How do I get this chinchilla to stop being so paranoid and let me hold her?

Question

I got this chinchilla almost a week ago and it's like paranoid of me. I understand she's nervous and everything, but she contradicts herself.

When I walk in the room, she comes up to the door and looks at me like she wants attention. She won't let me pet her really, but she wants out of her cage.

I figured she'd tame up a little more once she was introduced to my other chinchilla. As an exercise, I put her in his cage for 15 minutes while the other chin was in her cage. Everything went great! They went in each other's dust bathes, hoped around the cage, sniffed things, etc, but chaos broke loose when I had to switch them back. Kai had no intention of getting out of the roomy cage Titus has and going back to her cage. Instead, she jumped out of my way and onto the floor.

The previous owner said she was okay with being handled, but she clearly wasn't.

When I went to pick her up, she lost a massive clump of hair. Not just in one spot, but like all over. I'd never seen a chin loose so much hair!! I'm a little concerned about the hair loss, but I'm sure she'll be fine. While it was a lot, no skin is showing. After she was in the cage, she let me pet her and came right back up to the door, but I was afraid to do anything but pull the loose hair from her for fear she might jump out again.

I've been trying the whole hand and raisin thing, but that's not been going so well. She's over a year old, so she's long. She easily puts her front paws on me and her back hind toes on me, grabs the treat and runs away.

She jumps out of her cage and into the ball when I offer it to her. They don't really run in the ball much. I just use it as a carrier for her to get her into the bathroom where she can run around. There, she freely runs about and hops my legs and crawls on me, but she won't let me pet her again. I'm afraid if I continue trying to hold her, I'll own the world's first naked chinchilla.

Again, she's not exactly young young. She's 1.5 years old and never been re-homed before. I'm sure this is all very stressful for her, but I can't help but think she wouldn't be this bad. When I got Titus, he was very trusting and is now very tame. I just want to get Kai to the point where I can hold her and play with her rather than worry about her jumping out of her cage and not being able to catch her.

Help!???

Feel free to email me if you would like to give me tips on introducing them as well as help with this question. (:

Answer 1

just give her time and chill.  You need to act confident and let them know your their protecter, but do it without being harsh.  Make slow movement around them and tap slightly the areas they are around so its not a surprise to her when you come and talk sweet, it sounds stupid but it works and give her food too while you do it.  give her more time

good luck! =)

Answer 2

Well, like any other chinchilla, it probably is scared. About the loosing hair thing, it COULD be due to stress, or she runs around her cage and hits things with her side; loosening the fur. I know that taming a chinchilla may be hard sometimes, but I think that the more time you spend with her, the more she will trust you instead of being scared of you. Try SLOWLY. Just start with introducing your hands as the food givers and such. While it isn't looking, take it's bowl of food out, then put some of her favorites in your hand and stay STILL!!! She should be fine eating there.

Once she is used to that, I think that you should transport her to the bathroom like you usually do, then let her crawl around. If she feels comfortable with your hands in the cage, why not on her back. When she is resting/eating, there is your chance! Try giving her some food while in the bathroom. Gently stroke her back without any pushing down whatsoever.

She should be fine with it. I think that if you do this as a daily schedule, she'll get used to it. If she doesn't, I am so sorry that I can't help you there. Try introducing new places other than the bathroom when she is comfortable being in your hands/arms. Good luck!

Answer 3

Hey there! Good to hear your introduction is well on its way.



To me, it all sounds very normal. Despite the fact that she is supposed to be good with handling, she is clearly still under high stress. Not only has she only known you for a week (which is no time for her to warm up), but she is now being placed into strange cages and meeting new chins. It all mustbe overwhelming. When she jumped on the floor, it sounded like she felt like you were goign to "get" her, so she got desperate to escape. But she wouldn't jump out by choice, it was an act of panic. Chins are really timid and fearful animals afterall. She could take as much as a couple more weeks to fully warm up to you, but until then, you might be scaring her. Stil keep up with handling and touching her so she does get used to you quicker.

The hairloss occurs when chins are stressed or attacked. Which is understandable since she was frightened, and oyu might have moved in too fast for her liking or something. She should be fine though.

Since she looks at you when you walk in the room, this is a fantastic sign! So is her climbing over your legs. It shows some bravery and socialization. But take it slowly. Don't assume you can start handling her reguarily right away. She is curious about you, but still unsure. So start slowly with offering treats, touching her slightly, etc. Since she is larger, you can place the treat on your arm, or shoulder or something. Postion yourself in a way that she would have to climb on you fully.

And age really isn't important. Perhap she was not handled daily in her previous home, so she isn't quite liking it now? Whatever the case, all the signs are good. Keep it up, and give her some more time to adjust. Just see how much better she is in a week :)