I need help! Introducing chins

[Esperanta]

I've had my chinchilla Blizzard for a little over a year now, so he is about a year and one month old. I thought it would be nice to get him a companion since I'm gone a lot. The chin that I bought is just a baby, but not newborn, and he is such a snuggle baby!:kiss: But anyways, I don't really know how to introduce them, since Blizzard doesn't seem to like him very much. Was I wrong to purchase a male instead of a feamale? I really didn't want to spend more money on a whole new cage, and I didn't get a female because I don't want little baby chinchillas running around (even though they are the cutest little things!)

 

[ChinnyMom]

you were correct in getting a chin the same gender as Blizzard, and a young chin can be easier to bond with the older one, due to the young chin being young and small.

if you do a search here on the forum using 'introduction' you'll come up with quite a few threads on how people have intro-d their chins.

i myself am in the midst of intro-ing my Rhino and Guss. you will need two cages to begin with (and keep that second cage handy for future illnesses or separation), and your new chin should be quarantined away from Blizzard in a separate room for a month. this allows you to get used to his regular eating/pooping habits, his general demeanor, and to catch and treat any illnesses he may have while keeping Blizzard safe from any potential illnesses. washing hands and changing clothes in between seeing either chin would be a good idea to keep from transferring anything over.

my boys started with cages across the room from each other after Guss was done his quarantine around Oct 10th. after a few days i moved the cages close to each other, about 8 to 10 inches apart. the boys got play times together every couple nights after i saw that they were comfortable with 'the chin next door' (they were sleeping and hanging out on ledges closest to the other cage). the other night i swapped their cages, and neither chin seemed stressed at all (both have been in each others cages for a little bit before this). eventually, once i see them interacting better with each other during play time (we are still in the 'i chase you, now you chase me' phase), i will be scrubbing down the bigger of the two cages, re-arranging everything, and putting both chins in there together and supervising the whole time. i plan to sleep in the chin room for the first week they are together in the cage. I'm probably taking things a lot slower than most people that intro chins, but i want to ensure the bond is strong between Rhino and Guss, and i don't want to rush things by doing the smoosh method (which can create a shaky bond).

 

[Esperanta]

Thanks for the information! :thumbsup: I'll follow what you say you did to the letter Pumpkin Spice (what I decided to name him) is about done with quarantine, and has gotten used to me a lot more now. I have been observing his habits and such, and am really impressed with his personality so far! It doesn't look like he has any illnesses, for which I am thankful, so I'll be putting the cages next to each other on December 17th, which is around a month after I got Pumpkin. Can't wait to see how it turns out!.

 

[Esperanta]

I'm sorry, I meant December 2nd, it seems I must have been thinking about something else while typing... Anyways, at first I put their cages about two feet apart, and they just ignored each other. So after a couple of days I put the cages really close, and they ignored each other for the most part. I've been switching cages on them, and all Pumpkin does is run on the wheel, hide in the box, and poop everywhere Blizzard just sits in Pumpkin's cage and does nothing (like always, such a little lazy butt).

Sometimes I put them in the playpen together, but with bars running through the middle. Pumpkin doesn't mind at all, and he actually tries to sniff and touch noses with Blizzard, but Blizzard seems to hate him. He's pulled out a chunk of Pumpkin's fur once. Blizzard just seems to really dislike Pumpkin, even though Pumpkin is trying to be friendly. Is he just trying to establish that he's the boss over Pumpkin, or is he jealous and doesn't want my affection to be shared between two chins, or what? Is this normal? I really want them to get along, help! :cry3:

 

[Woodrow724]

When I first sent my boys to playtime together Woodrow chased Jasper nonstop. Jasper was slipping fur. Did Blizzard actually pull Pumpkin's fur out, or did Pumpkin just slip his fur? They did that for a few playtimes. During playtime, put a dust bath out. That was the charmer for my two, they dust bathed together and after that there was no more fur slipping and now they sleep cuddled up together everyday!

 

[Esperanta]

I think he just slipped his fur out. So you think I should be putting them together in playtime, even with the aggression Blizzard shows toward Pumpkin?

 

[Woodrow724]

I don't know if it's actually aggression. Put them in playtime and watch very closely. A little chasing and mounting is ok, they're establishing dominance. Basically what I did at first was I would leave them out together until they started getting too frisky with each other, which was about 10-15 minutes. Then I gradually increased it with each playtime. Also, put them in a 100% neutral area. I made the mistake of doing they're first playtime in Woodrow's usual play spot. As soon as they went to where neither had been, a lot of the aggression stopped. And try the dust bath! Also, reinforce they're good behavior with something. When they go and touch noses and then run off from each other, give them something to say good job. I gave one oat, because a pinch is considered one treat, I just spread it out over playtime.

Edit: If there's any biting or nipping they need to be separated!

 

[Esperanta]

Okay, thanks! I'll try that as soon as possible. I feel a lot more confident now, thank you

 

[Woodrow724]

Sure thing the key is patience. Oh, and another tip I was given was do it in the morning after their long night of play that way they're tired and may not care as much about the other being there.

 

[Esperanta]

Gotcha' Once again, thank you, and I'll say if it goes good or not.

 

[Woodrow724]

You're welcome and please do! And don't give up!