Chinchilla Community Forums

Chinchillas => Q & A => Topic started by: Russell on August 05, 2015, 03:52:13 PM

Title: Need Info For Introducing 2 Chinchillas
Post by: Russell on August 05, 2015, 03:52:13 PM
Hello,

I currently own two male chinchillas Russ who is 5 months and Guss who is 1 year. I would like to introduce them to each other in hopes they could be cage mates, but this is the first time I have ever tried to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions on the proper technique of doing this?

thanks.
Title: Re: Need Info For Introducing 2 Chinchillas
Post by: GrayRodent on August 05, 2015, 04:34:17 PM
Start by putting them side-by-side in cages for two weeks. Separate the cages by no less than 2". After two weeks put them in the dust bath together and make sure they aren't attacking each other. If they are okay put them together in the same cage. If they are not okay, pulling each others' hair out or biting each other (which is bloody) you'll need to immediately separate them and try a longer waiting period.
Note:
Not all chinchillas are compatible with each other.
Chinchillas can fight and kill each other at any time in their chinchilla relationship and having more than one in a cage always poses a risk.
I have two males in a cage after a difficult intro and they are okay after 3 months.
Make extra sure they are both the same gender or you will have more chinchillas.
Title: Re: Need Info For Introducing 2 Chinchillas
Post by: Russell on August 05, 2015, 11:05:16 PM
Alright I will definitely give it a try and see what happens. So far the older chin is very accepting of the younger chin, but the younger chin is kinda on edge I understand though considering it is his territory. I have not put them in the same cage, but I have let them sniff each other through the cage and the younger chin bites at the older one.
Title: Re: Need Info For Introducing 2 Chinchillas
Post by: GrayRodent on August 07, 2015, 04:59:23 PM
Yeah chinchillas can be bad about grabbing each other through the bars.