One of my two new male Chins is being quite aggressively towards me...

[Uninhibited]

Hello, I'm new to the community, so, hello!

I recently adopted two male Chins, one of whom was purchased from a breeder and raised from babyhood (his name is Zorbus), and as such is quite nice and sociable and lets me scratch him and hold him. The other was rescued from a neglectful situation (his name is Scooby). The person I adopted them from worked diligently with the rescue and got him to the point where he could be handled, whereas before he was rescued the Chin could not even be touched.

They came into my home yesterday morning, and for the most part I have been just letting them acclimate to their new surroundings, and just feeding them a teeny tiny piece of a treat when I walk by their cage so they know good things happen when I come around. I would also periodically open the door and reach my hand in to give their chins a scratch. But pretty quickly yesterday Scooby decided he was going to be a brat, and he began to BITE me. Not a little love nibble either, a really hard bite. He would spaz out and run away after doing so, but he continued to do it, and would even come up from the lower level of the cage all the way to the top to bite me if I came over to scratch Zorby. He would push the calm one out of the way to attack me.

So far I've been treating him like a nippy puppy that you're trying to teach not to bite: I ignore him when he does it so the behavior ceases. I asked the former owner what he would do in that situation, and he recommended I pinch him on his bum to "assert my dominance", or to pick him up out of the cage and loudly verbally reprimand him. I really don't think that's the best idea, but I don't know if that is the way to do it with Chinchillas or not. Let me know!

So last night, I just sat next to the cage and put my arm in to let them sniff it. Zorby was fine, let me scratch him, has never bitten me or even nibbled. Scooby on the other hand would creep up to me, bite me, and run off. He did this a few times, with each bite getting increasingly harder, and by the end of it he didn't run away anymore, just bit me. Each time, I made no movement at all; this was VERY hard because he was really beginning to hurt me. So finally, he walked calmly up to me and sank his teeth into my skin, HARD, and did not let go. At that point I slowly and calmly removed my arm from the cage. He had broken the skin with both sides of his teeth, drew blood, and now this morning I have an ugly black and blue bruise on my forearm.

I'm not sure what to do. If anyone can point me in the proper direction I would really appreciate it - thank you so much!​

 

[Godofgods]

My first guess would be simply to give them some time. You said they came to your house only yesterday and that can cause a lot of strees. It could take a good while for them to try and become readjusted

 

[sydneytaylorr]

Yes I agree with Godofgods, Maybe if you want him to get used to it put on a glove or a really thick sweater. Once he does it, sternly say "No". Don't yell just be firm! Like with a nippy puppy as you said. When my chinchilla does something I don't want him to do I say "Hey!" or "No!" Firmly. I don't use his name when I tell him not to do something, because I don't want him to think something negative is going to happen when I use his name, Kinda like the same concept as with a puppy. Just give him some time, what's he like with the other chinchilla? If Scooby starts to hurt Zorbus, maybe you need to seperate them as well. :/ Good luck! & you're doing the right thing by not moving or anything when he bites you, but once it gets harder, just firmly state No.

 

[ChinnyMom]

Scooby sounds a bit scared of his new surroundings and is being defensive about his space (the cage) against intruders (your hand/arm), due to all the new-ness in his life.

i'd leave them completely alone for a day or two, other than checking in on their hay/food/water. a lot has changed for these chins, and a period of settling in by themselves would be good.

give them time, sit by the cage and talk to them or read them a book. wear leather gloves when handling Scooby for now, so that he does not have the opportunity to bite/break skin, and also to show him that you do not react to his bites. he'll come to realize that biting does not get him his way (he wants your hand/arm to leave the cage).

loud voices or physical reprimands (bum pinching) are never to be used with chins - both practices will just make them scared of you and possibly cause them to bite more in defense.

 

[Cuddlebug]

Chinnymom is right. If you do as she recommends, the chinchilla will stop biting because it won't be getting what it wants.

 

[Woodrow724]

Chinnymom's method definitely works!! Jasper used to bite when I put my hand in his cage, so I did just what she said and no more biting!

 

[addictedtochins]

I to would give him some time and space for a couple of days, then wear gloves. I would say kack! when he bit me, that's what they say when grooming gets too rough. He will get better, I have no doubt. And don't stick fingers through the cage (I guess you know that though)

 

[Uninhibited]

Thanks!

I guess I was a little over-excited to have them here, so I rushed them.

It was when the previous owner mentioned the yelling at him to make him stop that I signed up here to ask, because that sounded completely wrong to me. I've had sugar gliders, and I know if I did that to them they would probably have bitten me more.

I will let them be for a while, just sit near them and read to them.

Thank you all so very much for the advice!

I'll keep you posted on their progress

 

[Godofgods]

i have one other question. Out of couriousity... why did you center your entire first post? lol

 

[liewwan]

The best advise is time and patience. I have 3 rescues here that was a neglect and malnutrition. One will bite till blood is drawn, one sweet as a pie and one that kacks & sprays like crazy.
They aren't used to being handled or even human interaction. I talk to them before I go to work, the moment I get home and also at night before bed. It took me 3 weeks to get them to not be as jumpy. I'm able to hold them at times. My biggest suggestion for the one that's a rescue is really show him you love him and will never give up on him.
Please don't pinch his bum, he would only fight back when you least expect it. Be kind, remind him you're not there to hurt him but you're there to love him.

 

[Uninhibited]

Thanks liewwan, but how exactly do I show him I love him? Just continue to do the normal, everyday activities and ignore him when he bites me? This is the problem, I don't know how to show him I love him without being attacked.

Thank you everyone, and if you have time, can you read my other topic "I can't tell if I should let them out yet"? It has something to do with Scooby and his aggression.

 

[liewwan]

Well with Faith (one with the behavior issues) I just simply talk to her, assure her that ill never hurt her, tell her how beautiful she is and ill always love her. Tell her I understand she is scared, but its ok ill be there for her. Yes I know it sounds very corny lol.
I gone to their cage after I cook, bake, wash hands and let her smell my hand (weird I know). She seems to be more tame when I put my hand in front of her with one of the scents from my hand soap.
Treats offered off my hand and so forth.