[chinchilliday]

My chinchilla that I have had for years (8 years now), started barbering. I thought maybe it was because when I had her at my parents house, she did it because of the warmer temperature of the house. But now that I have her back at my new place, she is still doing it - and has started barbering her mate as well. I took her to a vet and they just said "barbering" and gave me no advice on what to do. She has plenty of toys, gets lots of play time, and is well fed- but recently she has also been picking through her food (she will only eat the seedy stalks of her hay). Can anyone give me some advice on what to do? I googles chinchilla barbering, and all I found was breeders and chinchilla farm people talking about how they disown them and do not tolerate barbering. I am open to any advice!!! Thanks!!

 

[chinchilliday]

Well, the vet said it wasnt a fungus... and he specifically called it barbering. Alot of stuff I have read is controversal about it being genetic (getting it from the parent, or passing it on to young) but she is 8 years old... and just started it this summer. So I feel like if it was inherient... she would have started a long time ago. I am thinking its just something situational... but I don't know what.

 

[chinchilliday]

And she is doing it to her mate... and I don't want him to get butchered too (haha).. but I would hate to seperate them because they are a truely bonded pair

 

[chinchilliday]

Where can I get a fungus treatment? (or do I have to go back to the vet?)

And I have actually give my chinchillas cuttle bones in the past as a Calcium boost, and I have done the vitamin drops in their water to cover the rest of the mineral spectrum. However... I may not do the cuttle bones often enough. How much of one and how often should I give the cuttle bone to her?

Thanks for all the ideas; I agree with the barbering too. I don't see how it can be gentic - I think its learned behavior. I have had my fair share of genetics classes and research, as well as animal behavior. I hate it when people blame their inability to take care of an animal on genetics... lol.

Thanks again

 

[chinchilliday]

I am from the east coast in the US. I will try some online stores; usually I get most of my stuff from a local feed store, and major petstores. I do use an online store for my sugar glider stuff - I'll check their chinchilla section and see if they have anything. And thanks for the tip about the drops! They do go through water fast... but not that fast!!