Names!

After spending the last 5 days stressing over names for these little fellas, I made the decision to go back to my original ideas. The ones I thought of when only looking at their photos on the breeder's webpage. However, I am switching them!  So I introduce you to Cosmo (White Mosaic) and Triton (beige/tan)!

Settling in! First few days.

Brought home my 2 little boy chinchillas and I couldn't be happier. The little White Mosaic guy was curious right away. He spent some time exploring the cage and working his way up to the top.  He was curious about me but a little skittish.  The brown guy was much more shy. He spent the first while exploring the bottom of the cage, but I left the room for awhile and came back to find him at the top in one of the huts!

I had done research about bonding with the chinchillas so I knew I had to take it on their time.  I mostly left them alone the first day. I let them sleep and explore on their own. That night I went in and the brown guy was MAD.  If I got anywhere near him he would bark at me.  So I knew I had to leave him be. The white guy took a treat from my flat hand just fine but then would scamper away with it to hide.  That night I held my face to the cage  with my eyes closed and let the white guy sniff me. I was surprised he did. As soon as I opened my eyes he ran away.

Curious little fella

The next morning I cleaned the cage a little after their night party and let them be. I'll go into my cleaning process another time.  The whole time the little white mosaic guy was curiously and cautiously watching me clean.  The beige (brown) one hid in the hut the whole time chirping at me if I got close.  I gave the white one a rosehip treat and slid one up to the beige guy - he barked at me when I got to close.

I spent some time reading and writing in that room during the day so they'd get used to my smell and presence.  They'd randomly come to the cage door to check me out.  But I was quiet and pretty  much ignored them.

That evening I went in to socialize with them.  I slowly opened the door and offered a rosehip to the white mosaic.  He hopped right into my hands, climbed up my arms and sniffed my face.  I was able to snuggle him into my chest for a moment and offered my curious daughter to touch their fur to see how soft.  I held him till he got antsy and then put him back in.  I was SO excited to have made such great progress with him!   I gave him  a dust bath which he seemed to really enjoy. I offered one to the beige one but he wasn't having it.

The little beige guy continued to hide only coming out if the room was clear.  But I was able to slide a treat up, carefully onto the shelf and he didn't bark at me!  So much progress again!  I think he was beginning to realize my hand = treats!

Cautious beige chinchilla

Cheerio Eating White Mosaic

On day 3 I went through the same cleaning process in the morning.  I do this quietly and stay away from where they are so as not to freak them out too much.  If they wake up I will offer them a piece of hay by hand as a peace offering.  In the afternoon I was showing a good friend my new little buddies and offered them each a cheerio (not the best treat choice because they are still so young). The white guy came running for his treat. I held the treat up for the brown guy in my flat hand and to my surprise he peeked his head out and put his 2 front paws on my hand, sniffed the treat and tasted my finger/nail.  It took everything I had not to jump up and down in joy.  That is some SERIOUS progress less than 48 hour in!



That night (last night) I spent some time talking into the cage. The white mosaic guy was all over the place trying to get to me.  So I opened the cage and put my hands in. He climbed right on and I snuggled him in to my chest and placed him on my bed.  He ran around for about 15 minutes exploring, even in a thunder storm!  I had fun watching him and periodically he'd turn around and look for me.  I didn't try to bring the brown guy out as he isn't ready yet. Hopefully soon.

First play time for white mosaic

I'm excited that the white mosaic one has come around so quickly.  I didn't anticipate that happening, I expected what the beige one is doing to be both of them.

Tonight I will offer them both treats by hand, bring out the white guy on my bed to play a bit and offer the beige guy a dust bath.

Sleeping adorableness!!

Sleepy White Mosaic

NAMES
Originally after only seeing photos, I planned to name them Apollo (brown) and Triton (white mosaic). But after seeing them I had decided those names don't really fit.  I spent the entire 3 days since I've gotten them coming up with new  names which none have stuck.  I came up with an idea today for names and if they stick through tonight I'll introduce them tomorrow!

Getting Chinchillas again!

About 10 years ago we had 2 chinchillas. Both came from Petsmart. First we had Joey. He was sweet, friendly and curious. We had bought a wire ferret cage from Petsmart and all the basic necessities.  I didn't do much research and wish I had since the cage was FILLED with plastic parts and I'm sure we did some dangerous things - like giving multiple banana chips every day.  Soon after that we wanted a buddy for Joey, so we went to Petsmart and found a friend.  In the store my husband and I both got bit by this chinchilla and I knew that he would never be adopted if he was a biter. So I took him home and figured if he wanted to just live in the cage forever than that was ok!  I wish I had known that it is possible to make them tame again.  Anyway because he was a biter we named him Lector.   Sadly a few years later Lector escaped the cage and went under our tub in our bathroom. We never saw him again.  A while after that we found Joey at the bottom of the cage, he had died too.  Neither chin lived much more than a few years.  They are supposed to live 10-20!  I don't know if it was something I did wrong - too many treats, plastic, stress, or something else.  But for both I felt terrible.

A few weeks back a meme had me giggling and wanting to try again. This time I joined some chinchilla owner groups on facebook and did some research, A LOT of research!  I was going to be prepared this time!  It took me a few days to convince my husband that we should do it again.  I had to have a plan because chinchillas are not good pets for small children, and we have 3!  I had to figure out how these would be MY pets not the kids'.

Our house is naturally noisy, so I had to find the quietest room, which happens to be my bedroom.  Our room is small so I had to find a spot - which I finally did!   I found the closest breeder - which was about an hour and 20 minutes away from me and picked out which 2 chinchillas I would get. Luckily they were already buddies so I didn't have to worry about that!

This time I wanted to design a cage and build it myself. This way it would be to my specifications and needs as well as theirs.  After some research I learned that it needed to be made out of Kiln Dried pine boards only.  So after 5 days of designing and double checking I was ready to begin.  I went to Menards and got what I would need.  Or most of it.  I began building.

I made 6 trips to Menards in 5 days for parts that I didn't realize I'd need. I had some help from my brother with the doors and on day 6 he came and helped me build a stand.    I am SO proud of this project. I've never designed or built anything like this!  I still can't believe my design actually worked out and that it actually looks pretty good!

I spent a few days gathering more information, a feeding plan and everything I would need or need to know.  I got a flying saucer wheel that they won't be able to use until they are 6 months old, and unfortunately it is plastic so if I'm letting them use it unattended I'll have to replace it with metal. Feeding dishes, hay dish (also have one built into the cage), chew toys, pine bedding and a litter box (originally I got a plastic one and changed it out for a glass baking dish right away), I got plain cheerios as a treat and bought a treat bag from Petsmart that I've picked out the pieces that are ok for the chinchillas to have. I got fleece material to line the bottom of the cage and their little houses.  I got dust bath and have chosen a $6 goldfish bowl as a bathhouse instead of the $20 one at the store.

The following Monday I got these 2 guys!! It was a long day driving an hour and a half each way, but  look how cute!!! They only 4 and 5 months old!

Ignore the plastic litter box, I replaced it within a couple hours with none plastic.