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.
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| Curious little fella |
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!
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| Cautious beige chinchilla |
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| 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.
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| 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!!
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| 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!
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