Two chinchillas up for adoption in pet store

[angelgirl122193]

Hi everyone! My name is Bailey, I'm 19 years old, I live in Arizona, and I've been an avid reader of these forums for a little over a year and I've been wanting a chinchilla for as long as I can remember. I haven't gotten one up until this point due to lots of moving and the possibility of moving away for college. I just decided to commute from home to ASU next semester and decided to get more involved in looking for a chinchilla.

Well, today I went to Petco with my mom to get a few things for our dogs and saw that they had the cutest chinchillas who were given to them for adoption from their previous owner. They are six years old and are both girls named Chili and Chia. I'm just not sure what to do. Are they more likely to have problems since they are from an owner who didn't give the store any info on their background besides their ages and gender?

Would it be recommended to get two at once for a new owner like me? They are bonded so the store wants to see them go together. I know I've done my research but I'm not sure if getting two would be the best idea since they would be my first chinchillas.

I have known for a while that when I did get a chinchilla it most likely wouldn't be a baby. I am totally fine with taking on older chinchillas but what would the experienced chinchilla owners on here recommend?

 

[tunes]

There are a couple of things to consider in this situation:

1) Most people get one chin then decide they want another and are unable to introduce them so end up with two cages. Here are two ready to go and already bonded.
2) It's really not that much more expensive to care for two chins that are together than one. Feeding two chins is fairly inexpensive, they share hammocks, bedding, houses, water bottles, etc.
3) I always like to see chins with a cage mate if they are able to have one.
4) You say you are going to a local school "this" semester. Does that mean permanently or just temporarily? Will you have time to spend with them?
5) What did you think when you met the chins? Were they somewhat receptive to you? If they weren't, do you think you will have patience in working with them? Even chins from some of the worst situations can be wonderful pets with time and work.
6) Do you have money for a vet if necessary? Chins aren't cheap to take to the vet, but if you make some plans ahead of time, it won't be so devastating if something happens.

IMO, buying a bonded pair as a new owner shouldn't be any harder than having just one chin. I have more concerns with a new owner who has one, then 20. They are awesome animals, and I know people get caught up in the whole cute and fuzzy thing, but you also have to be practical.

 

[angelgirl122193]

Thank you for answering, tunes! Yes, I will be going to a local school for the rest of my time in college and when I do get my own place, I would make sure that it was somewhere that I could keep my chinchilla(s).

I will have plenty of time to spend with them. Is it weird that I would rather spend time with animals than other people?

When I met the chins, Chia who I believe is a mosaic was very sweet and actually let me give her some scratches. Chili, an ebony I believe, was a bit shy and stayed in her house. I am definitely willing to spend time working with them and trying to make them feel at home in their new place. I would never want to frighten or try to rush into anything. I have the patience to let them come into their own in their own time.

I feel so bad that their owner left them and I am sure it is really hard on them to be in a new environment, and a bad one at that. They are being kept in a glass cage with poor bedding and a very small area when considering there are two of them.

My heart just melted when I saw them. You have made me feel so much better about getting the two of them together. I have heard that having another chin will make them less lonely. I will continue thinking on this and consider going back to the store to see them again so I know for sure.

 

[Kara315]

I got my two boys from petsmart, I got them both together and it was my first time owning chins.
I guess, any chin can have problems. I didn't know my guys backround when I got them either, and didn't have any problems, just recently was the first time, eeyore had a problem with his tooth but is fine and that could happen to any chin, pet store or from a breeder.
If you want to get them, I think it would be great to get them together. I don't think it would be much harder getting two instead of one for a first time. I got two, and everything worked out great.

 

[Amphy64]

It sounds like you've been thinking about this quite carefully, so that's good. Though of course you don't want to rush into things, I would actually say don't leave it too long, if you liked these girls, unless the store has specifically said they'll hold them for you. I still remember my mum and I saw a gorgeous Giant Papillion bunny, but we thought we'd leave it a little and think over a bit more about where we'd keep a giant breed rabbit, and when we went back to get him he was gone. Was pretty heartbreaking, and I still think about him and hope he went to a good home.

 

[Apollo24]

I am a commuter at a college in South Carolina, and i recently just got a chin. Luckily with college, your classes are flexible. I took 16 credit hours last semester and am taking 18 this semester, and even with a part time job I have plenty of time to take care of my little Paco I know my reply is pretty much irrelevant to your questions/concerns, but just saying

 

[e.murphy518]

I am a college student and a new chin owner. I got a bonded pair of chins whose owner couldn't take care of them anymore. I didn't know anything about their background but they are amazing and I love them! I am so glad I got two because I see them cuddling and playing all the time. They "talk" to each other all the time too I can honestly say there isn't much a of a cost difference in supplies for these two than what I would spend on one, they just use up a bit more hay and food. I 100% recommend getting a bonded pair!

 

[sheri7]

I got my 2 girls together off of craigslist, they are mother and daughter. I am really happy I got the pair as they get along great and love eachother. I can't imagine having 2 is much more expensive than one.

 

[Jenny D]

As a fellow college student, I was constantly worried I was not spending enough time with my first chin, Puffy (even though every extra minute I had I would dedicate to him, and every night I would take him out for bathroom playtime). That's when I decided to get another chin for company( Even though i know i spent plenty of time with puffy, it was always in the back of my mind that he may be "lonely", but im a softy haha)It was a challenge trying to bond them, in fact I had them in separate cages for about 5 months and would only have them together during playtime, so if you have future plans of owning more than one chin, keep that in mind (as stated before). It's wonderful that these two you were looking at are bonded already! I also find that it really is not much of a different in expenses having two, except when they were in different cages. In addition, it's always a plus to see that your chin has a friend that they interact with so I think these two would be a good fit for you!