Is my chin stressed or mad at me? - Paw Talk

pitapocket · #1 10-10-2009, 10:39 PM

Usually I let my little chinchilla, Lupita, out of her cage when she wakes up, around 5:30, and I let her run around all evening, or as long as I am home. Sometimes it can be 1 hour, and sometimes it can be 4. The other day, I was studying for a class of mine, and she didn't get let out until around midnight. I have gone without letting her out this late before, but I have not for a few weeks until this time.

When I came home at midnight, she didn't want to come out of her cage, and she was just frozen in one place until I went to sleep. She was responsive, but she didn't move much, and it took me about two tries to get her to eat a raisin - she never turns down a raisin!

The next day, she was completely fine, she came out of her cage, but she didn't jump on my lap as much as she usually does. It took her about 2 days to act normal around me again.

Tonight, I didn't let her out until 9 because I was out running errands, and she is doing just about the same thing she did the other night, except this time, she barked at me a little bit. She is responsive, but she seems to just sit in the same place mostly, not doing much activity. She looks around a little bit, and eats a little bit, and sniffs, but she will be frozen for up to a couple minutes at a time.

Is she getting stressed, or mad at me when she is not being let out at the exact same time every day? Is she lonely? I have only had her for about 2 months, and I am considering getting her another little chinchilla friend, but I am not sure if this would stress her out even more, or make her upset with me for putting another chinchilla in her cage.

pitapocket · #2 10-10-2009, 10:40 PM

She comes to the door of the cage, and will put her hands on it and look out, but she won't come out.

alfie · #3 10-11-2009, 09:06 AM

in my experience introducing unrelated chinchillas is difficult and I was only able to do so after about a year. I know other people have had a much easier time of it. Its best if you're going to get another to get a young one and definately read about introduction processes ALOT before you try it. Otherwise you could end up with one or more severely stressed, injured, or even dead chinchillas. And please introduce another female, not a male because breeding is complicated and dangerous if you aren't aware of all the issues that could arise.

She may be stressed. They are creatures of habit, and when their schedule is mixed up, they sometimes act differently. I would watch to make sure she is only acting like this on the night you let her out late and not all the time because it may be a sign there is something wrong, or that she is in pain.

pitapocket · #4 10-11-2009, 07:03 PM

I tried to let her out at the same time again today, and she did the same thing. At about midnight is when she starts to act more like herself again. But it is weird to me that lately she is not being active until late. Could she be mad at me, and holding a grudge?

alfie · #5 10-12-2009, 06:47 PM

she could be just adjusting her sleeping pattern to fit your schedule. that would be what I expect.

Chinchi · #6 10-12-2009, 11:26 PM

They can actually get "mad" at you yes, but it's usually only for a few days.

How old is your chin?
When they are about 8-10 months old, they get into this "teenage face" and can be very werid or annoying. It kinda sounds like that, but it depends on her age.

If you want another chin, you need to start them out in two seperate cages. And it's not sure they'll like each other, but there's a good chance. You just need to read up on introducing chins