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[Toyger]

I have three boys together in one cage and two girls in a nother (though separated from eachother at the time in case of pregnancy, but looks more and more like they might be safe ). After some tidying up and changes I found room for the girls in the pet room (had them in the middle of my tiny livingroom). There is only a slight distance from the boys so they can see and smell the girls. The boys have been very currious and much noisier, and some chasing has occured. Not a single scratch or bite though, no fur being ripped of. Can they stay in the same room, or will the currently friendly scuffles become worse?

I have another room I could move one of the cages to, but not untill next weekend, and if I could keep them in the one room that would be prefferable. Next weekend I can be able to move them further away from eachother too if that helps.

Love to hear about you guys' experience and knowledge. I'm a novice with chillas

[GrayRodent]

Same room and separate is fine. Be careful because chinchillas can easily mate through the bars of cages so out of reach is always preferable in case of escapes. And escapes happen to the best of us. If cage-mates are pulling hair out they should be separated but they'll be noisier certain times of the month. Some breeders think separating the males is preferable in your situation but others say it's not a problem and that's all a myth. So I'm inclined to think if there is a problem it goes deeper than just having females in the same room and they'd probably have gone after each other anyway (if it escalates and becomes a problem). There is always a risk when you have multiple chins to a cage.

Hope it helps. Sounds like you have a lot of chins for a novice. You may become an expert in no time.

[Toyger]

Thanks! That helps a lot
All of mine are rescues, from three different homes. Got them all this fall. I'm checking their cages after every time opening after one of the girls had an escape when my friend watched them for me Christmas eve! It was before I moved them to the same room luckilly.
Wow, didn't know they could mate through bars o_O
There is a few centimeters of distance between the cages, so should be enough to prevent that without escaping atleast.

The boys scuffle a bit, but so far no real scratches nor hair pulling even, simply more noise and a bit of chasing. But mostly they are friendly with eachother and even cuddle

[GrayRodent]

A few centimeters might not be enough. You should have male and female cages a minimum of 5cm (2 inches). When you see your males cleaning themselves you'll know why and chins are known for doing this. It's a standard separation distance breeders use in adjacent cages and mobile cage dividers. I think your boys are fine. Chasing and noise is normal. Hair pulling is a danger sign that needs to be taken seriously if you ever see it even if they are otherwise cuddling.

[Toyger]

The distance is around 5-6cm
But the distance was half before I learned about their size o_O
The things you learn! Well, now I know. I'll keep them on separate ends of the room soon enough.
I'm glad I joined this forum, so much I've learned here that none of the sites I tried to use could tell me.

There have been a tuft of fur or two durring their months together, but they are few and far between (and very small tufts)

[Toyger]

I had to separate them late last night! D:
I found my tiny boy, who were on weight watch to make sure he gains some, had gone down in weight! I checked him close and found a good number of small scabs from bites and/or scratches, and his cosy hole was full of pee and poops so he never left to defecate and not enough to eat D:
They were all very superficial and seem to heal nicely, so he should be OK, I'm more concerned about the weight loss. He is such a tiny boy, was 360 grams, down to 344 grams. He is happy and healthy and one of the most active of the bunch! Vet told me to just monitor his weight and not to bring him in unneccasary, and I know what caused it so wont put him through that stress unless I have to. He seems very happy and eats well in his new cage, but did call for his friend.

I separated them all emedeately. Tiny one to my bedroom in the girls' old cage for peace and close monitoring, and then I switched the two other boys woth the girls as the girl cage could be closed of in two separate areas. Had to clean out their cages first since it was cleaning time today, felt it was wrong to wait. Got to bed at 2 am :p *worth it!*

Their behavior seems to be directly influenced by noticing the girls. The biter is the one who was super focused on the girls. He never chased them before that. He sat all day in the best spot to see one of the girls while making sounds I hadn't heard before, and only left to chase the others.

I never found fur slips in the cage untill cleaning, and even then there wasn't much. I'm keeping them separated for now and will consider slowely trying to put them back with the girls moving to the other room as soon as it becomes available again this weekend (friend moving out). They got along wonderfully for a long while after all. I do have cages enough to keep them separate for all their time if needed, but together is preferable, if only the two original ones. The "biter" is twice their age and introduced this fall, but with no agitation at all. They huddled up together the first night we let him in to their cage (after slow introduction with cages next to eachother and play sesions) I'll try slowly, but keep my tiny one separate untill he gets better. I tried to separate him from his friend before due to his weight and it made him loose more weight cause he missed his friend, but I feel he really should be alone this time. All three called out for their friends yesterday, it's such a sad sound. The girls did it too when I kept them separate for pregnancy watch (it has been well over 111 days now so they can be kept together again)

[GrayRodent]

You should separate them permanently. Once a chin has been attacked you should take that to mean it will happen again and it could be worse. Chinchillas are known for killing each other. I'm glad the wounds were only superficial. You are blessed.

I'm looking forward to news of your kits. It should be an interesting experience.

[Toyger]

I know which of the three did the biting, which is why I'm considering putting the two original ones back together ones he is better. But will try slowely and carefully.

The older one will be kept separate then. But I might try give him supervised playtime together. But he can live alone.