Ok, so. Im a rather new chinchilla owner. Having had my little boy Dexter for somewhere around a month now. I believe he is very timid in nature since I had very little trouble approaching him in the beginning. He would bark at me a little and hide in the corner at first but that went away after a few days and he now generally accepts me as long as neither one of us startles the other.
Earlier today, while I was sitting at my computer. He made a sudden awful sound! If I tried to describe it, I would have to say it sounded similar to the scarred barking he did in the first few days, but this time it was one bark, was a bit louder, and sounded almost choked! I went to check on him. Normally, when I approach and open his door, he either sits on his ledge or hops down to stick his head out and see whats up.
This time however, he ran around the habbitat seemingly trying to keep away from me. When I reached in to try to pet him and rub his scritchy spot, he continued to move away from me, and wouldn't respond when I scratched the spot he likes...
Ive read a few times that chinchillas can have nightmares, so Im sorta trying to tell myself thats what it was. I offered him a treat once he allowed me to pet him and left him alone for a bit.
Hes now eating some hay and wondering about his habitat.
The noise he made really startled me and I think I may have further scared him when i jumped and yelped.
Was the sound he made normal? I watched him for a bit to make sure he wasnt showing signs of injury, and since hes now eating some I have to guess hes ok.
Sorry for the long post. Im still new to being a chinchilla parrent and I am most certain he has never before made that sound. (At least not while I was home, which is very often)
Earlier today, while I was sitting at my computer. He made a sudden awful sound! If I tried to describe it, I would have to say it sounded similar to the scarred barking he did in the first few days, but this time it was one bark, was a bit louder, and sounded almost choked! I went to check on him. Normally, when I approach and open his door, he either sits on his ledge or hops down to stick his head out and see whats up.
This time however, he ran around the habbitat seemingly trying to keep away from me. When I reached in to try to pet him and rub his scritchy spot, he continued to move away from me, and wouldn't respond when I scratched the spot he likes...
Ive read a few times that chinchillas can have nightmares, so Im sorta trying to tell myself thats what it was. I offered him a treat once he allowed me to pet him and left him alone for a bit.
Hes now eating some hay and wondering about his habitat.
The noise he made really startled me and I think I may have further scared him when i jumped and yelped.
Was the sound he made normal? I watched him for a bit to make sure he wasnt showing signs of injury, and since hes now eating some I have to guess hes ok.
Sorry for the long post. Im still new to being a chinchilla parrent and I am most certain he has never before made that sound. (At least not while I was home, which is very often)
