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1

General Chat / Getting a new buddy for my chin

« on: July 09, 2013, 02:40:09 PM »

Greetings!

Since my beloved chin Gaia died a week ago due to teeth elongation, my bf got me a new chinchilla, which I named Ari. She is 6 months old girl and the taming process is still going slow. Acording to the previous experience I had with Gaia, it took me 3 months to gain her trust, so I got all the patience it takes


The thing is, I would love to get her a new fuzzy friend but I am unsure of some things. Would it be better if I get her a girl or a boy chin, considering that I wouldn't like to have baby chinchillas. And also, what would be the best way to make them work? Is it okay to get her a bit younger chin or should it be about the same age?

I never had more than one chin so I don't quite know how to make the introduction. I assume it wouldn't be the wisest to put them in the same cage immediately, since Ari lived alone for quite a time, and I believe she is not used to live in company.

Thanks for your time and answers

2

Memorials / R.I.P. Gaia

« on: July 04, 2013, 12:21:22 PM »

Hello folks. I am new one around here and i wanted to share the story about my little ball of fur.

Now, to start my tragic story. Two years ago I bought my first chinchilla from a breeder who sells them for fur, so I saved her life. I named her Gaia. She was a happy chin, never had any major problems. Six months ago, the fur around her eyes got quite rare and wet so I took her to vet. He took samples of her fur and sent them to the lab. The results were negative: she had no fungus or anything like that, so he gave me no medications to treat her with. The whole situation got better after 3 months and I was really happy about it. So was Gaia. A week ago I noticed she was not eating by herself so I had to feed her by myself. I took her to vet and he said her teeth are too long, which was shocking because she had plenty of stuff to chew in her cage and I was also letting her out every day to play around my room. She also lost plenty of fur in the tummy area but again there were no fungus at all. She received some medications and also an antibiotic, because my vet wasn't sure what is wrong with her. Even then she looked happy and playful. After 5 days of antibiotic treatment, he asked me to take her to specialist because he cannot help her.

My mom was against the idea and so was my dad. They both said: “So what if she dies? You can get another one!” Rebellious as I am, I stood against them, packed my bags, packed Gaia, withdrew the money I saved for the university (I decided not to go just to save her life), and I headed to Slovenia, since we do not have specialists for exotic animals here in Croatia. Sadly, most people here see chins as an economical good. As a thing. And it is rare to see a pet chinchilla in here.
 In Ljubljana they said she has a rare dental disease called root elongation, which caused her teeth to grow in the opposite direction. They had to shorten her teeth, and that could not be done without anesthesia. I knew she was weak. And I told them so, since she couldn't eat alone. But the vet said it will be fine. After the surgery, she woke up just fine, but when I took her to our hotel, she couldn't stand on her feet anymore. The vet said that might happen but he said I shouldn't worry about it. But I was worried. She was in pain and it was killing me too. I wanted to help her but I couldn't. She laid on the couch with me, and we both spent sleepless night. I was so worried. The next morning we traveled back home. I took the train and I was constantly petting her. After 20 minutes of our ride, her belly wasn't moving anymore. She wasn't breathing. She was gone. I don't remember the rest of the ride. I somehow managed to get off the train and my bf picked me up. He helped me burry her since I fell off my feet. I put her in the tiny hole we prepared for her and I covered her body with soil. Somehow.

I loved her more than anything. And I am not sad right now. I am devastated. She was born at the 14th of April, 2011 and she was still a baby to me. I remember checking up the dental issues and I could not even imagine this could happen to her. She died yesterday and my whole world got torn apart. 
Rest in peace, my little angel.