How long did it take for your Chinchilla to trust you?

Question

I just got two Chinchillas yesterday.

The older one lets me pet her most of the time but the little on still runs from my hand although today, I was able to pet her. The little on is about 4-5 months old.

So how long did it take your Chinchilla to let you touch/hold it?

Answer 1

Look at things from your new babies piont of view. They are in a new home with new smells and this giant keeps poking in a huge hand. Seems pretty scary. Just go slowly, let them get used to the surroundings and to you and soon they will run to greet you.

Answer 2

I also have two chinchillas. My first one was coming up to me the first day I brought him home, he wasn't shy at all. My second one (he came two months after the first one) was the exact opposite. He was super shy and I could tell from the way he was acting that he was also very stressed from the change of home. The nervousness wore off after a couple days, but he didn't start to truly trust me until at least a couple months after I brought him home. I'd sit or lay very still on the floor and he'd come close, but as soon as I'd try to reach my hand out to him, he'd run away. Now, he's less shy than my other one and is always the first one to come out of his cage and greet me.

The trust issue will vary from chin to chin. A lot of it has to do with how much they were handled and how well they were handled before coming to you. Also, chins are just naturally shy critters, some more so than others. Give the little one some time to adjust to her new home. She's most likely very stressed from the change and it's just hitting her harder than the other one. If she's not ready to be held and petted by you, then don't force yourself on her, it will just cause the trust process to take longer. Offer her treats (not too many though!) from your hand and speak to her softly. Once she gets used to her new home and starts to realize good things come from your hands, I'm sure she'll start coming to you and allow you to pet her, maybe even hold her (keep in mind though, some chins just don't care to be held).