New chin at home. Got ?'s

[Chin4Me87]

Hello,

My new Chin Joey is home. He came home yesterday. I have a few questions. He seems to nibble my fingure alot and sometimes bit on it and pull. I don't get mad cause I thought he was trying to get use to me but now it hurts. He is not scared of me or anyone else unless they make a quick movement or load noise. Last night I was awoken by a cry. I thought something was wrong so I jumped outta bed and cut the light on but he was just playing like nothing was wrong???? He seems to run around his cage alot. Is this how they play? Or is he still trying to figure out his home. I'm just curious on how he should behiave. :confused:

[Ashleiy]

oh, well check some of the older threads around here. Everything he's doing is normal. Give him some time to get used to his new environment before you try to take him out and play. The main thing with building a bond with a chinchilla is time, and patience, and doing things at his pace. Good luck!

[Tails]

I'm not an expert or anything but I still think I can reply to this. By the way, where did you get your chin: Pet-store or breeder? My girl from the store nibbled quite a bit at first as a sign she wanted to be left alone. Chins need at least 24 hours to get used to their surroundings if not 48, that is what I read anyways. They shouldn't be handled or prodded during this time just left to get used to their environment.

After 8pm every night on cue my boys begin their awake routine, and yes they run around lots. :rolleyes: Chins have tons of energy and are quite active during the night. They cry out every now and then for different reasons: My Tigger crys when his brother comes near him and he wants alone time, Tails crys every now and then because we just separated her from her roomates. It's hard to tell the reason but that's what we pinpointed. Their cries have never meant they are hurt, it is just a different way of them speaking I guess? :confused: Anyway hope this helps.

I think your little guy is just reacting to and getting used to his surroundings though. Good luck!!! :D

[foxbite2]

That little cry is his attention getter. It worked didn't it? :laugh: It takes longer then a day for your chin to get used to it's new surroundings. Just be patient.. as for the nibbling.. that is normal too.. Chins nibble on everything to see if it is edible.

[Kev Rob]

Fozz niblled on everything and me all the time! I was worried at first, but he outgrew it pretty fast.

[magicloaf]

Aramis makes the cry in the middle of the night too. We've had him for almost three years and he still does it from time to time. It never fails, my husband will jump out of bed to check on him, and Aramis will be sitting on a perch with a look that says, "What?" *chuckle* I never hear it. I'm going to make a horrible mother.

Ditto on the nibbling. Though Aramis is a much gentler nibbler than Athos. Aramis will trim my hangnails or any dried skin. Its like a chinny manicure! :laugh: Athos, though, he's a bit rougher. I think that's just how he is. You might just have a rough nibbler?

[Chin4Me87]

haha thanks for all the information everyone. It really helped alot