I appreciate any advice, constructive criticism, and helpful tips! Thank you guys for the support🥰🥰🥰 Here is the link to the carrier: www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Protecting-Leak-Proof-Intermediate/dp/B000TZ73BA/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?adgrpid=58842097369&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9MG_mcbX6wIVC2yGCh1OZgGEEAAYAiAAEgKU4PD_BwE&hvadid=274788674520&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9013113&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=4011620065993930965&hvtargid=kwd-300182889823&hydadcr=14558_9765735&keywords=midwest%2Bhome%2Bfor%2Bpets&qid=1599499032&sr=8-2&tag=hydsma-20&th=1&psc=1
Hey congrats on the new step of their bonding ! Why dont you let one of them in his own cage while the other is on the ground for the meeting instead of the little carrier ? Maybe Merlin would be more comfortable in is home instead and be in a more positive spirit to meet his new friend ! Continue the good work dont give up :)
I am so excited to see you bonding them!! I have a quick question. So my chinchilla Lily loves peeing on her wooden hut and I was wondering if it is normal for chinchillas to pee on wood because I have some wooden ledges that I plan on putting in her cage but I'm worried that she might pee on them and then they'll be stained and smell.
I've had Chinchillas for about 15 years now and experienced quite a few bondings aswell as even having had babies twice. If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to give my few cents. It's actually important to understand their behaviour and what they do instinctively. These animals are very, very territorial and will defend their territory. This is why when you would hold your old Chinchilla in front of the small transport cage that the new one came in, the old one probably really wouldn't bother or want to fight, because he/she is not in their own territory. However, the new Chinchilla is likely to be frustrated and defensive because that small transport cage is her/his territory and vice versa. What you did in this video is actually a very good method because you've removed both of them from their respective territories which tends to make the Chins more curious and therefore distracts them from actually wanting to fight. This doesn't mean fights can't happen or that you're safe to leave them there alone. However you've reduced the risks of an all out fight enormously because they really just want to explore, but at times they will meet eachother, perhaps growl or make noises and smell eachother and then keep exploring again. This is superb to make them get used to eachother. If a fight breaks out or they start chasing eachother, you want to distract them to stop them in their tracks, but there is no real reason to separate them completely just because a single chase occured, just disrupt the chase and let them keep going. It's actually very rare for them to actually hurt eachother, most of it is just "scare" tactics in a sense. And even if they start biting, keep in mind that Chins are much tougher than most people believe, they are not porcelain animals and they do have mechanisms to avoid being hurt, aka releasing fur. Growling and the occasional fight/chase is completely normal and expected. Female Chins are actually more defensive of their territory than males, but males tend to fight more ferociously if a fight breaks out, and two males is almost guaranteed to fight if a female is present nearby. All in all however, 2 males or 2 females, doesn't really matter too much. But like I said, if the two males can smell and physically see a female, even if they seem to be best buddies, they are likely to fight due to their instincts kicking in. Mating rights is no joke :) Lastly, the initial bonding period and occasional growling, fights and chases is all about asserting dominance. It's really just because both of them refuse to give in and become subordinate to the other. One of them has to give in eventually and then the process is complete. They live in a very clearly defined social hierarchy and respect that hierarchy completely. Once it's done, they're suddenly best friends, which is fascinating. You've likely already bonded them (haven't checked, but will soon) so this information likely doesn't matter. But if anyone else reads this, hopefully it's helpful to understand why they behave aggressively during the bonding period. We humans weren't so different in the past and really aren't now either but we've learned to control our instincts mostly. Humans still have social hierarchies everywhere, in companies, politics, friendships, communities etc, it's no different except we've outlawed violence in the process. It's fascinating to read about animal behaviour! :)
That was litterly the best help in all the research i have done. I have no idea if you have a chinchilla or did a lot of research but I can tell you know a lot about this stuff i am getting a chinchilla soon so how do i know what her diet is or what food to give her/him. And was the size and the way she set up the cage good? I have a lot of questions but when you got your chinchilla if you did do you mind telling me what happend. I would like to also know even if I get a chinchilla lets say from the pet store and the were in the same cage when i bring them home should i keep them in the same cage or a seprate cage thank you for all the facts
Lmfao. MEN today really AREN'T All that different, are they?! 😅😅😅😅Now I'm just stuck picturing some stupid bro dudes like from The Jersey Shore sniffing at each other's noses & the going "KACK, KAAACK, SKREEE!"while the other touched him in the side then ricochets off him before he starts "ARK, BARK, BARK!" & give a little bitch slap to the other... All hell is gonna break loose momentarily because... Snooki & her eau de Mystic Tan & Victoria's Secret LOVE SPELL circa 2000... 😬😬😬
I would give it more time with them playing like this for even a few more months. I would highly suggest not letting them out together until you see them interacting better and maybe even resting side by side. I had two chinchillas that did the rxact same thing. I made the mistake of letting them out together and they faught, not badly but it wasnt good. I would keep zoto in the crate instead of merlin because it seemed to just make him more agrresive towards zoro. There is a group on fb called 'chimchilla owners group'. It is very handy for advice and a place to see other people experience. I did manage to bond my chinchillas but it actually took alot longer then the research on the internet said. It could even takr a full year or so for merlin the even jusy accept theres another chinchilla in the house and to not get jelous. Maybe even set a little extra time for you and merlin so he gets the attention he needs. Hope thats helps. I know it was not exactly alot of solid information.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the information. I’ve been so worried just thinking about how they’ll never seem to bond. But this encourages me to keep trying!💕
@@TheChinchillaNotebook Ive tried bonding mine too somewhat and Ive been worried a lot too! Could you look at my comment and try to help me? Thanks! Also thanks for the info Tanya!
I'm actually apart of that chinchilla owners group you mentioned as well Tanya. And I agree. Joining that group would be really helpful as there are tons of people in the group who have experience bonding chinchillas. (I'm actually in the process of bonding my 5 year old pair to my new 8 month single chin)
A word of advice would be to know that when you were bonding chinchillas they are going to be aggressive towards each other and maybe nip or fight a little bit and that’s just fine in the wild they do the same thing to assert dominance or leader ship and if you just go into it knowing that they might fight a little bit and then they’re not gonna hurt each other if you take it slow, it will be just fine. When I was bonding my three chinchillas together two of them were already bonded and I was introducing them to my older female chinchilla who is really aggressive. I got really nervous because she is more aggressive and they did nip at each other little bit but after two weeks, they were able to go into the same cages each other and it worked out just fine.
My breeder was in another state so when we went to get the second chin, he told us to bring our first baby with us. He said that he had a lot success that way because chinchillas bond over stress. He also cut the new chinchillas whiskers because those are a sign of dominance. We got about a half hour away in the car and they were snuggling together. We’ve had no problems ever since.
I love that you’re showing us the process. Don’t give up, keep going and trying new things with them. It’s a difficult journey, and mine were really hard to bond to but eventually it all worked out. You’re doing great!
I really didn't think my two girls would get along from the beginning of their interactions, but they're fine now! I wouldn't worry about this interaction going bad
Hi! My two chinchillas (Gizmo and Gadget) were just like this at the beginning. Gizmo is 3 years old and Gadget is around 10 years old. I never thought they would get along but here we are! They just sit on the couch together and cuddle on my lap!! From Merlin and Zorro’s interactions, they look like they’ll be fine! Just give them a couple months. 😊
I want one!!!! Hell. I honestly am trying to find ONE REASONABLY PRICED chinchilla pelt- just ONE?,!?! TO cover a small pillow or plush toy with.... It'll be the best, nicest ",chinchilla" EVERRRR, and GOLLY?! I'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HOLD AND " PET" MY EFFING $500 FLUFFY "PET" RAT WHENEVER I WANT?!?!?!! 😊
Hiya I love your videos and I think your amazing I own 9 chinchillas my self and I know your trying your best / what you think is right for them however this is not a suitable bonding method and the noise you are hearing when they are touching though the bars is them locking / smashing teeth / trying to bite each other to show who is the boss / saying back off the reason this is an unsuitable method is because it is extremely stressful especially when there confined in a space which is not there usual home and another chinchilla is invading that new one new space they have just established for them selves for them to feel comfortable so they will immediately become more aggressive and stressed trying to protect there new space so it can tend to do more bad then good when bonding with this method it never really results in a successful bonding. The method that is most commonly used is smooching where you have you chinchillas in a carrier together (a confined space) which is neutral and you do this in the morning so there tired the reason for the confined space is because chinchillas are very territorial so being in a smaller space doesn’t allow them to guard / claim a space as there own so it is the least stressful and most successful bonding method HOWEVER you most monitor them closely and separate if a fight happens you can try again but since merlin is known not to like other chinchillas I would leave it a few days allow them to settle down and then try again please note that this method is not 100% successful you also must leave them together in the confined space for at least 4 hours this may sound like a long time to monitor them however it is your best shot at bonding your 2 gorgeous boys. Good luck and I hope it goes well 😊💖🤞☘️
I've tried subtle introduction + then released to play in a small space and our older girl would just chase the other one and eventually one peed at the other in "get away from me" vibes. I'm so afraid of smooshing bc I dont want to get the wrong sized carrier and everything go wrong. 😖 I love my babies and don't want anyone getting hurt
Amanda Lynn the general rule is they should only be allowed enough room to turn around any more and it can cause issues if you go to the ncs (National Chinchilla Society) website it will have all the information you will ever need and females will spray as a defence they only do this when there scared so more than likely that’s your less dominant girl good luck with the bonding 😊🤞🤞🤞
Hi, my name is Julia and I'm from Brazil. When I went to introduce my chinchillas (I had a neutered male, and I introduced him to a five-month-old female) it was just like that. Don't be alarmed, at the beginning it always seems like it will go wrong, they fight and we were super stressed, but that's the way it is. What worked for me was letting the two of them play in an environment full of toys, with treats, so they are distracted from each other and gradually get used to that presence. Take short walks like this for about 20 minutes every day, today mine always sleep together and do not fall apart.
My two chins did that smelling/biting through cage too in the beginning of their introduction, and I was scared to let them out together because they were doing that. But when I let them out they were so cute together, after them playing together for 1 week we put them in cage together for few hours for one week and then cleaned the cage and put them together and they were cuddling in their home from day 1 ! :) their behaviour is showing good signs
Also watching Merlin behaviour, it is veeery similiar to my old chinchillas behaviour, but mine was showing more aggression, like biting the cage when my new chinchilla was near him. So dont give up, Merlin is actually being very good! He is still territorial but keep doing what you are doing :)
With mine I got them a few months apart so it wasn’t that long of a time my first chinchilla was alone in the house. I did have a boy first and got a girl as my second chin and I did read that male chinchillas tend to get along better with females. And since I was so inexperienced I had introduced them first thing when I got the girl and they did bark at each other like yours did. I eventually let them out for play time together and they’d run around my room and nothing else. They never really interacted or got too close to each other but when they played they didn’t fight either so it seemed fine to me. Unfortunately before they could fully bond the girl passed. I’d say continue introducing zorro and Merlin like that since they are both male and with the whole dominance situation. It may take some time but keep trying at it and with the cage switching too that’s a good idea. Good luck!
Give it time, took me a month to get 2 rescue boys bonded with a 1 year difference of age. What I did: I divided a double critter nation in 2, took out the plastic tray and put fabric instead (To let the sent pass). I switched them parts every 3 days and did one playtime a week together in a semi large bedroom so they would be able to easily escape each other if they wanted. I did that for 2 weeks. The third week, I would leave the seperation (the hole) uncovered, but arranged in a way they they wouldnt be able to go into each other level, the rest stayed the same. The fourth week, I also allowed them to be able to go into each others level but during the day time only (they are sleepy). At some point one started acting up and semi crying at night, I let both level opened and they have been together since then. Obviously this was all done with full time supervision (Was christmas off days).
I'm getting my two chinchillas in November, and im super excited! Your channel has helped me so much regarding the process of actually buying chinchillas. Thank you!
No pee or fur flying is a good sign. I introduced 2 brothers to an older chin and it went really well (3 months and they were able to live in the same cage full time). Keep switching their cages for a while, then have them in the same cage but with something blocking (1 top, 1 bottom) for a week of so during the day when they're more docile. Playtime together should be good at this that point. Give it another week or so with only playtime together, some cacking is normal, try to only step in if fur flies or pee is sprayed at the other. Last stage for me before full time cage sharing was to have them in the same cage during the times I could watch them with no separation, but not overnight. When they can sleep snuggled they should be good to share. I only have the 2 brothers now (rip pinky) but they still have the odd argument but never anything serious.
Hi! I have two chinchillas, and their not completely bonded yet, but they play together during playtime everyday, and they did exactly what Merlin and Zorro were doing, but now they sit next to each other and clean each other the whole time, and it’s adorable so my advice is to keep trying and maybe put a fence in between them so that they can both run around, but still be in contact through a barrier!
One method that I found, which more or less worked for me, was having 2 separate (but close) play pens for the chins. The goal is to have the chins have their own play area when they're out but close enough that they can still smell and interact with teach other. The pens shouldn't be touching each other in case they try to nip or bite at each other through the pen gate. But you can leave maybe 1-2 inches between both pens (I separated it by a couple small boxes) so that they can still sniff each other- let's call this the 'mutual zone'. The pens also shouldn't be too big or they won't even get much opportunities to sniff each other at the 'mutual zone'. So the set up should look like a sideways 8 or an infinity sign but the middle has a little tube. Like: O=O (O's being the pens, = being a small space/gap of 1-2"). Again, you'd want something to create the mutual zone gap maybe a couple small/weighted boxes or objects. If there's nothing to stop the pens from closing in next to each other then it would risk the chins of nip/biting if the pens touch at the mutual zone.
My now ex-wife and I got a chinchilla (Henry) when we'd been married a year. He was a grey, and I was working evenings while she worked days. It wasn't a dog (as per the lease). It was all great. We also kept degus (another rodent). Finally, we came down to a final (male) degu--Horatio--and Henry in his own cage. Knowing that degus need social interaction, we took the chance and put them together. It was a tense week, but they established (as others have mentioned) a pecking order (not sure what it was). They would groom each other. The degu would, "sing," and Henry would cuddle. That first week or so they often did things like this, or retreat to opposite corners. I know that Henry suffered when the degu, Horatio, passed. At the same time, it was, amazingly, something he moved beyond. Good job!
I have a question. I want to bond with my chinchilla, but my parents insist on always playing with him. They won’t let me play with him becuase they’re afraid I’ll let him out. I don’t get to play with him at all and my parents are really warming up to him. I think he likes my parents more than me. How can I tell my parents that chinchillas bond with one person and he’s not going to like me if they don’t let me play with him? Because whenever I bring that up they yell NO! THEY CAN LIKE MORE THAN ONE PERSON AND HE HAS TO LIKE US! And run out of the room. I’m upset and confused. Please help me.
I would say to your parents that they will need to accept the possibility of you letting him out but it wouldn’t be on purpose. Have them supervise you while you play with him one on one so they can prevent it. It sounds like they’re disconnected when it comes to situations and fear is a big factor to it. Sounds very irrational. Also the fact that they completely ignored you wanting to bond one on one with the chinchilla tells me that they have a horrible way of comprehending what you’re asking. Kinda sounds like they have a poor way of communicating and they manipulated what you were actually saying. They managed to only hear bond with you instead of I want to spend time with the chinchilla. I would suggest keeping your questions short and to the point. I would maybe keep the concerns to a minimum or none at all. Just be assertive and any “concerns” they have just tell them that you’re being overly fearful.
Mad okay, I told my parents that. They stormed out of the room Said fine and they haven’t stepped in since. Chinchilla doesn’t rly like me though, it’ll take some time to get him used to me
When I got my new chinchilla, I knew my other chinchilla was friendly so I wasn’t too worried but anyway, when they first met they would jump on each other and sniff each other. But eventually they stopped jumping and now they love to cuddle and all that. With your chinchillas I think you should keep doing what your doing and once they are used to each other you can let them out. It may take a little bit but it will be worth it when you see them cuddle🥰
hi there another great video i have a male and a female l chinchilla and they have bonded very well i let them both out for a run the same time every night and they get along very well together it did take some time for them to bond but now they are great together steve from the uk
So the tactic you're using is the one most chin owners use, I used a different method however. So I went back to the breeder I got my first boy from as she had a method of putting them in a small cage with together as in a big space chinchillas will just avoid each other. They didn't even really react to each other, she said she had never seen 2 chinchillas do that before, they just accepted each other. When I got them home, they had a bit of a tiff as the new boy was surprisingly protective as he is the shyer and calmer chin. 6 months later and they're super happy together, very different personalities but I think that works for them. If you try the putting them both in a small cage, just be ready to step in if needs be. But I think keep up the good work!
My chinchilla just passed I would watch ur channel every day with him and I just want to let you know ur doing a great job and because of u my chin lived a great life
When I bought my first chinchilla, and realized how long of a life span they have, I wanted him to have a friend! It’s funny, when I bought my first one they said that they usually get chinchillas at about 4 months, Yet he was extra small. A couple days later I went and got the companion ( 2nd chinchilla) at a different store and it was literally the same thing , extra small same color. They have been living together for about a 2 months now and they get along great. They are always sleeping on each other haha.
My two chinchillas, one is a rescued 1.5years old and I have rescued him for about 3 months now, the other chinchilla is 9 months old. I often switch their toys and their litter box to their separate cage. At first I put their cage from a distance, as times goes by i push their cage closer and closer. Now their cage is completely stick to each other, at first they argued for 3 seconds and I immediately raise my voice to said No, so they stopped (they were trained the word No already). So I will let them be in their own cage for a maybe few days and I think will try to let them out for the real deal. My 9months old chinchilla were already bonded with a bunny,hopefully they will all get along well.
Im getting a chinchilla this october / december! Ive had a few rats before, and i think im ready for a floof! I have every thing i need favourited! NO PLASTIC! :) edit: Is ceramic okay? edit edit: Wheres the best place to get a chin? i cant find any breeders, im thinking on a pet store
I’d honestly suggest slowly moving the cages closer together until they’re sniffing and interacting positively towards one another. Keep switching them into each other’s cages for awhile. I also would put mine inside a cage that’s tiny and in a different room so they’re more interested in the room than fighting each other. I would use vanilla extract and boop a little on their noses as well so they aren’t so focused on each other’s scent as well as dust bath before sticking them inside the tiny cage. If they look like they’re rolling around fighting I’d tap the cage and it would stop them for a minute so you can grab one of them with a towel. Unfortunately they both have to fight it out to determine which one is the dominant one. As long as there’s no blood drawn and rolling you’re good. Barking, spitting air, nipping, humping, and chasing to some degree is normal.
Yesterday I got a new female chinchilla to be company for my current female chin. I've put them in the running pen with a fence between and they both have their own cages. I hope eventually they will get along. There was some similar behaviour to what happened in your video through the fence. Good to see it's not just my two chins, thanks. 🤣🤣
Hi, I bonded my two girls by 'confusing' them. I got this tip from a breeder. After having their cages side by side for three weeks (every few days I would move the cages closer to each other), we took them out around 10 am (make sure it's in the morning, when they are kinda sleepy). And we put them both in the same carrier. My boyfriend put the carrier in the car and went for a little drive (up to 15 minutes, I believe). It's a confusing situation for them and if they have to endure it together, they will likely feel like they 'survived' together. In the mean time I cleaned their cage, so it would have a neutral smell. After my boyfriend came back, we put the girls together in the clean cage. One of them was asserting dominance by jumping on the other, but that did not last long. The dominant one is the most social one and I felt like she longed for a sister. And they loved each other ever since. 💜
Mine fought a lot during the beginning, and I didn’t do the proper bonding with cages, they now sleep together in the same house and will share the same Apple stick. It takes a bit and some fur slips but it will get there. The scariest part is when you put them in the same cage together for the first night
I'm wanting to do the same. And after watching your video, I'm having 2nd thoughts. I have heard that you need to put them in different rooms for a week, then side by side for 2 weeks. Then repeat it for 2 months. It's a lot if work. May I ask where did you buy the big cages from that they can go up and down levels?
It's a long process. It might take weeks. You're doing a lot of things right. It's easier when one is younger. It can happen eventually. Mine fought for a while, and now they cuddle and sleep together.
Hello again! :) When we brought home our new chinchilla the first one went crazy. When the little jumps around my first one destroys his cage and try to find out how to escape from the cage to get him... but not in positive way. One the other hand, when the little is covered in play pan and the first jumps around he does exactly same thing as Merlin, even worse. Long way ahead of us. P.S. I read that bonding process is good to start when chinchillas are sleepy so during the day. They suppose to be little less agressive toward themselves. Love
So I did this as a bonding method with my chinchillas at first too. My first chinchilla I had was being the aggressive one as well. I ended up using the smooshing method because I went to a FB Chinchilla Group and they told me that its the quickest way to get them bonded. I asked if it was safe even though my one was being a bit aggressive and they told me as long as it’s a small carrier they wouldn’t have room to fight. So that’s just what I did. It took me a couple times of leaving them in the carrier together for a couple hours and then letting them out to run around in a neutral area to let them cool off and to see if they are use to each other yet. I did this about 3 times. It took some time.
I just putted my to next to each other in separate cages for 2 weeks but let them have playtime together to get used to each other and then after 2 weeks I putted them together in 1 new cleaned out cage with new toys and everything
Ok so I have a question for all you chinchilla owners with more than one chinchilla. I’m getting another standard grey chinchilla and I’m scared to get them mixed up. Any tips for telling them apart?
I think my chinchillas have similar personalities (one more dominant, one that is timid). They've been living side by side for a year. They mostly ignore each other, and they have had a few negative interactions. I stopped trying to introduce them for awhile. Now I'm trying cage inside a cage method, and the initial results are somewhat positive. It's allowing the timid one to approach the dominant one without fighting. I'm new at this though, wish I had better advice.
I was bonding my two chinchillas And I was not being patient So I put them in the same cage And they Girl was fighting with the other chinchilla! So I put them in different cages And all night long they were just staring at each other And I did that for a few days And then I moved them in the same cage And now they are mating But right now I have 3 chinchillas (2boys 1girl)
I would introduce them a few times to each other until they start to calm down with each other then bring them out together for playtime in a neutral area.
I have 2 chinchillas and I’m just a child but I’m pretty sure to make chinchillas bond you should let them get used of each others scent by either putting them in each others cage or let them out at the same time with a barrier in between them but they can like still smell each other like icy holes in the barrier then after they get used to each others scent put them in a cage but I’m not too sure if this will work because my 2 chinchillas are brothers
How much did you spend on their cages..? Just wondering Bc my chinchilla’s cage is all over the place... he poops everywhere too but I’ve seen a different RUclips with a chinchilla have like a metal box thing that their chinchilla poops in..
Keep introducing them gradually and they will hopefully get used to each other over time. Leaving their cages close was a good idea but it will just take time. Merlin is the main concern here for a couple reasons: he's far older and more used to living alone, and he's a grey. Grey chinchillas are often more aggressive towards other breeds. Our grey is a mean old b**** who was always the dominant chinchilla, since she had kids she just won't tolerate any others at all. Her personality is quite similar to Merlin from what I've seen with your vids. Just give it time and try it again, but realize going in it may just not work for them to live together. It'll really come down to if Merlin can establish dominance in a way without harming the other chin.
I was thinking of getting a chinchilla a week ago and I searched up a video on how to take care of them and since I've spent hours watching your videos every day on how to take care of them and what they can't have and Merlin is so adorable I want one just like him or zorro
I have the same cage you do and when I first started I had them in separate cages next to each other and then what I did was put them in the same cage but just blocked off the opening so they couldn’t reach the other levels. I kept one in the top and one in the bottom then after a day or so switched them. Then I had put them both in a carrier and went for a car ride that way they’re not so focused on fighting they’re just nervous and scared. After that they seemed fine they now both stay in the same cage together. And when they put their noses together like that it does look quite scary like they’re trying to bite but they’re actually just trying to groom each other which is what mine do all the time!
Hey, so my chinchilla was alone for about 10 years. I finally was able to buy him a friend a year ago. You know your chins best ofc so I'm not encouraging anything of what I have done but maybe my experience will help you. My new chin Bezik lived in small cage for about 3 weeks, then he moved on to live with Bobek. Three weeks, that's how long it took me to bond them. So for the first week, I let Bezik get used to the new place and at the same time Bobek was running around his cage every day. It started exactly the same as in your video, they were sniffing each other and trying to nib each other. The second week was running around free on a small neutral territory. And I noticed that Bobek was a lot less interested in him when they were running around together. During the second week was also when I would put them in the carrier together after their running (so that they would be tired) for at least an hour and just sit by them to watch if they are not hurting each other. They would try to nibble each other's ears but that's it. And the third week was when they were spending the days together in Bobek's cage and nights seperate. After week 3, they lived together full time. During all these weeks I tried to put Bezik in Bobek's cage as much as I can so the scents would mingle. So now to tips: - every day change the place they live, put Zorro in Merlin's cage and Merlin in Zorro's cage (scents will mix) - everyday let them run around exactly as you did in the video; let them see each other through the bars first, you will see more and more calmness everyday (but sometimes it works the other way, chins get more violent if they can't get to the other one) BUT if you are putting only zorro in the carrier, try to give him an hour of running around beforehand ALSO Merlin could use a run around as well before, tired chins are less likely to fight - then let them run around together for AT LEAST an hour a day - when it comes to aggressive chins, high stress situations work wonders so put them in the carrier together (don't worry, usually chins don't fight in small spaces) and turn on the washing machine or put them outside or walk around with the carrier around the house. Stress makes them bond fast, they have the same enemy you could say - overall small spaces are great as well, you could easily remove the aggressive chin if needed, they can't really chase each other and they are forced to interact with each other.
Question is Zorro normally that white or is it the lighting bc I have a chinchilla that looks just like him (except she is a girl) and she is like kinda a darker color
I am pretty sure Zorro is a white mosaic or a white ebony chinchilla, that probably won’t answer your question but I think that they usually look that white with good lighting
I’m thinking maybe I did something wrong. My chinchillas always fought like this, but they were just establishing dominance. Now I have three that are all best friends. I think you should let them “fight”, but keep an eye out for lots of blood. If they bite an ear it will bleed, but that’s fine as long as you take care of it.
I've seen breeders use something called the smoosh method where you put them together in a very very small area where they can't really move much at all and it seems to work very well.maybe look that method up and see how exactly it's done.i know when I did my 6th bonding with my all female guinea pig herd it was so nerve racking.it took about 8 hours in there neutral area for the 5 others to bond with the new one.my himi hated the new peruvian at 1st but they worked it out.
I have one chin who is way dominant and aggressive like merlin. The other one has anxiety and when I introduced her to a third chinchilla they got along decently well. I was able to put them in the same cage in a week or two and they do well together. The other one has her own cage lol. Maybe I'll try bonding her again someday but for now she's kinda a lone wolf.
So glad they’re getting closer to bonding!!! Any reason you didn’t do the smoosh method? I did with all mine and had them bonded in a day. I only ever had two girls who were unbondable
Hi, I have a question, I have 2 chinchillas I've had them since 2020 March, I have a beige one who loves coming out of the cage but my grey one doesn't.. I don't know what to do, if I want to brush her she runs around in the cage
Okay so I started the bonding process with my two females as well and one is 9 months and the other is about 4 years old and I expected the older one to try and show dominance but it was actually my baby one. I still haven’t fully let them hang out cause my little one need to chill
I got my first chin 3 months ago. I then got another chin 1 month ago. Im really bonded with my first one (Theo) but my other one (Gus) is a tougher sitiution. He makes a noise which the original person we got him from who was a breeder, (No he was not bred there he was from petsmart) said he was a talker meaning he made a noise that sounded like a short bark. And she was correct he did make that noise. In the video we saw of him he was really nice, but now that I have him he's nice but you touch it at the smallest, walk in on him while hes awake, He'll run back into his hut or spray you. He does come out a lot though and he doesnt just sit there. There is a more understanding reason for this though. His old owners were all under the age of probably 10 and didnt have proper care. I know that they didnt have proper care due to various reasons, obviously they were really young and Gus was most likely tramatized. After a month of his behaviour we notified the breeder and asked for something that could possibly help. She said that bonding my two chinchillas could get him out of his shell. So we did the best method as the "smoosh" method. (Also before we bonded them I let Theo out and he would stick his nose through Gus's cage bars they they had an introduction many times) The bonding didnt go so well and we only had them in there for about 10 minutes. We will be trying it again but if anybody has information that can help me in this situation that would be amazing, not only for me but for my chins!
When I got my 3rd chinchilla it took forever for my first 2 to get used to her. They started out being super aggressive to her and I couldn't let them out of their cages at the same time. It's been like 6 months and they're finally now starting to get along and be nice to each other. Mine also did that thing where it looks like they're sniffing/biting each other. I didn't really do anything special to get them bonded, it just took time.
My alpha one nipped the ears of the newer one at first and they squeaked loudly at times. After a while they slept against each other! I did like you ...2 cages near each other at first
I'm not sure if it's too late for this but I highly recommend smooshing them instead of introducing them slowly - it's breeder recommended and has the highest success rate of pairing chins. I would look into it if you can! Facebook has a lot of breeder-run groups where they can answer any questions, and there are also resources online!
RDZ has a great post about this, here is a link (if it will show): www.rdzcranch.com/introductions.html?fbclid=IwAR1HBDX6ybfPxUoPl9QeBTIYFC-btJc38f9FppO9O0YoHiiXDy4lWrno5HA
Hallo im Slovakia RUclipsr ofc also chinchillas.. soo... My chinchillas came close to each other when we putted small cages close to each other they can see each other... Ofc they will not like each other from one minute to other just give them time 🤗🐭. Good luck 🤗 after tell if this worked on your chinchillas also.
Just gottah to say, thank you for all your chinchilla content! Im getting my cage and supplied next week. The next things ill need to purchase are fleece, water bottle, and then my Chinchillas. Ive been calling my local petstores I have here in Hawaii for their prices and colors of stock. Theyre pretty prices but ideally I want a pair that's been bonded and... different color in coats. One of my local pet stores here has a white chin and a gray chin thats been bonded. However I wasnt ready for them yet. Wish me luck though. Oh question, I've read... anywhere over 80 degrees is bad for chins. Here in hawaii our homes are usually around 83 to 84 degrees on a "good" day. Some of my friends have chins without AC here but have a fan blowing towards the cage. Is 83 to 84 pushing it?
I think it’s best to make sure your chinchillas are cool enough especially when you live in a hot area, in would recommend 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. 80 degrees is definitely going to be a bit hot for the chinchilla!
Hi I have been watching your channel for awhile now and I recently got chinchillas! A family of three and I was wondering if a two level crittter nation cage is big enough for them.
I have a three level for two chinchillas and I think that a two level is definitely a really tight space for three chinchillas, if you are able to get a bigger cage that’s what I think would be the best (of course I am no expert but I have done a ton of research)
I don’t understand when you say chinchillas shouldn’t be alone but when they are with other chinchillas they fight all the time my chinchilla is very happy by herself and I do spend a lot of time with her
I had a male chin and like a month later i got another male baby with its mom i kept mom and baby next to the other male and when the baby got too old to stay wit mom i put him in and they were fine but i did play time together a few times watching carefully and it went so good maybe my first male knew he was a baby i dunno?
I have 2 females and they still aren't bonded - Chunk (looks exactly like Merlin) is also extremely aggressive and mine does attack. She is so mean to poof and ive done everything you have been doing. Putting them in each others cages and what not.
Maby you should try the Box Method or put them both in this room without a cage, this "fences" can also produce aggressive feelings. But when you try this, do it with gloves, so that you can stop them without hurting yourself. You should always start in the morning cause they are tired than and when you do the box method leave them in there vor 6 to 7 hours, only when they are fine with each other. Otherwise imidiatly interrupt them. Bevor doing the VG you can change they dustbath every second da so that they smell like each other. And when the box method is going to work (do a smelling test bevor for only few seconds, in which you and another person hold them and only with the face to the back) when they are okay with the smelling test you can put them in and let them stay for 6 hours. Than in an empty rabbitcage (so not really big cage) with only food, water and new dustbath. Every morning when they were friendly in the night (you have to look a lot after them) you can do another washed /cleaned toy in there. Clean with Essig water. Good luck so far.😊
It is fine to have your chinchilla in your room it can actually help the 2 of you bond better as your chinchilla can hear you and get used to your presence and will help your chinchilla realise your not a threat and relax when your in the room and not panic so there’s a possibility they may become more friendly 😊
My Boys have been raised together all their lives, they usually cuddle together every night, but now they're 10 years old and over the years they've been getting more and more aggressive with each other, especially at night. Right now it's so bad for the past couple days I had to lock Shade upstairs and Star downstairs, just so we can all get some sleep. It's like you say, Shade is the more aggressive one in my case. It seems to be the norm, I've always heard how hard it is to keep two boys together, and haven't really experienced it that bad til now. If I were to guess I think it's really just their personality, but I don't tolerate my boys fighting at all.
Jacob Bonner I’m sorry to hear that. See I’ve heard that chinchillas can fall out even years later. I guess it’s something I should be prepared for too🤷♀️💕
I appreciate any advice, constructive criticism, and helpful tips! Thank you guys for the support🥰🥰🥰
Here is the link to the carrier: www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Protecting-Leak-Proof-Intermediate/dp/B000TZ73BA/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?adgrpid=58842097369&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9MG_mcbX6wIVC2yGCh1OZgGEEAAYAiAAEgKU4PD_BwE&hvadid=274788674520&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9013113&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=4011620065993930965&hvtargid=kwd-300182889823&hydadcr=14558_9765735&keywords=midwest%2Bhome%2Bfor%2Bpets&qid=1599499032&sr=8-2&tag=hydsma-20&th=1&psc=1
Hey congrats on the new step of their bonding ! Why dont you let one of them in his own cage while the other is on the ground for the meeting instead of the little carrier ? Maybe Merlin would be more comfortable in is home instead and be in a more positive spirit to meet his new friend !
Continue the good work dont give up :)
Joe jojo I should try that. Thank you😊
I am so excited to see you bonding them!! I have a quick question. So my chinchilla Lily loves peeing on her wooden hut and I was wondering if it is normal for chinchillas to pee on wood because I have some wooden ledges that I plan on putting in her cage but I'm worried that she might pee on them and then they'll be stained and smell.
Godisgreat Godbless Mine pee on their ledges and huts as well. I haven’t yet figured out a way to keep them from doing that unfortunately🤷♀️💕
It's nice to know I'm not alone lol!!! Does it smell at all when they pee on the ledges?
I've had Chinchillas for about 15 years now and experienced quite a few bondings aswell as even having had babies twice. If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to give my few cents. It's actually important to understand their behaviour and what they do instinctively. These animals are very, very territorial and will defend their territory. This is why when you would hold your old Chinchilla in front of the small transport cage that the new one came in, the old one probably really wouldn't bother or want to fight, because he/she is not in their own territory. However, the new Chinchilla is likely to be frustrated and defensive because that small transport cage is her/his territory and vice versa.
What you did in this video is actually a very good method because you've removed both of them from their respective territories which tends to make the Chins more curious and therefore distracts them from actually wanting to fight. This doesn't mean fights can't happen or that you're safe to leave them there alone. However you've reduced the risks of an all out fight enormously because they really just want to explore, but at times they will meet eachother, perhaps growl or make noises and smell eachother and then keep exploring again. This is superb to make them get used to eachother. If a fight breaks out or they start chasing eachother, you want to distract them to stop them in their tracks, but there is no real reason to separate them completely just because a single chase occured, just disrupt the chase and let them keep going. It's actually very rare for them to actually hurt eachother, most of it is just "scare" tactics in a sense. And even if they start biting, keep in mind that Chins are much tougher than most people believe, they are not porcelain animals and they do have mechanisms to avoid being hurt, aka releasing fur. Growling and the occasional fight/chase is completely normal and expected.
Female Chins are actually more defensive of their territory than males, but males tend to fight more ferociously if a fight breaks out, and two males is almost guaranteed to fight if a female is present nearby. All in all however, 2 males or 2 females, doesn't really matter too much. But like I said, if the two males can smell and physically see a female, even if they seem to be best buddies, they are likely to fight due to their instincts kicking in. Mating rights is no joke :)
Lastly, the initial bonding period and occasional growling, fights and chases is all about asserting dominance. It's really just because both of them refuse to give in and become subordinate to the other. One of them has to give in eventually and then the process is complete. They live in a very clearly defined social hierarchy and respect that hierarchy completely. Once it's done, they're suddenly best friends, which is fascinating.
You've likely already bonded them (haven't checked, but will soon) so this information likely doesn't matter. But if anyone else reads this, hopefully it's helpful to understand why they behave aggressively during the bonding period. We humans weren't so different in the past and really aren't now either but we've learned to control our instincts mostly. Humans still have social hierarchies everywhere, in companies, politics, friendships, communities etc, it's no different except we've outlawed violence in the process. It's fascinating to read about animal behaviour! :)
That was litterly the best help in all the research i have done. I have no idea if you have a chinchilla or did a lot of research but I can tell you know a lot about this stuff i am getting a chinchilla soon so how do i know what her diet is or what food to give her/him. And was the size and the way she set up the cage good? I have a lot of questions but when you got your chinchilla if you did do you mind telling me what happend. I would like to also know even if I get a chinchilla lets say from the pet store and the were in the same cage when i bring them home should i keep them in the same cage or a seprate cage thank you for all the facts
Lmfao. MEN today really AREN'T All that different, are they?! 😅😅😅😅Now I'm just stuck picturing some stupid bro dudes like from The Jersey Shore sniffing at each other's noses & the going "KACK, KAAACK, SKREEE!"while the other touched him in the side then ricochets off him before he starts "ARK, BARK, BARK!" & give a little bitch slap to the other... All hell is gonna break loose momentarily because...
Snooki & her eau de Mystic Tan & Victoria's Secret LOVE SPELL circa 2000... 😬😬😬
I would give it more time with them playing like this for even a few more months. I would highly suggest not letting them out together until you see them interacting better and maybe even resting side by side. I had two chinchillas that did the rxact same thing. I made the mistake of letting them out together and they faught, not badly but it wasnt good. I would keep zoto in the crate instead of merlin because it seemed to just make him more agrresive towards zoro. There is a group on fb called 'chimchilla owners group'. It is very handy for advice and a place to see other people experience. I did manage to bond my chinchillas but it actually took alot longer then the research on the internet said. It could even takr a full year or so for merlin the even jusy accept theres another chinchilla in the house and to not get jelous. Maybe even set a little extra time for you and merlin so he gets the attention he needs. Hope thats helps. I know it was not exactly alot of solid information.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the information. I’ve been so worried just thinking about how they’ll never seem to bond. But this encourages me to keep trying!💕
You got this girl you can do this #YOU ARE YYE BEST CHINCHILA NOTEBOOK
@@TheChinchillaNotebook Ive tried bonding mine too somewhat and Ive been worried a lot too! Could you look at my comment and try to help me? Thanks! Also thanks for the info Tanya!
I'm actually apart of that chinchilla owners group you mentioned as well Tanya. And I agree. Joining that group would be really helpful as there are tons of people in the group who have experience bonding chinchillas. (I'm actually in the process of bonding my 5 year old pair to my new 8 month single chin)
A word of advice would be to know that when you were bonding chinchillas they are going to be aggressive towards each other and maybe nip or fight a little bit and that’s just fine in the wild they do the same thing to assert dominance or leader ship and if you just go into it knowing that they might fight a little bit and then they’re not gonna hurt each other if you take it slow, it will be just fine. When I was bonding my three chinchillas together two of them were already bonded and I was introducing them to my older female chinchilla who is really aggressive. I got really nervous because she is more aggressive and they did nip at each other little bit but after two weeks, they were able to go into the same cages each other and it worked out just fine.
Zorro: get back i own this place with my chin money
Merlin: imma get in there somehow
Zorro: no you won’t stop
Merlin: hada I’m in
Zorro neoooooooooo
My breeder was in another state so when we went to get the second chin, he told us to bring our first baby with us. He said that he had a lot success that way because chinchillas bond over stress. He also cut the new chinchillas whiskers because those are a sign of dominance. We got about a half hour away in the car and they were snuggling together. We’ve had no problems ever since.
Gennifer Hancock Oh wow I’ve never thought of that before, sounds interesting 💕
So cute the older chinchillas whiskers?I have a 2 year old and a 6 month
Cut
I love that you’re showing us the process. Don’t give up, keep going and trying new things with them. It’s a difficult journey, and mine were really hard to bond to but eventually it all worked out. You’re doing great!
I really didn't think my two girls would get along from the beginning of their interactions, but they're fine now! I wouldn't worry about this interaction going bad
Hi! My two chinchillas (Gizmo and Gadget) were just like this at the beginning. Gizmo is 3 years old and Gadget is around 10 years old. I never thought they would get along but here we are! They just sit on the couch together and cuddle on my lap!! From Merlin and Zorro’s interactions, they look like they’ll be fine! Just give them a couple months. 😊
I love my bedspread of chinchilla so warm and cosy.
I want one!!!!
Hell. I honestly am trying to find ONE REASONABLY PRICED chinchilla pelt- just ONE?,!?!
TO cover a small pillow or plush toy with....
It'll be the best, nicest ",chinchilla" EVERRRR, and GOLLY?! I'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HOLD AND " PET" MY EFFING $500 FLUFFY "PET" RAT WHENEVER I WANT?!?!?!! 😊
Hiya I love your videos and I think your amazing I own 9 chinchillas my self and I know your trying your best / what you think is right for them however this is not a suitable bonding method and the noise you are hearing when they are touching though the bars is them locking / smashing teeth / trying to bite each other to show who is the boss / saying back off the reason this is an unsuitable method is because it is extremely stressful especially when there confined in a space which is not there usual home and another chinchilla is invading that new one new space they have just established for them selves for them to feel comfortable so they will immediately become more aggressive and stressed trying to protect there new space so it can tend to do more bad then good when bonding with this method it never really results in a successful bonding. The method that is most commonly used is smooching where you have you chinchillas in a carrier together (a confined space) which is neutral and you do this in the morning so there tired the reason for the confined space is because chinchillas are very territorial so being in a smaller space doesn’t allow them to guard / claim a space as there own so it is the least stressful and most successful bonding method HOWEVER you most monitor them closely and separate if a fight happens you can try again but since merlin is known not to like other chinchillas I would leave it a few days allow them to settle down and then try again please note that this method is not 100% successful you also must leave them together in the confined space for at least 4 hours this may sound like a long time to monitor them however it is your best shot at bonding your 2 gorgeous boys. Good luck and I hope it goes well 😊💖🤞☘️
I've tried subtle introduction + then released to play in a small space and our older girl would just chase the other one and eventually one peed at the other in "get away from me" vibes. I'm so afraid of smooshing bc I dont want to get the wrong sized carrier and everything go wrong. 😖 I love my babies and don't want anyone getting hurt
Amanda Lynn the general rule is they should only be allowed enough room to turn around any more and it can cause issues if you go to the ncs (National Chinchilla Society) website it will have all the information you will ever need and females will spray as a defence they only do this when there scared so more than likely that’s your less dominant girl good luck with the bonding 😊🤞🤞🤞
Thank you for letting me know, I’ll try that as well💕
Hi, my name is Julia and I'm from Brazil. When I went to introduce my chinchillas (I had a neutered male, and I introduced him to a five-month-old female) it was just like that. Don't be alarmed, at the beginning it always seems like it will go wrong, they fight and we were super stressed, but that's the way it is. What worked for me was letting the two of them play in an environment full of toys, with treats, so they are distracted from each other and gradually get used to that presence. Take short walks like this for about 20 minutes every day, today mine always sleep together and do not fall apart.
Aww that’s awesome! Yeah, I’m so worried about them never bonding but I’ll keep trying💕
My two chins did that smelling/biting through cage too in the beginning of their introduction, and I was scared to let them out together because they were doing that. But when I let them out they were so cute together, after them playing together for 1 week we put them in cage together for few hours for one week and then cleaned the cage and put them together and they were cuddling in their home from day 1 ! :) their behaviour is showing good signs
Also watching Merlin behaviour, it is veeery similiar to my old chinchillas behaviour, but mine was showing more aggression, like biting the cage when my new chinchilla was near him. So dont give up, Merlin is actually being very good! He is still territorial but keep doing what you are doing :)
Kateryna Pantus Thank you! I’m encouraged to see that I’m not the only one and that I should keep trying💕
With mine I got them a few months apart so it wasn’t that long of a time my first chinchilla was alone in the house. I did have a boy first and got a girl as my second chin and I did read that male chinchillas tend to get along better with females. And since I was so inexperienced I had introduced them first thing when I got the girl and they did bark at each other like yours did. I eventually let them out for play time together and they’d run around my room and nothing else. They never really interacted or got too close to each other but when they played they didn’t fight either so it seemed fine to me. Unfortunately before they could fully bond the girl passed. I’d say continue introducing zorro and Merlin like that since they are both male and with the whole dominance situation. It may take some time but keep trying at it and with the cage switching too that’s a good idea. Good luck!
I have a Chinchilla named Waylon he sooo cute Tysm I learned so much from your channel
Omg my nickname was waylon cause I'm called Taylor. Wow I never thought I would see that name again
I have a 2 chins bella amd kissy
Why just one ??
Give it time, took me a month to get 2 rescue boys bonded with a 1 year difference of age.
What I did:
I divided a double critter nation in 2, took out the plastic tray and put fabric instead (To let the sent pass). I switched them parts every 3 days and did one playtime a week together in a semi large bedroom so they would be able to easily escape each other if they wanted. I did that for 2 weeks. The third week, I would leave the seperation (the hole) uncovered, but arranged in a way they they wouldnt be able to go into each other level, the rest stayed the same. The fourth week, I also allowed them to be able to go into each others level but during the day time only (they are sleepy). At some point one started acting up and semi crying at night, I let both level opened and they have been together since then.
Obviously this was all done with full time supervision (Was christmas off days).
I'm getting my two chinchillas in November, and im super excited! Your channel has helped me so much regarding the process of actually buying chinchillas. Thank you!
No pee or fur flying is a good sign. I introduced 2 brothers to an older chin and it went really well (3 months and they were able to live in the same cage full time). Keep switching their cages for a while, then have them in the same cage but with something blocking (1 top, 1 bottom) for a week of so during the day when they're more docile. Playtime together should be good at this that point. Give it another week or so with only playtime together, some cacking is normal, try to only step in if fur flies or pee is sprayed at the other. Last stage for me before full time cage sharing was to have them in the same cage during the times I could watch them with no separation, but not overnight. When they can sleep snuggled they should be good to share. I only have the 2 brothers now (rip pinky) but they still have the odd argument but never anything serious.
Hi! I have two chinchillas, and their not completely bonded yet, but they play together during playtime everyday, and they did exactly what Merlin and Zorro were doing, but now they sit next to each other and clean each other the whole time, and it’s adorable so my advice is to keep trying and maybe put a fence in between them so that they can both run around, but still be in contact through a barrier!
SSS OOO came here to leave that exact comment :) my boys are the same way atm
Your videos are so amazing,imformative,and absolutely adorable!
One method that I found, which more or less worked for me, was having 2 separate (but close) play pens for the chins. The goal is to have the chins have their own play area when they're out but close enough that they can still smell and interact with teach other. The pens shouldn't be touching each other in case they try to nip or bite at each other through the pen gate. But you can leave maybe 1-2 inches between both pens (I separated it by a couple small boxes) so that they can still sniff each other- let's call this the 'mutual zone'. The pens also shouldn't be too big or they won't even get much opportunities to sniff each other at the 'mutual zone'. So the set up should look like a sideways 8 or an infinity sign but the middle has a little tube. Like: O=O (O's being the pens, = being a small space/gap of 1-2").
Again, you'd want something to create the mutual zone gap maybe a couple small/weighted boxes or objects. If there's nothing to stop the pens from closing in next to each other then it would risk the chins of nip/biting if the pens touch at the mutual zone.
My now ex-wife and I got a chinchilla (Henry) when we'd been married a year. He was a grey, and I was working evenings while she worked days. It wasn't a dog (as per the lease). It was all great. We also kept degus (another rodent). Finally, we came down to a final (male) degu--Horatio--and Henry in his own cage.
Knowing that degus need social interaction, we took the chance and put them together. It was a tense week, but they established (as others have mentioned) a pecking order (not sure what it was). They would groom each other. The degu would, "sing," and Henry would cuddle.
That first week or so they often did things like this, or retreat to opposite corners.
I know that Henry suffered when the degu, Horatio, passed. At the same time, it was, amazingly, something he moved beyond.
Good job!
Awww they love giving each other kisses 😘 💕
LOL I have a chinchilla named sophie any bonding tips??
I have a question. I want to bond with my chinchilla, but my parents insist on always playing with him. They won’t let me play with him becuase they’re afraid I’ll let him out. I don’t get to play with him at all and my parents are really warming up to him. I think he likes my parents more than me. How can I tell my parents that chinchillas bond with one person and he’s not going to like me if they don’t let me play with him? Because whenever I bring that up they yell NO! THEY CAN LIKE MORE THAN ONE PERSON AND HE HAS TO LIKE US! And run out of the room. I’m upset and confused. Please help me.
I would say to your parents that they will need to accept the possibility of you letting him out but it wouldn’t be on purpose. Have them supervise you while you play with him one on one so they can prevent it. It sounds like they’re disconnected when it comes to situations and fear is a big factor to it. Sounds very irrational. Also the fact that they completely ignored you wanting to bond one on one with the chinchilla tells me that they have a horrible way of comprehending what you’re asking. Kinda sounds like they have a poor way of communicating and they manipulated what you were actually saying. They managed to only hear bond with you instead of I want to spend time with the chinchilla. I would suggest keeping your questions short and to the point. I would maybe keep the concerns to a minimum or none at all. Just be assertive and any “concerns” they have just tell them that you’re being overly fearful.
Mad okay, I told my parents that. They stormed out of the room Said fine and they haven’t stepped in since. Chinchilla doesn’t rly like me though, it’ll take some time to get him used to me
so chins kinda NEED to be let out of their cage and to be played with... if they get sad and lonely they kts (k1ll themself) so tell them that info
When I got my new chinchilla, I knew my other chinchilla was friendly so I wasn’t too worried but anyway, when they first met they would jump on each other and sniff each other. But eventually they stopped jumping and now they love to cuddle and all that. With your chinchillas I think you should keep doing what your doing and once they are used to each other you can let them out. It may take a little bit but it will be worth it when you see them cuddle🥰
YES I have been waiting for this forever!!!! Ahhhh
hi there another great video i have a male and a female l chinchilla and they have bonded very well i let them both out for a run the same time every night and they get along very well together
it did take some time for them to bond but now they are great together
steve from the uk
So the tactic you're using is the one most chin owners use, I used a different method however. So I went back to the breeder I got my first boy from as she had a method of putting them in a small cage with together as in a big space chinchillas will just avoid each other. They didn't even really react to each other, she said she had never seen 2 chinchillas do that before, they just accepted each other. When I got them home, they had a bit of a tiff as the new boy was surprisingly protective as he is the shyer and calmer chin. 6 months later and they're super happy together, very different personalities but I think that works for them. If you try the putting them both in a small cage, just be ready to step in if needs be. But I think keep up the good work!
My chinchilla just passed I would watch ur channel every day with him and I just want to let you know ur doing a great job and because of u my chin lived a great life
When I bought my first chinchilla, and realized how long of a life span they have, I wanted him to have a friend!
It’s funny, when I bought my first one they said that they usually get chinchillas at about 4 months, Yet he was extra small. A couple days later I went and got the companion ( 2nd chinchilla) at a different store and it was literally the same thing , extra small same color. They have been living together for about a 2 months now and they get along great.
They are always sleeping on each other haha.
My two chinchillas, one is a rescued 1.5years old and I have rescued him for about 3 months now, the other chinchilla is 9 months old. I often switch their toys and their litter box to their separate cage. At first I put their cage from a distance, as times goes by i push their cage closer and closer. Now their cage is completely stick to each other, at first they argued for 3 seconds and I immediately raise my voice to said No, so they stopped (they were trained the word No already). So I will let them be in their own cage for a maybe few days and I think will try to let them out for the real deal. My 9months old chinchilla were already bonded with a bunny,hopefully they will all get along well.
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. Love this CHANNEL. Keep the amazing content coming. Hope you enjoy your day
Thank you❤️❤️❤️
Im getting a chinchilla this october / december! Ive had a few rats before, and i think im ready for a floof! I have every thing i need favourited! NO PLASTIC! :) edit: Is ceramic okay? edit edit: Wheres the best place to get a chin? i cant find any breeders, im thinking on a pet store
Very adorable and thanks for showing us and getting me obsessed with chinchillas oh and helping us people to learn a lot
i only have one chin so do you think it would be better to have two chins
I’d honestly suggest slowly moving the cages closer together until they’re sniffing and interacting positively towards one another. Keep switching them into each other’s cages for awhile. I also would put mine inside a cage that’s tiny and in a different room so they’re more interested in the room than fighting each other. I would use vanilla extract and boop a little on their noses as well so they aren’t so focused on each other’s scent as well as dust bath before sticking them inside the tiny cage. If they look like they’re rolling around fighting I’d tap the cage and it would stop them for a minute so you can grab one of them with a towel. Unfortunately they both have to fight it out to determine which one is the dominant one. As long as there’s no blood drawn and rolling you’re good. Barking, spitting air, nipping, humping, and chasing to some degree is normal.
Yesterday I got a new female chinchilla to be company for my current female chin. I've put them in the running pen with a fence between and they both have their own cages. I hope eventually they will get along. There was some similar behaviour to what happened in your video through the fence. Good to see it's not just my two chins, thanks. 🤣🤣
Have u thought about the smoosh method????? I have heard that dragging it out isn’t the best?
Hi, I bonded my two girls by 'confusing' them. I got this tip from a breeder.
After having their cages side by side for three weeks (every few days I would move the cages closer to each other), we took them out around 10 am (make sure it's in the morning, when they are kinda sleepy). And we put them both in the same carrier. My boyfriend put the carrier in the car and went for a little drive (up to 15 minutes, I believe). It's a confusing situation for them and if they have to endure it together, they will likely feel like they 'survived' together.
In the mean time I cleaned their cage, so it would have a neutral smell. After my boyfriend came back, we put the girls together in the clean cage. One of them was asserting dominance by jumping on the other, but that did not last long. The dominant one is the most social one and I felt like she longed for a sister.
And they loved each other ever since. 💜
Mine fought a lot during the beginning, and I didn’t do the proper bonding with cages, they now sleep together in the same house and will share the same Apple stick. It takes a bit and some fur slips but it will get there. The scariest part is when you put them in the same cage together for the first night
I'm wanting to do the same. And after watching your video, I'm having 2nd thoughts. I have heard that you need to put them in different rooms for a week, then side by side for 2 weeks. Then repeat it for 2 months. It's a lot if work. May I ask where did you buy the big cages from that they can go up and down levels?
It's a long process. It might take weeks. You're doing a lot of things right. It's easier when one is younger. It can happen eventually. Mine fought for a while, and now they cuddle and sleep together.
So interesting, I really enjoy it💕
Hello again! :)
When we brought home our new chinchilla the first one went crazy. When the little jumps around my first one destroys his cage and try to find out how to escape from the cage to get him... but not in positive way. One the other hand, when the little is covered in play pan and the first jumps around he does exactly same thing as Merlin, even worse. Long way ahead of us.
P.S. I read that bonding process is good to start when chinchillas are sleepy so during the day. They suppose to be little less agressive toward themselves.
Love
So I did this as a bonding method with my chinchillas at first too. My first chinchilla I had was being the aggressive one as well. I ended up using the smooshing method because I went to a FB Chinchilla Group and they told me that its the quickest way to get them bonded. I asked if it was safe even though my one was being a bit aggressive and they told me as long as it’s a small carrier they wouldn’t have room to fight. So that’s just what I did. It took me a couple times of leaving them in the carrier together for a couple hours and then letting them out to run around in a neutral area to let them cool off and to see if they are use to each other yet. I did this about 3 times. It took some time.
So how small of an area were they in? Like could they move around at all or only smooshed against each other with no extra room? 💕
I just putted my to next to each other in separate cages for 2 weeks but let them have playtime together to get used to each other and then after 2 weeks I putted them together in 1 new cleaned out cage with new toys and everything
Ok so I have a question for all you chinchilla owners with more than one chinchilla. I’m getting another standard grey chinchilla and I’m scared to get them mixed up. Any tips for telling them apart?
This looks all too familiar. I'm watching with great interest!
I think my chinchillas have similar personalities (one more dominant, one that is timid). They've been living side by side for a year. They mostly ignore each other, and they have had a few negative interactions. I stopped trying to introduce them for awhile. Now I'm trying cage inside a cage method, and the initial results are somewhat positive. It's allowing the timid one to approach the dominant one without fighting. I'm new at this though, wish I had better advice.
I was bonding my two chinchillas
And I was not being patient
So I put them in the same cage
And they Girl was fighting with the other chinchilla!
So I put them in different cages
And all night long they were just staring at each other
And I did that for a few days
And then I moved them in the same cage
And now they are mating
But right now I have 3 chinchillas (2boys 1girl)
Awwww This is so cute
I would introduce them a few times to each other until they start to calm down with each other then bring them out together for playtime in a neutral area.
I have 2 chinchillas and I’m just a child but I’m pretty sure to make chinchillas bond you should let them get used of each others scent by either putting them in each others cage or let them out at the same time with a barrier in between them but they can like still smell each other like icy holes in the barrier then after they get used to each others scent put them in a cage but I’m not too sure if this will work because my 2 chinchillas are brothers
I saw you say on Instagram you were taking the 1st steps towards bonding them!
Yup, this is the video about that😊
How much did you spend on their cages..? Just wondering Bc my chinchilla’s cage is all over the place... he poops everywhere too but I’ve seen a different RUclips with a chinchilla have like a metal box thing that their chinchilla poops in..
Fallen Angel The critter nation model 162 is about $250💕
I bonded my chinchillas by doing what you are everyday for a week
Keep introducing them gradually and they will hopefully get used to each other over time. Leaving their cages close was a good idea but it will just take time. Merlin is the main concern here for a couple reasons: he's far older and more used to living alone, and he's a grey. Grey chinchillas are often more aggressive towards other breeds. Our grey is a mean old b**** who was always the dominant chinchilla, since she had kids she just won't tolerate any others at all. Her personality is quite similar to Merlin from what I've seen with your vids. Just give it time and try it again, but realize going in it may just not work for them to live together. It'll really come down to if Merlin can establish dominance in a way without harming the other chin.
I was thinking of getting a chinchilla a week ago and I searched up a video on how to take care of them and since I've spent hours watching your videos every day on how to take care of them and what they can't have and Merlin is so adorable I want one just like him or zorro
I've been looking forward to this video since I saw the instagram post!!!!
I have the same cage you do and when I first started I had them in separate cages next to each other and then what I did was put them in the same cage but just blocked off the opening so they couldn’t reach the other levels. I kept one in the top and one in the bottom then after a day or so switched them. Then I had put them both in a carrier and went for a car ride that way they’re not so focused on fighting they’re just nervous and scared. After that they seemed fine they now both stay in the same cage together. And when they put their noses together like that it does look quite scary like they’re trying to bite but they’re actually just trying to groom each other which is what mine do all the time!
Kate Sounds like something I should try too. Thank you 😊
where did you get that cage and for how much
Hey, so my chinchilla was alone for about 10 years. I finally was able to buy him a friend a year ago. You know your chins best ofc so I'm not encouraging anything of what I have done but maybe my experience will help you. My new chin Bezik lived in small cage for about 3 weeks, then he moved on to live with Bobek. Three weeks, that's how long it took me to bond them. So for the first week, I let Bezik get used to the new place and at the same time Bobek was running around his cage every day. It started exactly the same as in your video, they were sniffing each other and trying to nib each other. The second week was running around free on a small neutral territory. And I noticed that Bobek was a lot less interested in him when they were running around together. During the second week was also when I would put them in the carrier together after their running (so that they would be tired) for at least an hour and just sit by them to watch if they are not hurting each other. They would try to nibble each other's ears but that's it. And the third week was when they were spending the days together in Bobek's cage and nights seperate. After week 3, they lived together full time. During all these weeks I tried to put Bezik in Bobek's cage as much as I can so the scents would mingle.
So now to tips:
- every day change the place they live, put Zorro in Merlin's cage and Merlin in Zorro's cage (scents will mix)
- everyday let them run around exactly as you did in the video; let them see each other through the bars first, you will see more and more calmness everyday (but sometimes it works the other way, chins get more violent if they can't get to the other one) BUT if you are putting only zorro in the carrier, try to give him an hour of running around beforehand ALSO Merlin could use a run around as well before, tired chins are less likely to fight
- then let them run around together for AT LEAST an hour a day
- when it comes to aggressive chins, high stress situations work wonders so put them in the carrier together (don't worry, usually chins don't fight in small spaces) and turn on the washing machine or put them outside or walk around with the carrier around the house. Stress makes them bond fast, they have the same enemy you could say
- overall small spaces are great as well, you could easily remove the aggressive chin if needed, they can't really chase each other and they are forced to interact with each other.
I never clicked so fast also first but I don’t mean in a bad way
I’m so happy your posting more!!!
KK Koala I’m happy to be back too!😊
Where do you get white chinchillas from?
I wish you so much luck!! I know you can do it!
Sooooo cute omg
Question is Zorro normally that white or is it the lighting bc I have a chinchilla that looks just like him (except she is a girl) and she is like kinda a darker color
I am pretty sure Zorro is a white mosaic or a white ebony chinchilla, that probably won’t answer your question but I think that they usually look that white with good lighting
I’m thinking maybe I did something wrong. My chinchillas always fought like this, but they were just establishing dominance. Now I have three that are all best friends. I think you should let them “fight”, but keep an eye out for lots of blood. If they bite an ear it will bleed, but that’s fine as long as you take care of it.
I've seen breeders use something called the smoosh method where you put them together in a very very small area where they can't really move much at all and it seems to work very well.maybe look that method up and see how exactly it's done.i know when I did my 6th bonding with my all female guinea pig herd it was so nerve racking.it took about 8 hours in there neutral area for the 5 others to bond with the new one.my himi hated the new peruvian at 1st but they worked it out.
Melinda Malone Thats what I’ll be trying next!💕
I have one chin who is way dominant and aggressive like merlin. The other one has anxiety and when I introduced her to a third chinchilla they got along decently well. I was able to put them in the same cage in a week or two and they do well together. The other one has her own cage lol. Maybe I'll try bonding her again someday but for now she's kinda a lone wolf.
Hi can you please post the link to your metal fence that you have too?
So glad they’re getting closer to bonding!!! Any reason you didn’t do the smoosh method? I did with all mine and had them bonded in a day. I only ever had two girls who were unbondable
Hi, I have a question, I have 2 chinchillas I've had them since 2020 March, I have a beige one who loves coming out of the cage but my grey one doesn't.. I don't know what to do, if I want to brush her she runs around in the cage
Elizabeth candleflight Chinchillas don’t need to be brushed, it could do more damage than good. Dust baths are sufficient for their fur care
Okay so I started the bonding process with my two females as well and one is 9 months and the other is about 4 years old and I expected the older one to try and show dominance but it was actually my baby one. I still haven’t fully let them hang out cause my little one need to chill
I got my first chin 3 months ago. I then got another chin 1 month ago. Im really bonded with my first one (Theo) but my other one (Gus) is a tougher sitiution. He makes a noise which the original person we got him from who was a breeder, (No he was not bred there he was from petsmart) said he was a talker meaning he made a noise that sounded like a short bark. And she was correct he did make that noise. In the video we saw of him he was really nice, but now that I have him he's nice but you touch it at the smallest, walk in on him while hes awake, He'll run back into his hut or spray you. He does come out a lot though and he doesnt just sit there. There is a more understanding reason for this though. His old owners were all under the age of probably 10 and didnt have proper care. I know that they didnt have proper care due to various reasons, obviously they were really young and Gus was most likely tramatized. After a month of his behaviour we notified the breeder and asked for something that could possibly help. She said that bonding my two chinchillas could get him out of his shell. So we did the best method as the "smoosh" method. (Also before we bonded them I let Theo out and he would stick his nose through Gus's cage bars they they had an introduction many times) The bonding didnt go so well and we only had them in there for about 10 minutes. We will be trying it again but if anybody has information that can help me in this situation that would be amazing, not only for me but for my chins!
When I got my 3rd chinchilla it took forever for my first 2 to get used to her. They started out being super aggressive to her and I couldn't let them out of their cages at the same time. It's been like 6 months and they're finally now starting to get along and be nice to each other. Mine also did that thing where it looks like they're sniffing/biting each other. I didn't really do anything special to get them bonded, it just took time.
M T Patience is definitely key with chinchillas! Thanks for sharing😊
My alpha one nipped the ears of the newer one at first and they squeaked loudly at times. After a while they slept against each other! I did like you ...2 cages near each other at first
💕💕
I'm not sure if it's too late for this but I highly recommend smooshing them instead of introducing them slowly - it's breeder recommended and has the highest success rate of pairing chins. I would look into it if you can! Facebook has a lot of breeder-run groups where they can answer any questions, and there are also resources online!
RDZ has a great post about this, here is a link (if it will show): www.rdzcranch.com/introductions.html?fbclid=IwAR1HBDX6ybfPxUoPl9QeBTIYFC-btJc38f9FppO9O0YoHiiXDy4lWrno5HA
i might be getting a chinchilla for christmas can you just do like a how to bond with your chin
They are so cute
This channel helps me so much!
Hallo im Slovakia RUclipsr ofc also chinchillas.. soo... My chinchillas came close to each other when we putted small cages close to each other they can see each other... Ofc they will not like each other from one minute to other just give them time 🤗🐭. Good luck 🤗 after tell if this worked on your chinchillas also.
I have a chinchilla named Chi Chi who recently broke her front paw but she's getting better and this video made me smile
Aww I’m glad she’s feeling better💕
I am trying not to cry
Merlin going crayzay and Zorro is more quiet and shy
Just gottah to say, thank you for all your chinchilla content! Im getting my cage and supplied next week. The next things ill need to purchase are fleece, water bottle, and then my Chinchillas. Ive been calling my local petstores I have here in Hawaii for their prices and colors of stock. Theyre pretty prices but ideally I want a pair that's been bonded and... different color in coats.
One of my local pet stores here has a white chin and a gray chin thats been bonded. However I wasnt ready for them yet. Wish me luck though.
Oh question, I've read... anywhere over 80 degrees is bad for chins. Here in hawaii our homes are usually around 83 to 84 degrees on a "good" day. Some of my friends have chins without AC here but have a fan blowing towards the cage. Is 83 to 84 pushing it?
I think it’s best to make sure your chinchillas are cool enough especially when you live in a hot area, in would recommend 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. 80 degrees is definitely going to be a bit hot for the chinchilla!
Hi I have been watching your channel for awhile now and I recently got chinchillas! A family of three and I was wondering if a two level crittter nation cage is big enough for them.
I have a three level for two chinchillas and I think that a two level is definitely a really tight space for three chinchillas, if you are able to get a bigger cage that’s what I think would be the best (of course I am no expert but I have done a ton of research)
I don’t understand when you say chinchillas shouldn’t be alone but when they are with other chinchillas they fight all the time my chinchilla is very happy by herself and I do spend a lot of time with her
I had a male chin and like a month later i got another male baby with its mom i kept mom and baby next to the other male and when the baby got too old to stay wit mom i put him in and they were fine but i did play time together a few times watching carefully and it went so good maybe my first male knew he was a baby i dunno?
Yes I am so happy and I am giving my chin play time now
I have 2 females and they still aren't bonded - Chunk (looks exactly like Merlin) is also extremely aggressive and mine does attack. She is so mean to poof and ive done everything you have been doing. Putting them in each others cages and what not.
Maby you should try the Box Method or put them both in this room without a cage, this "fences" can also produce aggressive feelings. But when you try this, do it with gloves, so that you can stop them without hurting yourself. You should always start in the morning cause they are tired than and when you do the box method leave them in there vor 6 to 7 hours, only when they are fine with each other. Otherwise imidiatly interrupt them. Bevor doing the VG you can change they dustbath every second da so that they smell like each other. And when the box method is going to work (do a smelling test bevor for only few seconds, in which you and another person hold them and only with the face to the back) when they are okay with the smelling test you can put them in and let them stay for 6 hours. Than in an empty rabbitcage (so not really big cage) with only food, water and new dustbath. Every morning when they were friendly in the night (you have to look a lot after them) you can do another washed /cleaned toy in there. Clean with Essig water.
Good luck so far.😊
And I forgot, this fence can also force frustration, so that they try to bite each other because they can't find out who the boss is.
Your chinchillas are so cute ❤️😁✌️
AHHH YAYY
first! as soon i saw the vid i clicked!
Is it ok if my chinchilla is with me In the room like his cage inside my room is that healthy or no
The Baddies yes that’s good that it’s in your room
@@ellieculver2740 thx so much my mom thinks its bad
I keep two chinchillas in two different cages in my room and ive never had any health problems from them.
@@vandelium OK thx
It is fine to have your chinchilla in your room it can actually help the 2 of you bond better as your chinchilla can hear you and get used to your presence and will help your chinchilla realise your not a threat and relax when your in the room and not panic so there’s a possibility they may become more friendly 😊
I’ve heard that the smoosh method works really well
Emily Inglesby Yup, I’m planning to try that next😊
My Boys have been raised together all their lives, they usually cuddle together every night, but now they're 10 years old and over the years they've been getting more and more aggressive with each other, especially at night. Right now it's so bad for the past couple days I had to lock Shade upstairs and Star downstairs, just so we can all get some sleep. It's like you say, Shade is the more aggressive one in my case. It seems to be the norm, I've always heard how hard it is to keep two boys together, and haven't really experienced it that bad til now. If I were to guess I think it's really just their personality, but I don't tolerate my boys fighting at all.
Jacob Bonner I’m sorry to hear that. See I’ve heard that chinchillas can fall out even years later. I guess it’s something I should be prepared for too🤷♀️💕
i love so much your videos