Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[cwornham]

Hello!

We currently have a 1yr old and a 2yr old male and currently in the process of bonding them. Just when we think it's going well our 1yr old (who we've had the longest, will go for the other! Not sure wether it's trying to gain dominance or if he's just being horrible!

Any advice or extra information would be appreciated!

Thank you x

[GrayRodent]

Can you describe what is happening? Are they biting each other? Pulling hair out? (This would be a serious problem)
Or are they just being noisy and mounting each other?
Chinchillas will get on each other's back and mount to establish a dominance order. It can take several days.
Before you do anything else please answer this question:
How long have you had these chins? What methods are you using to attempt to combine them?
I recommend the side-by-side method, where they are in the same room with the cages next to each other about 2" apart for at least 2 weeks just going through the normal routine. After that you can try to introduce them.

[cwornham]

Hello,

We have had our first chin since November when we rescued him from a store. We did a lot of research and recently decided to get him a friend about 2.5 weeks ago as we know they are happier with a companion.

When then come out together they are usually very excited to see each other (we've been doing the side by side method for the last 2.5 weeks so they know each mothers smell etc) and then they start mounting and our new chin makes a noise as if to say 'leave me alone'. This only starts to happen after about half an hour playing nicely together.

[GrayRodent]

Sounds like you're doing well. If they bite, or pull each fur out you should separate them permanently.