Hi, guy,
I haven't been a chinchilla owner long (about a year), and I'm having problems introducing two chinchillas. My older chin is Jimmy, who's about a year old. I was worried that he wasn't getting enough affection/exercise, so I decided to take the risk of introducing a second (male) chin. Rocket is about 3-4 months old.
Before introducing the two of them, I did a lot of research about how difficult it can be to pair chinchillas, and I did everything I could think of to make it easier. I was about to buy Jimmy a new cage anyway, so I ordered the Critter Nation two-level cage, thinking it would be best to start fresh, so the whole thing didn't smell like Jimmy. I brought Rocket home in a small cat-size carrier, and left it outside Jimmy's old cage for a bit so they could get used to each other's smells. Right away, I saw positive signs: there was no hissing or urinating-- in fact, both chins went to sleep next to each other, in their respective cages.
After a couple of days, I moved the chins into the two-level cage (which is currently separated, so they cannot move from one half to another). I regularly switch them, so both cages smell like both chins. I then made a few attempts to introduce them in a neutral location: a bathroom where I had set out a dust bath and a few hidey holes.
From what I've read, I expected that Jimmy (the older, most established chinchilla) would dominate and push around poor little Rocket, and I'd have to work on that. What I did not expect, however, was for it to be the other way around. Rocket is dominant, and he scares the bejeezus out of Jimmy. Each time I attempt playtime, it starts out fine: they mostly ignore each other, with maybe a little bit of chasing. Then there's a quick, short skirmish, and Jimmy is missing a patch of hair. Rocket tends to pick up the clump of hair and gnaw at it for a minute, giving him a really creepy Hannibal Lector vibe.
No blood has been drawn, and I wouldn't even say there's been a single serious fight. I haven't owned chins that long, but from my perspective it seems like Rocket REALLY wants to play rough, and Jimmy thinks, "Oh, that could be cool," and as soon as Rocket starts to chase him he panics and releases a chunk of hair and climbs up my body to escape Rocket.
Everything I've read online suggests I should start over with side-by-side cages, but both chins are established in the double-decker cage now, and I can't take it apart. I could bring Jimmy's old cage into the room with the Critter Nation cage, and set them up side by side, but is that too jarring for Jimmy, now that he's adjusted to the new cage? Should I keep attempting playtime, or separate them for an extended period?
I haven't been a chinchilla owner long (about a year), and I'm having problems introducing two chinchillas. My older chin is Jimmy, who's about a year old. I was worried that he wasn't getting enough affection/exercise, so I decided to take the risk of introducing a second (male) chin. Rocket is about 3-4 months old.
Before introducing the two of them, I did a lot of research about how difficult it can be to pair chinchillas, and I did everything I could think of to make it easier. I was about to buy Jimmy a new cage anyway, so I ordered the Critter Nation two-level cage, thinking it would be best to start fresh, so the whole thing didn't smell like Jimmy. I brought Rocket home in a small cat-size carrier, and left it outside Jimmy's old cage for a bit so they could get used to each other's smells. Right away, I saw positive signs: there was no hissing or urinating-- in fact, both chins went to sleep next to each other, in their respective cages.
After a couple of days, I moved the chins into the two-level cage (which is currently separated, so they cannot move from one half to another). I regularly switch them, so both cages smell like both chins. I then made a few attempts to introduce them in a neutral location: a bathroom where I had set out a dust bath and a few hidey holes.
From what I've read, I expected that Jimmy (the older, most established chinchilla) would dominate and push around poor little Rocket, and I'd have to work on that. What I did not expect, however, was for it to be the other way around. Rocket is dominant, and he scares the bejeezus out of Jimmy. Each time I attempt playtime, it starts out fine: they mostly ignore each other, with maybe a little bit of chasing. Then there's a quick, short skirmish, and Jimmy is missing a patch of hair. Rocket tends to pick up the clump of hair and gnaw at it for a minute, giving him a really creepy Hannibal Lector vibe.
No blood has been drawn, and I wouldn't even say there's been a single serious fight. I haven't owned chins that long, but from my perspective it seems like Rocket REALLY wants to play rough, and Jimmy thinks, "Oh, that could be cool," and as soon as Rocket starts to chase him he panics and releases a chunk of hair and climbs up my body to escape Rocket.
Everything I've read online suggests I should start over with side-by-side cages, but both chins are established in the double-decker cage now, and I can't take it apart. I could bring Jimmy's old cage into the room with the Critter Nation cage, and set them up side by side, but is that too jarring for Jimmy, now that he's adjusted to the new cage? Should I keep attempting playtime, or separate them for an extended period?
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