2 of my 3 chins keep fighting... please help.

EmilyChin · Mar 2, 2012

I have 3 male chinchillas. My first chin, Chee is about 2 years old and I have had him since he was just a couple months old. My other 2, Gary and Gus, are litter mates that have been together since birth. I adopted them when they were about 6 months old. All 3 have been living together very peacefully for about a year now. They always sleep together and love each others company.

For the past couple weeks, Gary and Gus have been fighting. Nothing too violent, but a lot of grunting and possibly nipping, I can never really see it because it always happens in the wooden house they sleep in. My chins have a huge cage, with a chin spin, lots of toys/hammocks, plenty of food and water and they get a lot of attention.

I have no idea why this fighting is just starting to happen. The fighting never ever involves my oldest chin, Chee. He often tries to break up the fight. I have not seen any blood or hair loss so I have not separated them. Is there a solution to this? I really don't want to separate them, that would mean I would have to give one chin away... I can't fit another cage in my house. Plus they are all so bonded to each other. If anyone has any advice please let me know. Thank you in advance.

Stackie · Mar 2, 2012

I would separate them asap before the fighting escalates. Chinchillas can be together for months or even years and then decide one day that they just do not like each other anymore. You are lucky that you are getting signs that they are not getting along. Many people including myself have woken up one morning to find one of their chins badly injured or even dead from a fight.

Since they are fighting now IMO there is very little possibility that they will get along in the future. It is in the best interest to separate. In my experience trios seem to have problems, I have had two failed trios.

fanofdmb84 · Mar 2, 2012

What about giving them another wood house - maybe they are fighting over the prime sleeping spot? If so, you should probably have a couple different food dishes and water bottles so no one is hogging those resources, too.

Is your cage tall? If so, maybe you could split it in half into a top and bottom. That way everyone would be safe and you wouldn't need another cage.

Of course, it's always safer to err on the side of caution and separate them - like Stackie said, once they start fighting that's usually just the tip of the iceberg, and things could get much worse very quickly.

EmilyChin · Mar 4, 2012

I will try adding another house. Other then that they have 3 food dishes and 2 water bottles. I do have a large cage that splits in half (top/bottom) but I feel like it would be pretty small if I did that. Also I only have one chin spin which they ALL love to use at night. Should I separate the chin that is causing the fight or the one that is the victim?

tunes · Mar 4, 2012

Separate the one that is causing the fights. If he's causing it with one chin, he will most likely cause it with another.

As for the wheel, either rotate it every couple days or buy another one. As Stackie said, there have been too many people who have awakened to a dead chin due to a beating. You are getting a warning with them snipping at each other, take it seriously.

EmilyChin · Mar 4, 2012

Okay I will definitely separate. Is it best to let the chins still see each other? Like have the 2 cages near each other? Or should I completely remove the fighter from even being able to see the other two? I just don't want him to feel scared or confused as to why he was with another chin since birth and now alone. Definitely saddens me that it has come down to this. ;(
-Emily