Play Pals???

[ladiejulie]

can you keep two male chinchillas together in the same cage? I've read differing opinions and I don't know what to believe!! help! :dunno:

[lynnbook]

Yes, males are often great cage mates! Just make sure you observe a quarantine period and introduce them carefully, and you should have no problems.

[parkerspetchins]

Absolutely, as long as they are willing to be buddies :). If they are not currently cage mates, and are coming from two different places then they would need to be quarantined and then introduced. If they are from the same breeder or pet store and you are getting them at the same time then no quarantine would be necessary, just a proper introduction if they weren't already cage mates. You can read about ways to introduce chins through the search function. Be prepared though, not all chins will get along with another chin, you may end up with two cages if they don't like each other. Also, if the chins are from a pet store be sure you sex them or have a knowledgable person sex them so that you aren't putting opposite sexes in the same cage :).

[kmc]

Like Jean Marie said, if they are coming from different places. They need to be quarantined then introduced.

But it does depend on the males. I have two males that I got from the same breeder, at the same time, but they cannot be housed together.

If you want to try it, start off REALLY SLOW, and pay close attention to them. But have another cage and more supplies handy in case things dont work out.

[ladiejulie]

Thank you all!

[dawn]

Male or female chins can fight at any time, even ones who have been together for years so make sure you always have a spare cage set up and can have two cages permanenty.

[jamielynn0722]

I have 3 sets (2 each) of males and one set of 4 males and they are get along just dandy.

[kframe9]

I have three males all in a large cage, they get along well. As long as they are not cramped they will most likely each be happy because they still have their own 'space".

[Emilys_Exotics]

I've got a bonded male pair, who would just be miserable if I tried to separate them. So, yes you can put them together. I think personally it is important for chins to have a chinny friend, as they are very social creatures and live in large groups in the wild. However, you must watch to make sure they get along, and be prepared to separate if they don't, as there are always the occasional personality conflict etc. (Humans are social, humans need friends, but any two random humans will not always get along with each other....and some humans don't seem to get along with anyone....while others get along with most everyone....same applies to chins--and rats and guinea pigs and all other SOCIAL creatures. Hamsters do not qualify--they are not social (at least not the full sized syrians)).

Emily

[chin-addiction]

we have one cage with 3 male brothers together a cage of 4 females then a cage with 3 females a mom her kit and another female and then a cage with 2 females that we got from carise and all of these chins get along great and if we tried to seperate any of them i think it would break there hearts, sure you have chins that cant get along with anyone but for the most part they do well in pairs either male male or female female