Hi. I realised, I have spoken about my other pets on the forum but never my Chinchillas.

We got the two oldest (at the time we thought they were both female) from someone who brought them from a (bad) breeder for her brother and her brother lost interest. We have no idea how old they are and they both have dodgey ears, on Nibbler one of his ears is smaller and thicker than the other and on Brooke one of her ears is the shape of mickey mouse.

So we got them, then a couple of months later, they had a baby. Unfortunetly it died (the vet said from dehydration or something), we were clueless about chinchillas and thought, because Brooke kept barking at Nibbler that we had a few days before to get a new cage and seperate them, we were idiots, and 111 days later...the three babies were born so we seperated Nibbler, two girls and a boy, once they were weaned we rehomed the boy with one of my boyfriends, mums, friend who already had a male and a big cage.

So we kept the girls, got Nibbler neutered and fixed the cages together. Now they are all happy together always cuddle up together, sometimes sleeping on top of eachother (Nibbler was pining when he wasn't with Brooke, he looked so miserable ). So here are some pictures....


^ The cage they are in, do you think it's big enough, do you suggest I get them more toys or anything ? I know they need another nesting box, am planning on getting one today.


^Mummy Brooke (on shelf), Daddy and the babies (we really need to think of some name) in the nesting box.


^ One of the babies, it is impossible to tell them apart.


^Brooke looking very, very grumpy !


^ Mummy Brooke and Baby !


^ Baby looking very cute !

As you'll notice, the babies ears are fine, considering the parents and the fact we don't know if the parents are related, it's a blessing they are ok really !

Now I need some advice. Because of their background, Brooke and Nibbler aren't very friendly, if you try to pick them up they bark and get really stressed, and although we tried to handle the babies as much as we could, feeding them out of our hands ect, they are the same.

They have never bitten but we don't want to handle them and stress them out too much. How can we make them trust us a bit more ?

We really love them and don't want them to be stressed.

We let them have a run around in the room they are in (which is all secure and safe, no wires or anything dangerous like that) supervised for about an hour a day, but when it comes to the time to get back into the cage, we need to catch them and that just stresses them out and I hate seeing them stressed, bless them. What can we do ?!?!

Many thanks for any help you can give me ! We really love them and really want them to trust us. We have done so much research, books, internet, ect.

Thanks !

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I cant see the pics.

I uploaded them on ImageShack and they didn't work so I've tried PhotoBucket...do they work now ?

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yep they are adorable.. I don't know anything about them so I can't offer any advice, but they are lovely.

The cage size is fine. I would look at getting them a wheel - one of these is ideal rather than a plastic one which they would chew to pieces. I don't like the look of the hammocks though as a chinchilla could so easily get a leg trapped in those. Try Hammocky Hammocks instead for something more suitable. There is also the Fuzzbutts site as well.

With your sandbath, just put it in for an hour every couple of days or so and take it out again. That will stop it being used as a toilet which could encourage disease. They do not need hay on the bottom uner the wire floor either, newspaper is quicker and easier to keep replacing and won't harbour mites and bacteria as much as hay underfoot will.

Some chins like to be handled and others don't. I have one who hates it. I worked on him for a long time by making a deal with him. If I get to touch his back, he gets a daily titbit. He won't come for fuss but at least he does not have a screeching fit anymore when I have to catch him. I do not handle him unless neccessary though. I cannot make him like handling so why stress him out? I have been able to take him to a vet and he did accept examination though.

To catch chins without stressing them when you have allowed them free play in the room, get a 'Chube' or a piece of cardboard carpet inner tube (many carpet shops will let you have those for free as they only have to pay to dispose of them and they make great toys for them to play in and chew up) and place it on the floor. Persuade the chin into it, pick it up and gently tip chin into cage or put the pice of tube in anyway! Chins love to chew stuff up so plain cardboard and toilet roll tubes etc are much appreciated, the latter can be stuffed with hay for them.

Brilliant ! So much help ! Thank you so much !
I'm now looking at the sites in order to get them a wheel and some hammocks !

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OOh there lovely!...

Its one thing i would love to own... but mybe one day..

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R.I.P ...Mesha xx Never Forget you xx
I will be back! i need to fight the BIG "C" atm!

So cute...lovely pics.

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Will deffo take more pictures when they have a wheel and stuff.
Thanks so much for all your help.
They are actully around my boyfriends house but I stay here a few nights a week.

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