Get a new baby, or leave him solo?

[ChilliPepper]

I have made the decision that it may be Chilli's time to go. He never bounced back from his last trimming, he never wanted to eat an oat, and now he is dropping weight again. I am not sure that putting him through another round of trimming is the right thing to do.
That leaves me with Pepper. What to do about him? He is always smushed on Chilli and I know he will miss him as much as we will. I would give him extra attention and all that, but he never wanted attention from us. He is freaked out by handling- has been for 5 years. I promised him a safe and happy place to live without being stressed. He hates playtime- always has- runs a bit and then hides in a tube.
So, after reading about how adults like babies, would he take to a baby, or would he endanger it? We of course would do the proper quarantine and then split the cage into two so they could get used to smelling each other.
I would like your thoughts on this. Thanks.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

I don't think anyone can say whether Pepper will accept a new cagemate for sure but if I could support two cages on the chance that he doesn't, I would try with a young male personally because I think that has the best odds but there are no guarantees. If I couldn't have two cages than I would keep Pepper single. Even if two chins have been together their whole lives they can decide at any moment not to get along so when anyone has two chins they should always be prepared to have two cages anyway. I'm sorry about Chilli .

 

[starleomach]

I agree with Jean...And I am sorry about Chili

 

[tunes]

First, I'm very sorry about Chili. It seems that a lot of us lately have had to face this same thing and it is just as awful every time you read about it happening to someone else.

Second, if I might make a suggestion. If Chili and Pepper have been together quite a while, Pepper is going to grieve when Chili crosses the bridge. That might be the time to introduce a young male to him. I had a female here who went berzerk when her mate died. She hovered over his body and bit me several times when I had to remove him from their cage. It was just the saddest thing you've ever seen. I was crying, she was kacking and screeching. I finally got him out and she ran around the cage and just wouldn't stop. I pulled a youngster ready to be weaned from her mom and put her in with this girl, who incidentally had never been able to conceive. She settled right down with her and cuddled and started grooming her. I really think she saved her sanity.

I'm not saying that that will work for every chin, but most adult chins are kinder to youngster, that it's in their nature to be so. It might also help Pepper to skip that grieving stage if he has someone there to keep him company, while still keeping in mind what Jean Marie said. That there is never any guarantee.

Again, I'm very sorry for Chili. Malocclusion is such a crappy, crappy disease.

 

[Laurie]

I'm sad to hear about Chili, but I also know it's the ultimate act of love you're showing him by not allowing him to suffer. Pepper will miss Chilli just as we missed our loved ones when the pass, but extra attention from you will help out alot. I have several chins with cage mates but also have just a single chin and Leonard does just fine on his own. He had a cage mate before I owned him and is fine now without anyone. He's a very tender and loving chin to us--I think Pepper on his own is fine, but I also agree if you want to get a friend for him it should be a young chin as they do seem to do better with younger kits.

 

[newf]

I am sorry to hear about Chili as well. I just had to go through the same thing with one of my chins. I hope you find a good solution for Pepper and that you all get through this hard time with peace.