Bonding with a timid chinchilla?

[getupasb]

Hello!

I'm new to the forum. I have had a few chinchillas in the past and have done quite the extensive amount of research. I am also going to school to be a vet tech. I am very careful about taking care of them, but I do have one problem:

I got this chinchilla a couple months ago. I haven't had a chinchilla since I was in high school, but had wanted one for a while, so I went for it. I spent a ton of money on a cage and everything, but did choose to get a chinchilla at the pet store. I know it's not always the best idea, but I decided to get this little guy. He's a little over a year old. Apparently, they had him at the pet store and said he was relatively outgoing. Then they sold him to a family; I guess they had him for about a week, but the dog they had really scared him. So, they returned him back to the pet store and the lady working said that he had become a lot more skittish.

So, I ended up purchasing this guy and bringing him home. For a while, he would hide from me when I opened the cage. Within the past month or so, he's become a lot less timid. He comes up to the front of the cage when I open it (I keep thinking he is going to jump out), and lets me scratch his head. He'll climb on my hand and nibble at me a little, but not bite. If I move my hand to pet him anywhere besides his head, he runs... and I still cannot pick him up. I understand that most chinchillas do not like to be held, although I know some who have seemed to enjoy being cuddled, but I would like to be able to pick him up if necessary.

What are some ways to get him to the point where I should be able to pick him up to transport him, etc.? He's obviously getting better, but he is not quite there yet.

Thanks in advance!

 

[HolyBegeebers]

Welcome!

My first chin was a rescue from a pet store that took her in. I allowed her time to get used to the space before interacting with her too much and let her warm up to me. My other four came at the same time and from a rescue that had held them much more than my first had experienced. The baby had been hand fed, so she was totally okay with it. I say all this in that I think it depends on their personality and life experiences.

 

[Jazicat]

If he will let you pick him up than I would start out times. We would lay our hands flat and let them jump out. We waited until all our chinchillas learned that if they jumped out of the cage they'd get play time. Since they loved play time they didn't seem to mind riding there on us. This help hands not be so scary.

Your guy has had some trauma so take things very slowly and if it takes a month like Jackie did to come out of the cage that's okay. Once we built trust and he knew we didn't want to mess with him he really warmed up. He is one of those amazing chinchillas that are very friendly. However he was never treated badly and just traumatized from being at a show before us so there is a difference. I wish you the best in getting to know each other.

 

[ashleynicol3]

I've only had my chinchilla for a month & although I wouldn't say he was ever timid, it did take him some time to get used to me. I held my hands out in his cage & he started to jump on them, then eventually he made his way up my arm & onto my shoulder. He would jump off my shoulder & onto the floor sometimes. Now that he's used to being let out of his cage around the same time daily, he'll jump right into my hands & use them as a step down to the floor.

I've had to pick him up a couple of times & I had to lure him close with rose hips, then grab him. He didn't like it, but he didn't really freak out - just squirmed a bit. I started letting him out in the room I keep his cage in so I wouldn't have to deal with transporting him & always being worried he'd try to jump out of hands & escape. That's worked better for us & now he climbs all over me during playtime. I didn't realize how comfortable he'd become with me until I had my fiancé in the room for playtime & he mostly hid. It's clear that he's comfortable with me & knows me & isn't scared because I'm constantly talking to him & scratching his chin & I'm the one who gives him his food, etc. Just spend time with him & take it slow, go at his pace!