File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Dear /an/,
Recently, I helped re-home two chinchillas- that is, I took them in from a girl who didn't have enough time to spend with them anymore. That's just the start of my troubles.

Although I'd done a lot of research prior to bringing them into my home, there's still a lot I don't know about chinchillas, I'm sure, and still a lot left to know in general.

To start, both chinchillas are female, and being kept in a cage together. They don't seem to get along amazingly (picture is them from previous owner, I've never seen them do this yet D:), but this may just be the stress of the move. It's been two weeks now, but I'm still not sure whether they've settled in or not.

Both chinchillas come from pet stores. The bigger one was bought first by the previous owner, and has had a lot of human interaction- but I have a feeling she may be missing her previous owner, and therefor not inclined to bond with a new person.

The smaller one was in rough state when bought from the petstore- they were feeding her rabbit food, and she had no dust bath. She's come a long way, but she's still less inclined to human touch.

Both of them are eating and drinking- in fact, the bigger one drinks a LOT. Far more than I've heard of Chinchillas drinking.

Can you overfeed a chinchilla? I give both of them about a quarter of a cup of food a day (altogether), some timothy hay, and an alfafa block, as well as sometimes a treat.

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>> Anonymous
>How can I help these rehomed chinchillas adapt to me?

give them a bath then rush them outside in the winter snow
>> Anonymous
>>337220

>Although I'd done a lot of research prior to bringing them into my home

NICE TRY ANONYMOUS
>> Anonymous
Sounds like they're still stressed out from the move. I'd give them another week or so, and if they're still acting odd, enlist the aid of a vet.
>> Anonymous
>>337258

I'm not really sure what's "normal" for chins, though. :(
>> Anonymous
>>337271
what do you mean

give chinchillas a space to run around and just sit down and let them do their thing

like, go into your bathroom so they cant eat your computer wires and close the door. Then just sit down and let them have fun exploring (assuming you have a decent sized bathroom)

eventually they should investigate you and feel safe around you

and then throw them in the bathtub!
>> Anonymous
>>337276

yeah, I already do this! our bathroom isn't very big, but it lets them explore freely, at least. :X
>> Anonymous
>>337278
then just keep involving yourself in their day 2 day life and they will finally say "fine, I guess we have to deal with him"

but know that chinchillas that are paired up like each other more than they like their owner
>> Anonymous
>>337290

I'm not even sure they like each other, to be honest. They have little dominance spats still, and won't sleep in the same space.
>> Anonymous
they're cute.
>> Anonymous
OP, in the pic they're actually eating one another. So you've probably improved their behaviour.