suddenly aggesive female towards male mate

[Slevin.Pheebe]

I have two chinchillas living together, Slevin, a violet male, and Pheebe, a standard grey female. They have been living together for over a year now and it's easy to see that they have accepted each other as mates. They are the same age, both born in June 2009 but not related. He is a bit bigger than her but she is the dominant one. There haven't been any problems between them other than normal pair behavior.

For a few weeks ago, we got a new, big cage for them, which they simply love! They are allowed out to roam around in our big room every day for at least two hours and we always make sure that they have food, water, toys and branches to climb on.
The male, Slevin, is a very nice and sweet chin, he loves his mate and bounce around with no worries. She is more the crazy one, rushing from one spot to the other but both are very social and come running to us when we find the treat box.

But. There is always a but. Pheebe, the female, has recently showed a more aggresive attitude towards Slevin, she chase him, but not in a vicious way. She doesn't seem to bite him but he doesn't like it. This has been going on for the last few days and Slevin doesn't seem to be as happy as he usually is. They still sleep cuddled up together during the day, but what could cause her to suddenly chase him, when she's never done this before?

We love our ***** very much and they have been so good together, we don't want to separate them. Does anyone know how I can deal with this so Slevin doesn't get depressed?

 

[tunes]

First, is your male intact? Is it possible your female is pregnant and that is causing her to get crabby?

The change of cage "shouldn't" be a big deal, especially since they have been together before they got in the new cage.

Other than that, normally I would say she's asserting dominance. The problem with this is that since it just started, I'm guessing that this is going to escalate. Not all chins are meant to have cagemates. If her mood/behavior change cannot be blamed on pregnancy, then it may be that you will have no choice but to separate the two of them.

 

[Slevin.Pheebe]

Hmm, yes Slevin is intact, and She was in heat for not too long ago. To be honest, I haven't even thought about that coz even though he's been trying and she has let him, she never got pregnant but when you say it like that it might be the reason. We haven't noticed them mating but they have been very active, more than usual, the last few weeks. Is there a way to find out or should I leave them to see if she calm down?

 

[tunes]

Fighting between chins can escalate fast and it can get really, really ugly. They are just the most vicious little beasts when they get going. If he is already showing signs of not being himself, depression, etc., I would separate them. I would not give her a chance to do physical damage.

 

[Laurie]

If she is indeed pregnant it is possible she will turn on him and kill him. Just because you have had them for awhile and she was never pregnant before does not mean there is no chance of pregnancy. The best thing you can do for your male chin is to separate the cage so they live separately. You'll have to monitor her closely to see if she is pregnant.

 

[chinnychinchinchilla]

if it does get to the point to where you have to seperate them you can put their cages side by side so they can still see each other and interact but they wont be able to fight.

 

[Slevin.Pheebe]

thank you for all you're advice, and I have taken it into consideration. I have been watching the both of them and it seems to me that they have come to an agreement because they are back to normal now. I dont think she is pregnant at the moment, though I do know it might happen. I observed the male wagging his tail trying to have his way with her earlier today, so I will let them be together for the time being
thanks again everyone!

 

[Parkerspetchins]

You are lucky that she has not had a pregnancy before being mature enough to have kits since they have been living together for over a year and are only a few months over a year themselves, it could have been very dangerous for her...pretty irresponsible IMHO. I would separate them and do some research on proper safe breeding. If you were willing to breed them at three months old then you definitely need to do a little more research.

 

[Slevin.Pheebe]

You are lucky that she has not had a pregnancy before being mature enough to have kits since they have been living together for over a year and are only a few months over a year themselves, it could have been very dangerous for her...pretty irresponsible IMHO. I would separate them and do some research on proper safe breeding. If you were willing to breed them at three months old then you definitely need to do a little more research.

I have done quite a bit of research thank you, and I know that it's dangerous to breed them before they are ready. There is a reason for them not having any kits, and its because we do know what we're doing. Im not asking for advice to be judged by people who doesn't know the whole story so please, it would be nice if you don't tell me off like im some sort of a child.

Our chins didn't even try mating until they were over 9 months old, and when they tried, we didn't let them. The female should be at least over a year before breeding, and thats what we've been trying to do. It's not very hard to monitor her when she's in heat. We decided to do this so they didn't have to be alone and our chins have been very happy and social until now.

But you tell me that I should have let them be alone, all this time? Im sure your chins a great but remember that people are different and we do thing differently. I would never put any of my animals in danger.

I have now separeted them because the female started chasing the male again. Im going in to the vet in a few days to check that they are fine, and to see if there is a reason for the females sudden change. If we can't reintroduce them, if they still don't go along, we will have to keep them separeted or rehome the female.

 

[Stackie]

The problem about being able to "monitor" mating, is that you can't monitor it. It only takes seconds for a female to get pregnant.

As for the vet check, that really isn't necessary. The vet won't be able to tell you why her behavior has changed. I can tell you why- it's because they're chinchillas. They can love each other one day, and hate each other the next.

I had two males together that loved each other- they were always sleeping together, cuddling, and grooming one another. One night I went to bed while they were cuddling on a ledge together. The next morning I woke up to one male in the bottom of the cage, covered in blood and bite marks, barely breathing. His cage mate went from grooming and loving on him to brutally attacking him. He ended up dying. Cagemates turning on one another isn't unheard of and unfortunately it's quite common.

I don't think it would be fair to rehome her. When you get 2 chinchillas, you have to know that they may not always get along, and you may have to end up having to separate them and have two of everything. If that's something you don't want to deal with and you do rehome her, don't get another one and expect them to get along, because the same thing may very well happen. If you aren't willing to have two separate cages, don't have 2 chins.

 

[tunes]

I have done quite a bit of research thank you, and I know that it's dangerous to breed them before they are ready. There is a reason for them not having any kits, and its because we do know what we're doing. Im not asking for advice to be judged by people who doesn't know the whole story so please, it would be nice if you don't tell me off like im some sort of a child.

She's not telling you off like you're a child, and had I caught this earlier I would have told you the same thing. You cannot monitor chins to make sure they don't mate. You cannot live in their cage 24/7. You cannot always tell when they are in estrus. You cannot stop them once they start and it takes about 3 seconds to impregnate a female. This could have been a very dangerous situation indeed, had she gotten pregnant before she was ready.

As far as rehoming the girl, I also agree with Stackie. ANY person who buys more than one chin, and who claims to have done research into chins, knows that you must have two cages available at all times as a "just in case" measure. Your chins could live peacefully together for 10 years, then you could come down and find one of them beat to a pulp one morning. Any time a pet owner comes to me wanting more than one chin, we have this discussion and if they don't have two cages available and aren't willing to keep both chins should an issue arise, I won't sell them a chin. It's that simple. I fail to understand why people assume that chins MUST get along their entire lives. Other animals don't, people don't. Because my 15-year-old twin boys get into fist fights every now and again, I'm not going to rehome one. They get separated (usually by me throwing myself in front of flailing fists, ugh) and sent to their separate rooms. You can rationalize (most of the time??) with a human being, you cannot rationalize with a chin. Because they turn against each other, it's unfair to rehome one after you have taken on the responsibility of their care.

 

[Slevin.Pheebe]

let's agree on the fact that a female shouldnt have kits until they are over a year. Mine ones haven't had any kits so it's not a problem.

I want to go to the vet anyway, they might not be able to tell me the reason but they will be able to check that they are both healthy. It might also be possible for them to tell if the female is pregnant, that is, if it's not too early to tell.

The reason for me thinking about rehoming her if they can't live together, is because the male is not happy being alone. I want them to be happy and I want to find the solution that's best for both of them, not just one. I dont want to rehome her, I love the little crazy one, but as I said, I want the best for both of them. I dont have a problem with having two chins in different cages, and I don't expect all chinchillas to be friends, it's unfortunatly true like you said and Im very sorry to hear about your chinchillas. But if the best for the female is to live alone, and for the male to have a mate, wouldn't it be better to rehome her to someone who just want one, and to try and find a new, more suitable mate for the male, than to keep both and have one happy and one unhappy chin?

 

[lauralynne]

I dont have a problem with having two chins in different cages, and I don't expect all chinchillas to be friends, it's unfortunatly true like you said and Im very sorry to hear about your chinchillas. But if the best for the female is to live alone, and for the male to have a mate, wouldn't it be better to rehome her to someone who just want one, and to try and find a new, more suitable mate for the male, than to keep both and have one happy and one unhappy chin?

No one said it is best for the male to have a mate. You yourself said that you don't have a problem with having two chins in different cages, but it seems that you do.

You have a 50% chance that another chin would get along with your male. Are you going to keep buying chins and rehoming them if they don't get along?

 

[Slevin.Pheebe]

No one said it is best for the male to have a mate. You yourself said that you don't have a problem with having two chins in different cages, but it seems that you do.

You have a 50% chance that another chin would get along with your male. Are you going to keep buying chins and rehoming them if they don't get along?

I dont have a problem having two chinchillas in two different cages, and I said that MY male needs a companion because I know him and I know he's not happy alone.

My first priority is to try and reintroduce them and I really hope that it will be possible for me to keep both, but I do not agree that you should keep every chinchilla you buy because sometimes you have to find a better solution. Thats a responsible owner, to find and do whats best for all of the animals, not just one.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

im sorry but to me it sounds like you want to get rid of the female because she is incapabable of having babies? i have 12 chins. i have some females that i try to pair and they will NEVER get along but at the same time i can take that aggressive female and pair her with another different female and they are friends instantly. or vice versa with the more timid chin, she could attack the day lights out of a different female but yet she just sat there for the other one....

so your not making any sense and these people are trying to tell you that you cant assume that your male wants a mate... they have been doing this for years and years. i think they def know what they are talking about. thats why i feel that you are throwing away your female becuase you want a female that can breed and get along with your male. are you going to just get rid of that one if he starts attacking her and you assumed he wanted a mate?

also i never let me chins stay together if they chase eachother at all. it escalates and leads to death or injury... on a day off i put them both in a smalllll carrier and watch them all day.. then when they stop arguining and are nice i will test them in a cage. if fighting starts then back in the carrier they go.. so i think its very dangerous what you keep doing with your female.. i wouldnt try it again.. it could lead to her being killed or him being killed..

 

[eroomlorac]

But if the best for the female is to live alone, and for the male to have a mate, wouldn't it be better to rehome her to someone who just want one, and to try and find a new, more suitable mate for the male, than to keep both and have one happy and one unhappy chin?

There is no guarantee that ANY chinchilla will get along with your male. Are you going to keep getting new chinchillas and rehoming if they begin to fight with your male? You can potentially go through several chins finding a "suitable mate for the male", especially if you keep getting a female because when they get pregnant they often just want to be alone and will fight with the male. This could happen over and over and over and over..........

 

[ticklechin]

Unless you speak chinchilla, you do not know if your male WANTS a mate. It looks like you want two chins to mate and make kits and since normal breeders separate the male and female before birth to prevent breed back your male is going to be alone.

 

[Claire D]

:wave: Hi - whereabouts in the UK are you based? Do you have a good, chinchilla competent vet? I am asking just in case your female is pregnant - if you're going to breed these chins (& you are from your posts) then you're going to need a good vet & plenty of money - C-sections here in the UK can cost anywhere up to £800.

I dont have a problem having two chinchillas in two different cages, and I said that MY male needs a companion because I know him and I know he's not happy alone.

My first priority is to try and reintroduce them and I really hope that it will be possible for me to keep both, but I do not agree that you should keep every chinchilla you buy because sometimes you have to find a better solution. Thats a responsible owner, to find and do whats best for all of the animals, not just one.

Can I ask why you think your male needs a companion? From what you have written in your posts it seems as though these two chins have been paired up since they were very young - so he's never actually been on his own.
If you're making the assumption based on the way he is behaving towards the female now then I think you are misinterpreting natural mating behaviour (i.e. sexual drive) with affection/companionship. Your male has reached sexual maturity & the hormones are kicking in big time. It's not about companionship now.

I also have to say that I think you're putting way too much faith in a vet check - I would not bother to stress them out or waste your money TBH. A vet (unless they are very experienced with chins) is not going to be able to tell you much at all.

On a practical level, the other thing I will mention is rehoming your female - apart from the comments others here have made, I have to say that rehoming a possibly pregnant female is a real no-no. You'd have to keep them separate & not rehome her for at least 120 days so that you could ensure she is not pregnant. Passing on a pregnant chin would be pretty unfair on the new owner.


Personally I would keep both your chins but separate them - you're in danger of putting your human emotions onto them & that's going to cloud your decisions. It sounds to me like your female is not happy with the male & she's letting you know that by her behaviour. Separating them is not going to do them any harm & may, in fact, save them both from fighting to the death. It's just not worth the risk.


On a general note:
You're mainly being good advice on this thread - I know that we Brits are not used to such direct comments on forums (though I can be blunt at times LOL) but I would highly recommend sticking around. Memebers here have the best interests of the chinchillas at heart - there's a wealth of info to be had & most people here are pretty friendly & knowledgeable.

 

[Laurie]

I know this is difficult for you to receive advice you do not want to listen too or that doesn't flow with what you want, but honestly nothing--not one single thing in this world needs a companion or a mate. Human beings can live alone we don't die if we are alone, your male chinchilla will not die if he does not have a cage mate. They haven't been separated long, he's probably relieved not to have anyone beating up on him anymore. I had 2 brothers who lived together very harmoniously until they started not getting along. They were together for 2 years and I had to separate both of them. At first it was difficult for them I'm sure, but now they each have a huge cage to be in and they are both quite happy and fine with things being the way they are.

It's sad, really, that you would consider getting rid of the female and finding another mate for the male chin. There is no telling, absolutely none, that your male will get along with and accept a new cage mate.

The reason people pipe up here and speak their mind is most of us have all gone through something we are currently commenting on.

Constructiive criticism is very hard for human beings to take and accept, but the advice is given to help educate and not cut down.

There are times we have heard many things from members and new members and we have given advice only to have it not followed and then a chinchilla winds up dead. Would it be right--TOTALLY--to say I told you so? Well, yes, acutally it would. Instead we groan inside feel terrible for the chin as it died when it did not have too, and we say how sorry we are for the loss.