Question:
I purchased a chinchilla from a local petco store recently and brought her home.....Well not knowing much then I let her run around the room for awhile....when it came time to catch her she bark and screamed when i picked her up and put her in a cage. The last couple of days ive been trying to talk to her and stick my finger inside the cage gaps and get her to come sniff me out but with no success .....she just sits there and looks sad. Finally a breakthrough she came up to my finger only to bite it!!! Didnt draw blood but if i wouldnt have moved my finger she probabluy would have kept biting......I want her to like me and be friendly......someone tell me what i should do or some tips you used in getting your chinchilla used to you and exactly how long does this process take?? She just sits there and looks sad all day not active or nothing....please HELP!!!


Answer:
First off, welcome to the forum!
Many owners have the same problem so don't feel like anything is your fault. Here is what I would try...
Buy some rolled oats, I prefer organic rolled oats from the health food store but you can also get them from the grocery store. Make sure that they are not the quick or instant oats. Oats are a great treat for chins because they can have a pinch of them (say 10-15) oats and you don't really have to worry about stomach upset (10-15 raisins on the other hand would be really bad). Sit in front of her cage and speak softly. Eventually, curiosity will get the better of her and she will venture to the front of her cage. When she does, slowly feed her an oat. I make a clicking sound with my teeth right before I give my chins a treat. Now they have come to associate that sound with treats and are VERY attentive once they hear it. Do this every day until she willingly comes to you. Next, open her cage and do the same thing. Each stage will take a length of time but don't get frustrated. If she does not like to be held, you can transport her in her dustbath. The dust houses that a lot of people use are perfect. Put the house in the cage and once she jumps in, place your hand over the opening and carefully carry her to a confined space for a playtime. Sit on the floor, with your oats, and reward her everytime that she comes near. Soon, she will become more curious and may even jump on you. This should definitely be done in a small area, such as the bathroom, so that there are more opportunities for interaction. Some chins will never enjoy being held...I have 2 that are like that. But they still come running for treats and ear scratches. If she will sit still, give her a little pet when she is eating her treat. That way, she will associate the petting with something good. That should be a good start...feel free to ask more questions if you have them.
Also, I don't want to alarm you but if your chin seems to be lethargic, you may want to see a vet. Is she eating, drinking, and pooping okay?


Answer:
This sounds like me a couple months back when I got my chinnie. I didn't know a lot about their behavior towards humans, and I was fooled by mine giving me the lovey dovey act to get me to take him home. Boy was I suprised when he turned demon chinchilla on me From experience, my only suggestion would be to find a small room that you can do something in and sit with your chin in there. I got the idea from clearjade, after she baby sat for me while I went on vacation. I sit in the bathroom with him and read or do homework. Sometimes i'll just listen to my mp3 player too. Either way, let your chin come to you, and do as little of going to your chinnie. They get a lot more comfortable with you when they get to investigate you on their own terms. In such a small space they're forced to acknowledge your presence and they'll come sniffing!
Mine still gets a little freaked out when I have to put him somewhere by himself (usually we lock him in a room by himself when we're going to vacuum and clean his cage), and will bark at me if I just reach in and grab him. Treats are also nice, but not too many. Raisins seem to be the general treat here, and after a lot of work I managed to get my weasel to go into his cage on command, but only at a certain time of night. It's going to be super frustrating and you're going to consider a lot of crazy things, but try not to let it get to you, she'll warm up to you eventually. Seeing as you got it from petco I can't imagine that it is a baby still, so it might take a little longer. I bought mine as a baby, almost two months old, so it didn't take too long to get him to be comfy. My friend got his from petsmart at 1 year old and it took him quite a few months.
Just try to be patient and let off steam when you need to. Like i said, it's crazy frustrating!


Answer:
Congratulations on your new chin!
Chinchillas are nocturnal, is she getting enough sleeping during the day and being active at night? She might not be doing anything during the day if she's sleepy which might by why she seems lethargic and does nothing all day.
You will need lots of patience with her to get her to trust you. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a month or two. Just go slow and let her approach you on her own terms. Don't try to grab her constantly or she might become nervous. You might be able to catch her after playtime with a dustbath. She will jump into the dustbath and you can transfer her back into her cage. That way you won't have to chase her around.
There's lots of knowledgable chin owners here who can provide more advice so feel free to ask any questions!


Answer:
Thank Everyone that replied...i will be patient and give her time.
THANKS!!!


Answer:
good luck!!!