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[sashasmommy]

My little Sasha is only 8 weeks old, so I'm hoping not to deal with this too soon,but when do they normally come into heat for the first time. Also is it ok to let her and Spike breed at that time? I've read a lot of different things...

[chinclub]

Female chinchillas can have their first heat as early as 3 months and then tend to have them monthly after that. (however chinchillas tend to breed more at certain times of year depending on light and temp--some will breed any time of year)

 It is VERY DANGEROUS to allow a female to breed before she is 8 months old. Before that age she is still growing and will not be ready to put that added nutrients into growing a baby.  Also there is a good chance that her pelvic opening will not be large enough to allow the baby to pass so you will most likely lose Mom and baby during delivery.

Most times the heat will go unnoticed by you so NEVER put her with a male chinchilla in a cage or even in supervised out of cage play time.

[sashasmommy]

Considering Sasha is only 9 weeks would it be ok to let them play together until she is 3 months or should I just go ahead and seperate them and possibly find them friends of their own gender to play with??

[chinclub]

I would go ahead and separate them.  No need letting them get bonded just to separate them later.

[sashasmommy]

When can I put them back together??

[Abby W.]

I would not allow them playtime, because they can breed very quickly.  You don't want your little girl getting pregnant too early.  It could stunt her growth, deplete the calcium for her bone development, or worse, cause her to not be able to deliver the kits safely. 

I usually wait until one year old to allow a female contact with a male for breeding.  That way I am sure they have finished growing.  But the minimum recommendation is eight months old for a female to put into breeding.