How Can I Tame My Pet Chinchillas and How Long Does It Take?
I've recently bought two pet chinchillas, they are adorable. I'd like to try and tame them. They are allowed out to run around for at least two hours every night but getting them back in their cage is a bit of a nightmare. How do you do about taming a chinchilla and how long should it take before they trust me enough to allow me to pick them up and put them back in the cage?
connie_J answered:
I have two chinchillas too, they are about a year old now. I find the best way is when you are letting them out, lie on the floor in their play area, and don't run after them. Instead, let them come to you and sit on you... even if that means on your forehead!
Once they are happy with that try sitting in the middle of the floor with your hands on the floor for a while until they start to ignore them. Then try stroking them.
Once you've got that far... just lift them. Get your chinchilla by the base of its tail and lift. You won't break them its the strongest muscle in their body and they may not like it, but it doesn't hurt them.
Editor's Note: A lot of chinchilla owners breeders recommend AGAINST holding a chinchilla by its tail. Even if some people have been successful, it's probably best to hold your chinchilla using other techniques that are much less likely to cause harm.
They may panic a little at first, but just hold them for maybe a minute, let them see that you aren't going to hurt them, just try and give them a treat and stroke them, then let them down to play again and try it again some other night. Eventually this should get you used to catching them and it will be an easier job to get them back into their cage.
It will be different with each chinchilla. Make sure you talk to them, and be positive. Chinchillas ears are almost as sensitive to vocal tone as humans are... so its important to them.
I also find constant music on in the background helps, it means any sudden movements or noises (like sneezing) won't bother them as much.
lisa answered:
I'd feed them treats while in their cage so they get used to hands being a "good" thing, eventually they will allow you to pick them up. I've had one in the past & they absolutely love raisins, chopped apple & crispy lettuce.
B N answered:
I wouldn't say you could tame them as due to their being prey animals they have a tendency to be a little skittish. But you can socialize them. I would recommend shorter playtimes as chinchilla's are prone to heat exhaustion causing seizures and possibly death.
Treats should be limited, but you can use apple sticks or other pumice stones or rosehip. You can give occasionally a cheerio or shredded wheat (unfrosted). Raisins are not the best treat as the sugar in them can cause digestive/gut issues. Chinchilla's under 6 months old should not get treats these kinds of treats. To get them back in the cage offer the dust bath and transport them to the cage in it. I have built a pine piece that I place in front of the cage so they can go in on their own. I place the dust bath in the cage and in they go to take a bath.
As to picking them up and holding them it's a patience thing, place your hand in the cage let them smell and even nibble (do not react if you can) then start by placing a goody in your hand so they can get comfortable with standing on you then progress farther up your arm so they are comfortable climbing on you. I have one that will climb on my hands and let me hold him the other it's a challenge to even give her a scratch goodnight. But to catch my tough one (for transport to the vet or to do a hair ring check) I use a dust house again but little dust in it or a piece of PVC. You can also during playtime sit very still and offer apple twigs, grapevines, or other wood chews to get them used to movements. Also just sit and talk to them while they are in the cage. One suggestion never feed treats through the cage wires, this can get someone bitten unexpectedly as they think it is a treat.
Ok I don't know who said hold them by their tail but give up your chinchillas if you do that you shouldn't own them until you learn how to handle them. Second, two hours is WAY to long trust me I have had to find out the hard way. Chinchillas need a schedule. Let them out at the sametime everyday set a timer and put them up at the sametime. After a few days, maybe a week they will begin to try and get into the cage by themselves and once they get in there they will sleep for a few hours. Ours do like to play little games if we get up to put them up. Running in circles and making us Chase them but never far from the cage.
I have two Chinchillas, and one thing I have learned the hard way is you should never let ur chinchilla run around for more then 45 mins. If you do the can become exhausted and/or dehydrated. One of my chinchillas actually had a stroke, thankfully we got to the vet in time and they nursed her back to heath, but the vet said the stroke was caused by exhaustion because they were out running for too long. As for picking them up by the tail i wouldn't do it Because like some have said before they can detach their tails and they won't grow back. My aunt had a chinchilla when i was little and she accidently grabbed his tail and he detached it. About a week or so after that happened he died because his tail got infected.
My suggestion is to let your chins out the same time every night and put them back the same time every night. After a while they will learn the schedule. I'm not going to guarantee it will work, but it works for my chinchillas.
I love my chinchilla, I am researching on how to train and handle him. The first thing I do when I get home from work is pet my cat, Allee talk to her while I give her treats. She greets me at the door every time I go out, she thinks she's a dog.
I then go to Chico, my chinchilla. I talk to him and pet him through the cage and after a little chit-chat I open his cage and pet him some more. Sometimes he gets nervous. I walk away leaving his cage opened and this is when the fun starts. He'll come out and run around, while Allee watches. She also thinks she's his mother. Then they'll play together -- Allee is a very calm cat and is declawed. Then it's hide and sit for awhile. Chico hides and Allee sits. It is so cute watching them. This is usually for about 45 minutes. When Chico is tired he will go back into his cage by himself and take a nap. That's when I close his cage. When it's lights out I put on his little night lite and pet him good night. Allee is thrilled cause she gets to sleep on my bed. All is good!
hey jamie i was wondering i can get my chinchilla to come out to me he loves to run around and never bites (except when its in his cage???) why is that....... (i can hold him for like 10 mins and hes fine and he craws up and gives me a kiss on my nose outside of my cage) and when i put him back in he to do his thing hes fine.... then he come over to the cage door and i start to pet him..... hes ok with it and then he bites but only when i put my finger threw the cage or when i pet him threw the wire
Janet: What you need to know is that with a singular chinchilla, they will depend on you for companionship. So if you don't have time to pet them, scratch them, play with them, and give them dustbaths, a companion is a good thing. However, it is best to get one while they are both young, so it will be easier to bond them. If you got her from a breeder of even a petstore, you could try contacting him/her to see if any of her littermates are still available.
First of all, yes, holding by the tail is HORRIBLE, not just because of the physical discomfort to the chinchilla. I wouldn't even let them go running so soon. You should take them out and just hold them, so when they come out it's because they want to be with you, not because they just want to be free. Another way to help your chinchillas trust you is while they are in their cage, just pet them. You can start by stroking between their ears, and move to scratching behind their ears. Work your way around the side of the head under the chin. If you can find the right spot, chinchillas LOVE to be scratched underneath the chin! Anyways, once they trust you you should be able to pick them up while they are running. Wait until they stop on or near you, and start petting them. Then you can pick them up one of two ways: 1. Put your thumb underneath their forearms and the rest of the fingers on the base of their neck. With the other hand, scoop up their butt. 2. Lift them with one hand on each side, supporting their butt.
I have read these responses and it worries me that someone may actually follow some of this advice.
You NEVER hold a chinchilla by the tail. The tail can easily be broken off and its very very stressful to a chinchilla. Though you may seem people that show their chinchillas do this, and sometimes breeders ,.these are often the same people that raise chinchillas for fur. Do NOT pick a chinchilla up by the tail. Instead pick them up gently , more like you would a fragile puppy, supporting their bodies. Chinchillas are prey animals..they need to trust you. They are notihng like rats and mice. Their whole physical strcuture is different.
If you want information given by nearly 2000 polite, experienced chinchilla (and other animal) guardians ..please join our free forum Luckys Wonder of Chinchillas. I am a proud co owner there and we are always happy to help in any way we can. We do not talk about breeding on our forum.
Thank you
Jamie Glaser
Hi we just got a chinchilla she is 3 months old is she ok alone or should we get another one so she won't be lonely