I can't tell if I should let them out yet

[Uninhibited]

I really want to let Scooby and Zorby out of their cage to run around in the bathroom a bit, but Scooby is just vicious towards me. I think he sees me as a threat because every time I reach into the cage to put their dust bath in or give them some food, he lunges at me and bites me.
He always stays on the top level of the cage, which is at my level, and it seems like he is up there to keep an eye on me at all times, because as soon as I come into the room he will run up there, facing me, and stay there until I leave the room, at which point he goes back down to cuddle with Zorby. When I come near the cage he springs towards me and presses himself against the bars, waiting for me to get close enough for him to bite, and when I reach towards Zorby to scratch his ears, Scooby will come running as fast as he can towards me to push Zorby out of the way and bite me.

I am trying not to take it personally haha but I feel bad that he hates me so much, and I feel bad that I can't take either of them out to play.

Should I still just leave them alone? What I've been doing is reaching my hand in with a small pile of cornflake crumbs and letting them eat from my palm, and Scooby is fine with that, but other than that he just attacks whatever exposed flesh he can find.

Am I doing something wrong?

Thank you...

 

[liewwan]

How old are they? How long have you had them?
You sitting in their room, talking to them, read to them and if the room is chin proof let them come out of the cage on their own for play time.
PLEASE BY ALL MEANS STOP GIVING THEM CORN FLAKES. Corn products should never be given to chinchillas, they can't digest it properly. Plain shreaded wheats or plain cheerios would be ok if you want to offer cereal.

 

[Uninhibited]

Oh ok, good thing I only gave them a little bit.

Zorby is six and Scooby is five. I brought them home on the third.
The cage is in my room, so I'm talking to them throughout the day when I'm here, I have the cage next to my desk so I'm always near them.

So I should just open the cage door and let them come out and run around my room? What about when I need to get them back into the cage, how do I address the agression?

 

[Chub_Chub]

Honestly, I think its still too early to give them playtime. Trying to get them back into the cage, especially Scooby with his aggression, is likely to become a "two-steps back" situation. Until they will allow you to handle them in small doses and will actually approach you in the open, you may cause more stress from trying to herd them back into the cage than is worth the playtime. They don't really need playtime at all, but most of us on the forums can't resist it. I personally would try to work with getting them used to you more before you have to start chasing them around a play area. Chasing and cornering Scooby this early could make bonding take even longer. Zorby sounds like he is getting accustomed quick, but things can change with the fuzzies at a drop of a hat.

 

[Uninhibited]

Thank you

Thanks Chub Chub, what would you recommend I do to get Scooby more accustomed to me? Have I been doing the right thing with sitting and talking near the cage, feeding tiny pieces of (healthy) treats when I approach the cage, and putting my hand in the cage and letting them eat (healthy) food out of my hand?

Would it be bad to take Zorby out to play and bond and keep Scooby in the cage until he feels better about me? Because Zorby is really sweet and has even started hopping into my hands. I want so badly to let him out and stretch his legs (and scratch his ears without being attacked by Scooby), but if it's better to leave him inside for a week or so, I will do that of course.

Thank you very much for the help =)/

 

[Laurie]

I think new chinchillas should spend at least one month in their cage before even thinking of playtime out. Your chinchilla needs to get used to use and it's surroundings before introducing it to something new. Chinchillas don't NEED playtime--they will not die without it. They don't get bored, they are rodents they sleep and they eat and occasionally they run around just like dogs and cats. Their day is primarily sleeping. Humans think it's necessary for chinchillas to have a playtime but it really is not. Before you think of letting them out of their cage you need to give them time to adjust to both the cage and you.

 

[Uninhibited]

Ok. So again, I should just continue to sit near them and talk to them, offer them food and treats from my hand, give the occasional scratch, and generally let them smell me?

I will leave them inside the cage unless I have to clean it, then I will put them in a smaller cage until I'm finished. Thanks for the advice!

 

[liewwan]

Since you just got them I would avoid play time for now. I let the rescue have a open roam of a small blocked off area that the jump back in their cage on their own.
The aggression will take time to tame, he needs to first earn your trust. Keep up with talking to them. Open the cage door and sit in front of it, they may come to you they may not. Patience is the key especially towards the aggressive one. By you only taking the good one out only, the aggressive one can get jealous. So its really boiling back to time.