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1

Health / Re: Stange fur loss under chin

« on: August 22, 2012, 09:16:08 AM »

It was a chinchilla water bottle, but I think it was designed for full grown chinchillas. We've replaced it with a smaller bottle and they don't seem to be getting as wet on their chins. Sala has been scratching his nose and face and I think it is a fungus cuz it kinda looks like it could be spreading. We've made a vet appointment for them both to get checked out tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help, I wouldn't have thought about the bottle spout being too big for their little mouths.

2

Q & A / Re: New Chinchillas and weird humping behavior

« on: August 22, 2012, 09:13:00 AM »

The one little spot is already healed, it just looks dry, like maybe he's been scratching it. I took a picture but I'm not sure how to post pictures on this forum.

3

Health / Re: Stange fur loss under chin

« on: August 21, 2012, 11:05:35 AM »

I think it was a rodent water bottle, maybe a ferret one, it was right above the dust bath in the isle and next to all the chinchilla chew toys. We found a bottle online that says it is drip proof and ordered it. They are still just babies only about four months old, maybe it is too big for them... any suggestions on where to get a smaller spouted bottle? Also we scheduled a vet visit for this Thursday.

4

Q & A / Re: New Chinchillas and weird humping behavior

« on: August 21, 2012, 11:00:20 AM »

It looks like it might just be one little hole on the very edge of his ear and the area around it is try and almost flaky.

5

Q & A / Re: New Chinchillas and weird humping behavior

« on: August 20, 2012, 11:36:26 PM »

So we have been trying to ignore the humping. I haven't interfered and they are still struggling to figure out who is dominant. Yesterday I found a small wound on Sala's ear. I'm not sure it looks like a nip. He does tend to run around a lot really fast and often find himself running face first into a wall or a ledge. I've never seen them nip each other. They both try to hump the other and once in a while one will get annoyed and bark at the other and get in his face, but I've never seen them nip. I'm really hoping it's not a nip, cuz I would hate to have to separate them. What does a nip on an ear look like?

6

Health / Stange fur loss under chin

« on: August 20, 2012, 11:21:49 PM »

Both my boy chinchillas seem to be experiencing fur loss on the under side of their chin. I've seen that when they drink from their water bottle they get a lot of water on their chins. Could this be causing this balding on their chins?

7

Q & A / Re: New Chinchillas and weird humping behavior

« on: August 17, 2012, 08:45:19 PM »

Thanks for your feedback. I guess we will just let them hump each other and hope it's just a phase, as long as we don't start seeing signs of stress. I will try to take a peek at their stuff, they don't really let us hold them much, but we'll try. We're talking about taking them into the vet for a check up too, just to make sure they are growing healthy and everything. Thanks again.

8

Q & A / Re: Please help me with new chin owner trouble!

« on: August 17, 2012, 11:45:43 AM »

I was originally only going to get one because even one seemed like a huge commitment, but the more I researched Chinchillas I learned that they are very social creatures, they need at least an hour with their person every day and they are used to living with other chinchillas. The only difference between owning one and owning two (which I now have) is that you buy more food, hay and toys and need a big enough cage for them both. I would caution you though, don't just bring a second one home and throw it in with your first one. Put them in separate cages at first, maybe right next to each other so  they can smell each other and 'talk' to each other. They need to be compatible and bonded before you can put them together. You don't want them fighting because they don't get a long. Mine came together and were already used to sharing a cage, but I have seen you tube videos about the bonding process with two chinchillas. Take it slow, first with proximity then you can try a shared play time and if they seem to get a long great then I would put them in a freshly cleaned cage (so there is no smell giving one chinchilla an advantage over the other) with all new toys and things and keep a close eye on them to make sure it goes well. As for your play time trouble. My baby boys don't let me hold them yet but the more time I spend with them the more they let me pet them and scratch them. I reward them for climbing on me and now they climb all over me and with time they might be more inclined to let me hold them but you need to be patient. You need a safe secure space where they can go in and out of their cage on their own (i set up a play pen they can't escape, your hallway sounds great just invest in a play pen or baby gate to keep them in the hallway) and be patient during playtime too. Put fresh food and hay in their cage and after they've had a lengthy play time they will need food and water and when they go in close the door behind them, maybe slip them a treat after the door is closed so they won't be upset. I find that if my boys have had enough time they aren't bothered by the end of play time and just come rushing out the next day when it is time to play.

9

Q & A / New Chinchillas and weird humping behavior

« on: August 17, 2012, 11:18:34 AM »

I got my two baby boys about three weeks ago. I am a first time chinchilla owner but I did extensive research before getting my boys so that I could be the best chin parent possible. We (my fiance and I) got ours from a hobby breeder and she said they were both boys and very healthy and even sociable. The first week we would just put our hands in their cage and pet them, then we started doing daily playtime where they are free to come in and out of their cage for at least an hour while we take 20-40 minute turns sitting in their play area with them, they climb on us and run around happily. They have both warmed up to us, but it took one longer. We have a tan one (Sala) and a med ebony one (Gimli). Gimli is supposed to be a month older than Sala but Sala looks significantly bigger. What worries me is the mounting behavior of Sala. At first he would only half heartedly mount his cagemate, something I knew could just been harmless dominance hierarchy building, but it was always a frequent thing. Gimli didn't seem too bothered by it, usually just ignoring him or just kind of walking away. But the last several days Sala has gotten more 'intense' about it. He mounts him and humps at him, making squeaking noises, Gimli's reactions haven't changed much but now we actually have to pull him off of Gimli instead of just kind of nudging him or saying something. They seem to get along despite all this, there has been no nipping or fur loss, but Sala keeps getting bigger than Gimli too. Gimli has always been more sociable, warming up to us faster and showing very little fear while Sala has always been more cautious, skittish and fearful, but both have warmed up to us now. Any ideas would be much appreciated.