Unique Chinchilla Behaviors

Amethyst said:

The question is kind of vague, but a change in behavior is generally caused by something. What exactly are they doing? Are they just running off to hide when you come in the room or hiding all the time? Are still eating, drinking, pooping and peeing normally? How long have you had the chin and is there anything new? Any new people or animals in the house, or even a new one near by like a barking dog or an outside cat peeking in windows? Is the stress level in the house higher then normal right now? New cage location? Are you using new soap/shampoo/body spray so you don't smell the same? If the chin is new this year, depending on where you live it is getting into winter so pipes may be banging or creaking in the walls as heat comes on which may be a new sound to them. As well as bugs and animals are trying to get into walls and roofs to find a warm place to wait out winter, both those things can be unnerving to a chinchilla.

If however if they aren't acting normal and there is nothing that is new or could be scaring them, or they aren't eating or drinking, or not pooping or peeing normally it's a good idea to get them checked out by the vet. Chins are annoyingly good at hiding illness and pain, so when they start acting different for no reason something is wrong.

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