poops?
Post by: winterose on May 17, 2012, 07:22:41 PM
So, My 2 adopted rescue chins were on "Grreat choice" chinchilla food when I got them,

I can get Mazuri which I have been told on another forum is a good chin food for about 15 bucks for a 20lb bag compared to Oxbow for 12 bucks for 3lbs..... So thats what I got, the Mazuri , I've been slowly switching them over and I have noticed a change in their poo.....

When they arrived, their poo was a lot smaller and lighter in color, and now it is much darker and larger. Is this normal when switching foods? is it a bad thing? or a good thing?

Its not getting soft or anything, just larger and darker in color.....

Am i worrying over nothing?
Title: Re: Switching food... causing larger, darker poops?
Post by: GrayRodent on May 18, 2012, 05:49:40 AM
I haven't seen this before personally since I've never owned chins but it makes sense that you would because the foods have different ingredients. Just watch for signs of loose or slimy/wet or green colored droppings as that can indicate a problem. Larger usually means wetter but that's not necessarily bad especially if they weren't getting enough fiber from before. If their eating and drinking habits have changed slightly (which is likely) then the color/texture might fluctuate a bit until the guts find their new baseline. Since both of them are affected the same at the same time I would lean towards this explanation.
Title: Re: Switching food... causing larger, darker poops?
Post by: jmdebb on May 18, 2012, 11:30:54 AM
hi, i know that depending on the food, their poop colors can change.  i have had that happen in the past..
Title: Re: Switching food... causing larger, darker poops?
Post by: chinclub on May 18, 2012, 03:48:30 PM
Totally normal.  It just means you are going to a better food.