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1

Q & A / Re: Help with Chinch, chewing off fur

« on: November 18, 2012, 04:00:28 PM »

Thanks for the advice! His cage is around 3-4 feet tall. It has four levels connected with ladders and is wire mesh. Definitely large enough for him to run and jump around in. Then when I let him out he has access to my entire apartment (compete with my wood desk he so loves to chew haha). He does have a wheel as well as different little "homes" that are wood or hay so he can sleep, climb on, and bite/eat them. i should purchase some new toys though, I think his pumice stone and wood chews are getting boring for him. How often would you suggest rotating the toys in his cage? I definitely will start stuffing his hay in the tube- love that idea. Thanks again!

2

Q & A / Help with Chinch, chewing off fur

« on: November 15, 2012, 05:44:24 PM »

I have had my 3 year old chinch for almost 6 months now. He has recently started to bite his fur and as a result has a large patch of shorter/missing hair on his back. I talked to his previous owner about this and he has done this one other time, but it was when his playmate chinchilla died. I haven't changed the brand of food he has been eating, or the hay. He has access to water and food at all times. He gets 2-3 dust baths a week and he is in a low stress environment with no other pets and no loud noises.

I am gone quite a bit (school and work during the day, some weekends out of town), and I know they are social animals so I don't know if perhaps he is stressed from lack of social interaction and is taking it out on his fur? I try and let him out to play for at least an hour at least 4 days a week. I've researched the causes of hair biting but they listed things from genetics (how would I know) to a fungus (I know it's not that). I don't want to take him to the vet as this is only cosmetic and I am a poor college student.

I don't know if I should think about adopting him out to a family or someone who is home more often to interact with him, buy him a companion chinchilla (I've heard bad stories about this and not sure if I want two though...), or just try and be home more and keep him entertained with toys when I'm not home. Any advice or thoughts are welcome!