starrynight0621
Well-known member
I'll use this thread to write about my chins and their antics 
I decided I wanted a chinchilla and found this forum. I did about a month's worth of research before bringing one home.
Before I got Orville, I visited the breeder to put a deposit on him when he was 2 weeks old. I met both him and his mother (dam?). He was so adorable and fit in the palm of my hand! Orville hasn't changed since the day I got him. He has always been eager to get out of his cage for playtime and adjusts extremely well to change. He has never shown any signs of stress. In a period of two months he had to adjust to me, then adjust to a new cagemate (Wally), and then adjust to a new apartment because I moved. Looking at his behavior, you wouldn't guess anything happened to him.
Orville seemed lonely, so I decided to search for a companion for him. I found Wally on Craigslist. The breeder said they discounted him because they really needed to get rid of some of their chinchillas. I was unsure if my 17" by 24" by 42" cage was big enough for two chinchillas, so I asked him what he thought. The breeder adamantly stated, "I have put ten chinchillas in a space that big!" Knowing that this breeder may have put ten chinchillas in such a small space made me a little sick to my stomach, but I bought Wally anyway.
I chose to introduce Wally and Orville in neutral territory in my bathroom. I did not quarantine Wally for a variety of reasons, which I won't go into here. I chose not to do introductions by putting cages side-by-side for several reasons. One, both chinchillas have a history of getting along with other chinchillas. Two, both chinchillas have lived with other chinchillas their entire lives. Orville lived alone for only a week before I got Wally. Three, both chinchillas were young. Obviously, I knew fighting was a possibility and was prepared for the potential consequences. The introduction went really well though, and both chins get along great.
Wally didn't adjust to moving from the breeder to my home very well. He was skittish and chewed his fur up pretty badly in the first few days. When I took both chins out for playtime, I had to chase Wally around the cage to get him to come out. About three or four months have passed since I got Wally. Now, he loves coming out for playtime. I say "Playtime, Wally!" and he hops right onto my hand and waits patiently for me to carry him to the playpen. I am so happy he has warmed up
I have been tempted to get a third chinchilla, but it would be a bad idea for me financially right now. I am in graduate school and living off student loans. Maybe someday!
I decided I wanted a chinchilla and found this forum. I did about a month's worth of research before bringing one home.
Before I got Orville, I visited the breeder to put a deposit on him when he was 2 weeks old. I met both him and his mother (dam?). He was so adorable and fit in the palm of my hand! Orville hasn't changed since the day I got him. He has always been eager to get out of his cage for playtime and adjusts extremely well to change. He has never shown any signs of stress. In a period of two months he had to adjust to me, then adjust to a new cagemate (Wally), and then adjust to a new apartment because I moved. Looking at his behavior, you wouldn't guess anything happened to him.
Orville seemed lonely, so I decided to search for a companion for him. I found Wally on Craigslist. The breeder said they discounted him because they really needed to get rid of some of their chinchillas. I was unsure if my 17" by 24" by 42" cage was big enough for two chinchillas, so I asked him what he thought. The breeder adamantly stated, "I have put ten chinchillas in a space that big!" Knowing that this breeder may have put ten chinchillas in such a small space made me a little sick to my stomach, but I bought Wally anyway.
I chose to introduce Wally and Orville in neutral territory in my bathroom. I did not quarantine Wally for a variety of reasons, which I won't go into here. I chose not to do introductions by putting cages side-by-side for several reasons. One, both chinchillas have a history of getting along with other chinchillas. Two, both chinchillas have lived with other chinchillas their entire lives. Orville lived alone for only a week before I got Wally. Three, both chinchillas were young. Obviously, I knew fighting was a possibility and was prepared for the potential consequences. The introduction went really well though, and both chins get along great.
Wally didn't adjust to moving from the breeder to my home very well. He was skittish and chewed his fur up pretty badly in the first few days. When I took both chins out for playtime, I had to chase Wally around the cage to get him to come out. About three or four months have passed since I got Wally. Now, he loves coming out for playtime. I say "Playtime, Wally!" and he hops right onto my hand and waits patiently for me to carry him to the playpen. I am so happy he has warmed up
I have been tempted to get a third chinchilla, but it would be a bad idea for me financially right now. I am in graduate school and living off student loans. Maybe someday!
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