How do I punish a chinchilla with a violent streak?

Question

I have two chinchillas who are brothers and have always shared the same cage. They are currently 21 months old, and they have begun fighting regularly. Everything I am finding online suggests separating them until wounds have healed, and then reintroducing them to each other. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to do that? Plus, how do I punish the chinchilla who has become violent towards the other?

Answer 1

NEVER SPRAY YOUR CHINCHILLA WITH WATER

Chinchilla can develop extreme dislikes. It is not unheard of for one of them to die after a fight, so you should definitely separate them and let their wounds heal.

Just like cats, chinchilla often associate unpleasant events with the chinchilla that was with them when it happened. I had a male/female mating pair that began to fight after a bookcase fell over in the room startling them. Therefore, punishing them will make the situation worse since they tend to blame the other chinchilla.

Your best hope comes from the fact that chinchilla are very social, in fact, they don't know how to clean their own faces - they always have a friend do it. So if they each are alone as their wounds are healing, they will become very lonely and their brother may look better after some time apart.

To reintroduce them, put them together in a neutral small carrier (not one where either has been kept). If fighting does not break out immediately, our breeder suggests putting a wadded up towel in to squeeze them next to each other so they get their smell on each other.

If they fight immediately, separate them again. You can try leaving them separate for a few days, and then putting the cages next to each other. If they are mellow like that, you might try the neutral carrier again. If repeated attempts don't work, you will probably have to give up. Chinchilla are smart and can be very stubborn.

Answer 2

There's not really a good way to punish a chinchilla for being violent with another. I think seperating is a good idea (and possibly reintroducing later).

I also read somewhere that you can put them both in some kind of box then walk around the house and when they start fighting, tip them over a little so they slide around. That way it stops their fighting (no violent shaking obviously)... I've heard that used more on guinea pigs though... I've never tried it myself. I just got a chinchy who's a little violent... But he's alone right now. I want to introduce him to some of the others eventually but for now he's staying in his cage. He's a bit of a nipper.

Answer 3

Punishing won't help, you need to separate them.

Rodent bones are very small and fragile, NO HITTING! Sounds and words don't work on them either since they're not pack animals and aren't trying to please you like a dog or cat would.

Best way is to alter their environment and their together time, taking initiative to be the one who says what happens and what doesn't.

Answer 4

there is a good chance the cage is not big enough for them ..definitely seperate them ...chinchillas can fight and cause serious injury or even death to one another.

www.thechinbin.org

Answer 5

You can't go against nature. They are males and they are establishing dominance. The only thing you can do is separate them. Punishing won't work.

Answer 6

shout NO!!!!!! or UH UH UH UH
loudly that'll giv em a fright .

to separate them get them 2 separate cagesbut keep them so they can see eachother.

most male chins fight wif eachother as they get older so they may never lyk eachother.

Answer 7

try turning his hairy butt into a fur collar...

Answer 8

Very hard playing
Say no or spray him with water