Chinchilla Habit Question

[Radrachel]

So I'm new here. Not sure how this works but yeah. Anyway, I've had a chinchilla for about 4 months now, and he warmed up to me fairly quickly. I made sure to do my research so the temperature is always low, I give him appropriate amounts of time to run around freely and I watch his diet with a strictly pellet and timothy hay diet only (with the exception of cardboard tubes and chew toys). However, Chinchi (his name, because I'm oh so creative) has taken to sitting in a corner, holding a piece of cardboard in his mouth at night. I leave the door open for him to come out and play but he just sits there. Just wondering if that is normal behavior, or if I should take him to a vet. Only because I haven't found anything online about it (or maybe I just suck at google idk), but if someone could please help me out, it would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

 

[autumn5930]

I'm from the hedgehog side of this website, so I don't know the answer to your question, but here is the place where you will get some answers... You have to scroll down the home page, then when you see chin forums, Look like two forums down to New Owner Questions, click that then repost this thread... here is the link
http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

 

[Newt]

Have his eating habits changed? Is he losing weight, or showing any other symptoms? Are his poops normal?

It could be that he's still adjusting to being in a new place. How old is he?

 

[Radrachel]

His eating habits are the same, he's grown since I first got him, he may be a little chubby in fact, but everything else seems normal, including his poo.

I believe he was 3 months when I got him so he's around 7 months old I believe? It's something that I just started noticing recently.

 

[Zoaea]

Are you sure he isn't just sleeping? They sleep most of the time, including with their eyes open and in a hunched puff ball stance.

 

[Radrachel]

He might be sleeping then, should I be concerned that he holds cardboard in his mouth?

 

[Newt]

Heehheheh, sounds like he might be just sleeping; chins are funny like that. My old chin Poppy used to sleep with her teeth around the bars of her cage, with her little nose poking through.

You should get some pics

 

[mgonya]

My 1 yr always sleeps standing up in the corner by her sleephouse. Mostly with her eyes open.

 

[Radrachel]

Okay that makes me feel a whole lot better! I'm not sure how to post pictures on here but I'm trying to figure it out!

 

[sherry]

They sleep with their eyes open? I find this difficult to believe. Although I found this post trying to search the forum for info on chinchilla standing in 1 corner for most of the day.

 

[Chernople]

Yes they sleep with eyes open. If I walk in the room and my guy doesn't twitch then I know he's actually asleep but sometimes its hard to tell if he's actually awake or not.