VikiH
Well-known member
Hi,
So I recently got a new chin (Charles) to have as a potential cage mate for my single male, I got a larger male of around the same age because he was nice and calm so we thought he might calm our little nutter down (Dworkin is quite hyper). They seemed to want to scrap through the bars of their cages at first but gave up and eventually started sitting and sleeping next to each other (well, as near as possible since they're in separate cages). So me and my partner decided it was time to let them meet each other during a play time session. We got lots of boxes for them to use as hide-holes so they felt comfortable, everything seemed to be fine and we were really enjoying having Charles out for the first time, but Dworkin just got really terrotorial and jumped on Charles' back and started scrapping - which was awful.
Charles is quite a bit bigger (around 50%) than Dworkin, but just wouldn't fight back! If Dworkin came from the front Charles would stand up on his feet and squeak at him, and Dworkin would run off but the minute he jumped on Charles from behind, that was it - Charles would stiffen up like a board. I'm not saying I want them to scrap, but I do want them to get whatever the issue is out of their systems - fairly. Only Charles was visibly affected by the scrapping (he had a few fur slips before my partner could get him and calm him down). We were fine watching them sit up and have a go at each other and snap a bit but the physical fighting was distressing to watch.
Am I just being a wuss? Is this normal? The chinchilla guide I have says not to separate scrapping chins and let them get it out of their system but if Charles isn't defending himself I can't let him sit there and do nothing, I don't want either of my babies hurt. I also want them to bond quickly so don't want to interrupt any of the process they need.
Is it best to be in a completely nuetral room with nuetral toys?
Any help would be great, I really want the pair to bond because I feel like Dworkin has a better quality of life now he has a friend - he seems so much happier in his cage now he can see and smell another chin. He's much more playful.
Thanks guys
p.s. Will post pics of super cute new chin Charles when I can
So I recently got a new chin (Charles) to have as a potential cage mate for my single male, I got a larger male of around the same age because he was nice and calm so we thought he might calm our little nutter down (Dworkin is quite hyper). They seemed to want to scrap through the bars of their cages at first but gave up and eventually started sitting and sleeping next to each other (well, as near as possible since they're in separate cages). So me and my partner decided it was time to let them meet each other during a play time session. We got lots of boxes for them to use as hide-holes so they felt comfortable, everything seemed to be fine and we were really enjoying having Charles out for the first time, but Dworkin just got really terrotorial and jumped on Charles' back and started scrapping - which was awful.
Charles is quite a bit bigger (around 50%) than Dworkin, but just wouldn't fight back! If Dworkin came from the front Charles would stand up on his feet and squeak at him, and Dworkin would run off but the minute he jumped on Charles from behind, that was it - Charles would stiffen up like a board. I'm not saying I want them to scrap, but I do want them to get whatever the issue is out of their systems - fairly. Only Charles was visibly affected by the scrapping (he had a few fur slips before my partner could get him and calm him down). We were fine watching them sit up and have a go at each other and snap a bit but the physical fighting was distressing to watch.
Am I just being a wuss? Is this normal? The chinchilla guide I have says not to separate scrapping chins and let them get it out of their system but if Charles isn't defending himself I can't let him sit there and do nothing, I don't want either of my babies hurt. I also want them to bond quickly so don't want to interrupt any of the process they need.
Is it best to be in a completely nuetral room with nuetral toys?
Any help would be great, I really want the pair to bond because I feel like Dworkin has a better quality of life now he has a friend - he seems so much happier in his cage now he can see and smell another chin. He's much more playful.
Thanks guys
p.s. Will post pics of super cute new chin Charles when I can