Im a little concerned...

[eventgirl]

My older chin Wilbur has never been the most friendly chinchilla, he likes scritches but only when hes in his cage, and pretty much only on his terms. Every once and a while he will let you give him a scritch when the cage door is open.

But lately (like the past week i would say) he has been getting kind of angry, and maybe even aggressive. Every time I walk past his cage to close, or if I open the cage to get out his cage mate he will bark at me. He has even stopped accepting treats from me on occasion. Then today I opened up the cage to give them a new crunchy (loofa) and he started barking like crazy, I set the loofa down near him and he nipped me. Not very hard, but enough to were I felt it. I also noticed today that has started chattering his teeth when I get really close to him. I just went up to their cage and he was sitting on a perch that is eye level so I just stood there and started talking softly, and he was fine then he barked, and started chattering.

He will eat rosehips out of my hand no problem also (those are never an issue) He will usually pretty much climb onto my palm to get at them so that templeton cant have anymore.

Is there something I should be doing? Before I got the new cage for him (FN) he was fine, but ever since then he has just seemed moody, and even more so in the past week. I am trying to give him his space but I also have to pick him up for playtime and such.

So is this just normal behavior? Did I overstep my boundaries with him at one point?

What would you guys suggest?

Thanks!

 

[Bethany2386]

I have one exactly like this! He will let me give him scritches, but only when he wants them. He chatters his teeth and barks... If my hand is near him, he will bite me. And they are hard. I don't know why they do it. But he has never been the friendliest... Also, this is the same boy who almost killed someone else's chin when he was caged with him. So, that person gave him back to the breeder and I got him. He was pretty calm at first, but now, I stay away.

Have you changed anything besides the cage?

 

[Gizmo24]

that sounds weird, how old is he? Is it maybe changes in hormones? I've never had that problem with gimo, hes always been a lover.

 

[Bethany2386]

My boy is over a year old. He was hand tamed from birth. He just doesn't like people haha. So, I don't know why he's so mean... He's just a punk. I only have three chins so I am not as experienced as others on here... I am always amazed at the people who say their chins will sit in their laps because mine sure will not. They would rather run around and wall surf.

 

[eventgirl]

Well he got a new cage mate like 2 maybe 3 weeks ago and they absolutely adore each other, so I dont know if that is really it. They have gotten a few new things added in their cage but other than that their routine has been the same.

 

[Bethany2386]

Well, right there could very possibly be why actually. I have read in here that when you have bonded pairs that they are less likely to bond with you. I have found that to be true because I have bonded brothers. They really don't care for me to touch them.

 

[mishellyshel]

My one chin Stitch was and is a spaz. when i first got him he would hardly let me touch him. i notice whenever there is a change (like when I got zucca), he got an attitude with me. a couple months ago in addition to the teeth chatter he actually sprayed me a couple times. now i have him in a really good routine and he just "jumps" in my arms.
but every once in a while he still give me "tude".
maybe he thinks you are going to hurt or take away his new friend or maybe he is just being a pita chin and doin what he wants when he wants!
i think if you are persistant and consistant he may come around.

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

He may not be adjusting to his cage very well. Some chins do not like large cages. He may feel insecure in it and that is one reason he might be barking at you. I'll bet if you put him back in his old cage he would be back to his old self.

 

[Bethany2386]

I just got a FN for my boy. He has alway bit and barked, do you think that I need to put him in a smaller cage? He seems to love his huge cage, but not so much his owners. Haha

 

[eventgirl]

Oh I forgot to add that we "think" he is around a year, we know he had kits with his old cage mate (hence me having him)