Question:
Ok, so the discussion of runs, while very interesting, doesn't exactly help me in my current situation.

Our first chinchilla, Aero, is a super sweetheart and I would be absolutely devastated if anything were to happen to him.

In November, we purchased two females (one adult female that had an unweaned female kit -- so both females are related, and only one female is of breeding age). The owner of the females told us that the adult female has been known to be aggressive towards males, especially when she is pregnant.

Now, Tim and I are interested in doing some hobby breeding -- both animals have full pedigrees, one has even been graded, and the other is hopefully going to the Idaho show later this month.

My question is, how can we modify current cages so that Aero would have a way to retreat should Ceres prove to be too aggressive, or should we miss the signs that she's beginning pregnancy or something like that? We are still learning, and we would hate to make a tragic error, though we understand that some mistakes are necessary in the learning process.

We are currently in the process of switching cages (from one big melamine, that has too much of the partical board exposed) to some solid (metal) based wire cages (Lixx, what kind of cages are they, exactly? Is there a name that most people here would read and go "Oh, I know what she means"??).

We would eventually like to keep Aero and Ceres in the same cage, and introductions are already slowly happening -- though we won't allow them to breed until we get some results from the show (want to make sure that Aero is worth breeding to Ceres, and vice versa).
My biggest fear is that we won't see/notice the warning signs that Ceres has had enough, and separate them before something happens.

Is there a way that we can modify the cage (perhaps collar Ceres and put some kind of divider down the center??) so that Aero has a place that he can escape to? Is this cost effective -- considering we only have the three chins right now, and probably won't be getting any more any time soon?

Suggestions are most welcome.


Answer:
I can't really think of a way for Aero to have a place to escape. Unless you use a breeding run, which aren't that great. Maybe you should find another female to breed to Aero? If you think that Ceres may be to aggressive. I have heard to many sad stories about people losing their male chins to an aggressive female


Answer:
I really like your post about runs...You "showed me the light" lol. And the good things about them...And even with I having chins for 6 yeas and breeding for 4 I am always still learning...I think everyone is...But I may try a Ryerson run in the future. Maybe it would be better. I haven't had any problems so far, but my first chin used to pull some fur out of the male when he'd mate her, but no injuries caused...Maybe runs would be a good thing.


Answer:
Are Ryerson ones better? I have heard some horrible stuff about other ones. Maybe I should make a trip down there and see one in person! lol


Answer:
Thanks, Corina

My biggest concern about runs: it doesn't seem worth it when we're only going to be hobby breeders (for a long time! unless someone can reveal the secret of becoming an expert in a short period of time ). Right now, we only have three chins, one of them being a male. Tim is a student two very long days a week, and working all day the other 5, and thus, while they all have a short play time MOST nights, it can't be guaranteed EVERY night, and soon, I'll be moving futher away from them, so it's not like I can supplement their playtime myself. I know that most runs are smaller than the cages we have now, and that extra play time would be necessary. Plus, I like that their bigger toys, like Chubes, fit in the cages we have now, and still leave room for a chinchilla or two .


Answer:
http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/dynam...ltiPurpose.htm

That's a link to the wire cages.

(This is all my opinion and experience with my one 'aggressive' female) In my experience I find out right away whether or not they are going to get along. The best time to introduce them is when the female is in heat. I tell this by the male. I keep them caged next to each other side by side. I watch the male. When he is 'excited', lots of tail wagging, chirpping I start to intro them. So far this has always worked for me. Usually the female is more leanient and allows him in the cage. However, if you have had them out and there is little to no squabbling you might want to try them one morning/afternoon when they are 'sleeping'. Signs are pretty obvious if the female won't take him. Lots of spraying, barking, chasing with fur pulling, one running for their life. As for whether down the road they will react, it's hard to say. It's a risk you run. I take the female out of the main cage and place them in the birthing cage once I feel they are pregnant, so I have not really contended with late pregnancy hormones. Save Mirages first litter last year. But nothing happened there. (I wrote all this while being distracted so if it doesn;t make sense just ask me to clarify )


Answer:
I'm a hobby breeder, with 3 cages of chins and soon 1 run (although, until we get the run, it's um... 6 cages of chins lol), and decided to go with runs because it would allow 1 good quality male to have 2 good quality females... and I think it would be safer for my chins if there is an agressive female, she can't chase the male too much (he can jump through the hole)... We had a female who would literally attack her male if he even had another chins scent on him! Now, I can place any chinchilla in her cage (as long as the chin is pretty easy to get in w/ other chins) and she won't care! I did that when introdcuing Cherry to them... I'm not sure why her behavior changed though...


Answer:
I work with my chins for weeks and sometimes longer before I pair any chins up, I will not put two chins in a cage together until I am 100% sure they are going to get along, I also will not have two chins mate unless I know they are compatible, and for the same reasons as most I remove the male when I am sure the female is pregnant to make sure she does not get aggressive and to prevent breedbacks. However my cages are mostly wire so the male can still be close to the female and they still get their playtime togther out side of the cages, Like all of you I would in no way put any chin in harms way but I also think that each chin should have plenty of cage space.


Answer:
Thanks, Lizz for posting the link... though it looks like our cages only came with one shelf each... (Tim actually had them set up tonight, but no chinchillas in them yet).

Like I mentioned before, I'm a little nervous about taking the risks. We 're going really slow with the introductions. They've been in each others' cages, both by themselves and together (for play time only, or I should say during play time only). And they've both played on "neutral" ground. I've never noticed any aggressive behaviour between them. But, I don't want to miss anything either! I don't want to assume that since nothing has ever happened between them that nothing ever will.

As far as runs, for the time being, it doesn't really make much sense (unless we build custom runs), because we only have the one female of breeding age.


Answer:
Only one shelf! Grrrrr. I guess that's what I get for buying sight unseen. I hope they work out for you though. Bex, I know you are worried and any good person would be but sometimes you just have to try it. When they have had 'play time' together in the same cage, how long have you left them together?