Ganing
New Chinchilla Owner
Hey guys! This is my chin, Gabriel! He's quite a ladies man lol. I've had him for about a month now and I figured why not show him off a little and just brag on him cause... that's what chin lovers like to do right? :hmm:
When I first got him it was... upsetting. He was doing the whiny/chirping/barking noise that's so pitiful I didn't want to leave him for work but I had to and he seem to settle in within two days. Being my first chin I did quite a bit of research on chinchillas and how to to take care of them and bond. I was really into bonding with him as everyone is when they get them because you want them to love you right away! We took him out for playtime once around that first week, but after having to chase him around the bathroom in order to end playtime... I felt like we lost a whole lot more than we gained. So I wanted to find a better way. I recently found out his cage is light enough for me to pick up... or working at UPS has just made it feel like so now I pick it up and take it in there with me. Makes cleaning it so much easier cause I can clean it and watch him for play time!
Our development has skyrocketed through play time! He's grown to learn that we are friendly and not going to eat him. Although we cannot stroke him on his back, he totally accepts under the chin scratches. :thumbsup: Today I got him to do another milestone, climb up my arm and grab a treat! Before he wouldn't do it cause once the treat was an inch away from him he no longer cared about it. It was the cutest thing watching him eat it and perch on my arm.
I love this little furball, and these things... need to come with a warning sign that they are addicting.
Also one question! That hay rack I have right there... can anyone recommend something better? A lot of the hay gets wasted because it goes below where he can reach it through the bars...
When I first got him it was... upsetting. He was doing the whiny/chirping/barking noise that's so pitiful I didn't want to leave him for work but I had to and he seem to settle in within two days. Being my first chin I did quite a bit of research on chinchillas and how to to take care of them and bond. I was really into bonding with him as everyone is when they get them because you want them to love you right away! We took him out for playtime once around that first week, but after having to chase him around the bathroom in order to end playtime... I felt like we lost a whole lot more than we gained. So I wanted to find a better way. I recently found out his cage is light enough for me to pick up... or working at UPS has just made it feel like so now I pick it up and take it in there with me. Makes cleaning it so much easier cause I can clean it and watch him for play time!
Our development has skyrocketed through play time! He's grown to learn that we are friendly and not going to eat him. Although we cannot stroke him on his back, he totally accepts under the chin scratches. :thumbsup: Today I got him to do another milestone, climb up my arm and grab a treat! Before he wouldn't do it cause once the treat was an inch away from him he no longer cared about it. It was the cutest thing watching him eat it and perch on my arm.
I love this little furball, and these things... need to come with a warning sign that they are addicting.
Also one question! That hay rack I have right there... can anyone recommend something better? A lot of the hay gets wasted because it goes below where he can reach it through the bars...