Question:
Do they bite? I saw one at feeders, and it had BIGGGGGG teeth...do they use them? Not that I am in any possition to have one, but if they ever decided to use those honkers they could do some serius damage...


Answer:
They can bite, but they usually don't. Some can be aggressive. Most just do what is known as a trial bite, a way of testing everything to see if it is edible.


What do you mean you saw one at feeders?


Answer:
My little guy will sometimes nibble and that doesn't hurt. He has chomped down on my fingers a few times (even though he's not aggressive) and that hurt, but it didn't do any damage (he made temporary teeth marks - indentations, not cuts - on my fingers but that was it).


Answer:
Feeders supply...It's a feed store here, they also sell animals...But it is not like a bad place or anything, they don't deal with breeders. It is an adoption center for animals.


Answer:
O, I was just afraid the chins were 'feeders'. Phew! That makes more sense.


Answer:
We only have a few good pet stores here. And that is one that don't rip a hole in your pocket. Pet'smart is another good one, but you can get the same thing at feeders for much less. I most of the time go to wal-mart but they don't have as many toys. So feeders is where I go for that...


Answer:
The worst bite I ever got from one of my chins was actually from a kit that mistook my finger for a nipple....that baby clung onto my finger for dear life and didn't let go easy. Luckily it didn't break the skin but it sure did hurt.
The rest of mine will nibble on my fingers, especially if there is something sweet tasting on them.


Answer:
I have been bitten badly enough to bleed, but just once. The poor little guy had his foot caught between a shelf and the cage, and I was holding him up so his leg didn't break. I couldn't move my hand, and he just latched on. I was at such a weird angle that I had to wait for hubby to lift the little guy for me. Yes, they do have very strong teeth, and could easily crush bones. Fortunately, most chinchillas, unless in pain, will not bite.

Just so you know, the little guy who bit me only bruised a toe. He is one of our most gentle chinchillas, and will jump into your arms/hands. When he is upset with you he prefers to let you know verbally rather than by giving a nibble.


Answer:
Oh poor little thing. I saw one at pets'mart today. It was 119.00 geez...Well, we charge a 125.00 adoption fee for the dogs but they come spayed or neutered, all vaccinations and heartworm negitive and with heartworm preventitive. The chinchilla come with nothing.


Answer:
Out of all my 33 chins I've only been bit once and that was by a chin that was just terrified and had escaped her cage. I had just got her the day before and she was very unused to being handled by people. She bite my finger clear to the bone and wouldn't let go. Poor little girl was so afraid. It was totally my fault though. I had been trying to catch her for quite a while. At the time I was inexperienced with handling chins too so that didn't help matters. So yes they can bite if they are really afraid but most won't.
Since then I am glad to say she has turned out to be really a very friendly chin.