should i get him a friend if he.....?

[Evelyn]

I have been debating with my boyfriend about whether or not we should get another chinchilla. I don't know what should I consider from so I will tell you guys everything about my chin. Will y'all give me your opinion about this?

I have my chin for a week today. He changes every day. The very beginning of the week he was kind of scared. He let me pick him up and fall asleep on my chest but that was it. Now he seems to be a lot more active. He obsesses with the wheel. He even sleep on it. I can tell he eats a lot and drinks a lot. Though, he doesn't seem like he likes me to pick him up for a long time anymore. He always run right back to the cage so he can play with his wheel.

My boyfriend and I are not home during the day. We let him out in his ball in the evening. So, I don't think he will ever adapt to daytime. Overall, he seems happy and everything. But I feel SO bad every time I go to the bathroom at night and hear the wheel spinning. The fact that he's up at night but have no one to play with is killing me. But my bf said at least he's still playing, if he's depressed he's probably not gonna play at all.


My bf and I don't want another chinchilla because we love this one so much and we don't want him to like another chin more than us But if you guys think we should get one, we will seriously rethink about this.

Oh, and I will be home more after spring semester over. Do you think its too late then to help him adapt to daytime?

And like I post on another thread that I don't know how old my chin really is. Pet store said he's three months old but I think he's a lot bigger than all other pictures of chin I saw. He looks like a full grown. So would you agree with me that if he's that old, then he's probably wouldn't be able to get settled in this fast?

 

[inzeos]

Are you putting him into the little plastic pet store balls? If so do some research those are very bad for your chin. They tend to not ventilate well and can cause him to over heat and become uncomfortable. Not to mention it is plastic and a general rule of thumb is that plastic is bad if the chin every chews and digests it.

Chins sleep during the day, it is natural for them.

 

[Sierra]

I think you should give him more time to adjust since you have only had him a week. If you bring in a new chin, it will just add more stress to him. He needs to get used to you and the surroundings first.

It's so hard to be sure that he will get along with a new chin and introducing them properly is very tricky and you need to allow them a couple months to get used to each other before you put them together during playtime and in the same cage. You would need to get a separate cage for quarantine for 30 days in a totally different part of the house before you can even let them see each other.

I think he will be fine by himself if you give him lots of attention everyday.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

yes those balls are not good for them at all...id throw it away, and invest in a play pen

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Yes get rid of the ball - invest in a playpen or chin proof a room for playtime (no cords, no plants, no water or chemicals nearby, etc) - think "if I could and wanted to chew on everything is this room ok?"

He will never be really active during the day because chins are active at dusk and night mostly. he is running in his wheel because he LOVES it...that's a good thing.

I would not add another chinchilla right now for a few reasons 1) he is getting used to you - he is going to be a little timid for a while and may never really like being held; 2) you are getting used to him - this is your first pet and first chinchilla so why not get used to your pet before adding another into the mix. It's also an added expense if they get sick or injured or injure each other, they could never get along and then you have to have two cages, etc.

There is really no way to know how old he is if you got him from a petstore...If you post some pics and a weight we could guess but that's all it would really be is a guess.

Welcome!

 

[kimbt622]

Agreed, get rid of the plastic ball... he'll be a lot better off just running in a playpen or room. is his cage in the bathroom? if so you could probably let him run in there, just look for any wires but for the most part bathrooms are easy to chin proof. As for getting another chin, i think it's more important that he bonds closely to your boyfriend and you first. Once he knows he can trust you and everything, you could then consider getting him a buddy. Like everyone said though, you should be prepared that he may not get along with the buddy and you will need two seperate cages. Introductions take alot of time and patience, but if it does work out in the end it really is worth it! Seeing them cuddle together and such Just some things to consider, good luck :dance3:

 

[HamNCheese]

I agree with what's been said here...I've had mine for two years now and after the first few weeks, he grew used to being around us and not around his old chin buddies. As long as we're giving him attention (and believe me, they let you know when you're not! XD) and taking time out to give him scritches and playtime every day, he's content.

Like everyone has said, running on the wheel is a good thing! That's a sign of a happy healthy chin. Just concentrate on becoming a trusted friend of your chin for now.

 

[Ippo456]

No plastic balls for chinchillas.
So this chinchilla is yours & your bf to share? If I were you, I'd stick with this one chinchilla first, let the chinchilla adjust & be comfortable with both of you before adding another one. I believe that a chinchilla doesn't need another chinchilla friend if the human companion gives enough attention to the lone chinchilla.
I hate to mention this but have you thought about who's going to keep the chinchilla if you & your bf are no longer together?

 

[Evelyn]

I didn't know plastic ball is bad for him. He seems to enjoy it so we let him in all the time. Thanks for letting me know!

Today 01:40 AM
Ippo456 No plastic balls for chinchillas.
So this chinchilla is yours & your bf to share? If I were you, I'd stick with this one chinchilla first, let the chinchilla adjust & be comfortable with both of you before adding another one. I believe that a chinchilla doesn't need another chinchilla friend if the human companion gives enough attention to the lone chinchilla.
I hate to mention this but have you thought about who's going to keep the chinchilla if you & your bf are no longer together?

My boyfriend and I have been together for five years. We are grown up adults and responsible. Anyway, if we are going to split up by any reason, I'm going to be the one keeping him, even though I think my bf probably going to fight for the boy too. Getting chinchilla was my idea. But since we're leaving together so I have to ask his opinion about getting a pet. He ended up loving him at the first sight so he invested on half of his stuffs. So we called him our boy. Thanks for your concern anyway

 

[Ippo456]

I didn't know plastic ball is bad for him. He seems to enjoy it so we let him in all the time. Thanks for letting me know!

Today 01:40 AM
Ippo456 No plastic balls for chinchillas.
So this chinchilla is yours & your bf to share? If I were you, I'd stick with this one chinchilla first, let the chinchilla adjust & be comfortable with both of you before adding another one. I believe that a chinchilla doesn't need another chinchilla friend if the human companion gives enough attention to the lone chinchilla.
I hate to mention this but have you thought about who's going to keep the chinchilla if you & your bf are no longer together?

My boyfriend and I have been together for five years. We are grown up adults and responsible. Anyway, if we are going to split up by any reason, I'm going to be the one keeping him, even though I think my bf probably going to fight for the boy too. Getting chinchilla was my idea. But since we're leaving together so I have to ask his opinion about getting a pet. He ended up loving him at the first sight so he invested on half of his stuffs. So we called him our boy. Thanks for your concern anyway

Good to hear that!
I just don't like hearing stories that go about something like this: my & my bf/gf gof a pet together, now that we're not together anymore, I'm putting the animal up for adoption.
An acquaintance adopted a dog that was thrown in the garbage by a girl who was dumped by her bf, who had originally gifted the girl the puppy.

Just to let you know, I had my Tubby as a lone chinchilla for a year. He was doing fine & he's very comfortable with me (he doesn't like strangers & barks at them). I tried getting him a friend a year later, but until now (2 years later) they still don't get along. So, even if you are planning to buy another chinchilla, there's always the possibility that they may not get along & they will have to live separately. I don't know if the chance of reintroducing them is good or not, but I'd like to give that a try.