You are not being silly at all, just keep trying. All chinchillas have their own personalities, no two are alike. Your concern for your little female shows you really care, it may take a little time and patience with the female.
The female, no matter if I opened the cage, ran to the back and ignored me when I came near. She seemed to have no interest in leaving the cage when I opened the gate, so I decided to not press the matter. ... when I open the cage, to either let the male out, or add food, or clean the cage, the female runs to me, and bites me... I could have sworn she even made some sort of angry noise one time when I reached into the cage. I'm really concerned that I've offended her somehow. Have I done something wrong? ... If I shouldn't worry about it now, I won't give up, I'll keep being friendly and letting my fingers get bit or whatever it takes!
When Chinchillas Bite All chinchillas will bite, if provoked, but not under normal circumstances and usually not without warning.
This is their only natural way to defend themselves, their kits and their mate.
They will normally give you several warnings, and most will be in the following order ...
1) They try to
run away and hide from you, if possible.
2) They
fuss at you (high pitched noise or chattering teeth), first in a normal stance, and/or up on their hind legs.
These are made not so much to frighten you, but also, to warn other chinchillas within hearing distance of the danger.
3) They try to
push your hands away with their little paws.
4) The female, not all, but some, will
spray you ... her final warning to you before she sprays you is getting in the proper stance (
facing you, back hunched, hips forward ... to take aim). They are very accurate up to 7 feet.
5) The final warning is
a firm, hard nip, without breaking the skin. (Not all chins give the final warning ... they figure if you haven't taking the hint by now, you won't take this one either, so they sometimes skip it.)
6) You get bit and bit hard ... hard enough to bring blood and sometimes hard enough to take it to the bone in fingers and toes.
She's been giving you all the warning signs!
BrightEyed is right:
she may have been mistreated and feels threatened. It may be her personality. She may also settle down with time. You are doing very good so keep it up and remember that.
Patience is the word ... every time you walk, into or out of, the room, call them by name and say "hi" or "bye". You don't have to sit and talk to them, but it helps just letting them know you care enough to acknowledge them every time you are around them. They are getting what they want ... attention ... even if it is ever so brief.
A good routine is what they like to look forward to also. You probably look forward to special meals or things you do on a regular basis ... they thrive on this.
They had mated and the female gave birth 2 months before I got them.
This means she has just had her kits taken away from her (some chin moms get very upset at this ... not all, but, some do become depressed) ... then she gets sent off to another "new place". She's already been at least two and most likely 3 different places before you got her. Her whole world is caught up in a whirl wind. She does not know what will come next. It will take time and lots of patience.
1) Does she hate me/is she bad tempered/am I overreacting after 2 months?
I don't think she hates you, she is just afraid.
Could she be bad-tempered? Possibly, but that is rare.
No, you are not over reacting, just give her time.
2) A toothache?
Possible, but not probable ... but, it never hurts to get it checked out by a knowledgeable exotic pet vet.
Does she slobber, drool, or wipe her mouth constantly?
Does she eat her softer food, but leave her food that is harder?
3) Change in sleep, is it bad?
It can be, but chins seem to adjust to this. Their changing their sleeping habits shows they love you enough to try to be awake when you are awake. Maybe you could meet them half way on this and adjust your sleeping habits on your days off.
