AboutJedediah Expertise I can answer questions about exotic rodents (among others jirds, mice species, chinchillas, degus): how to keep them, what to feed them, how to make toys ect.
I cannot answer questions on breeding or medical questions. If your animal appears to be sick, you need to see a rodent vet as soon as possible, don`t waste time asking me.
Experience I keep, have kept or am planning to keep a number of exotic rodents and I am constantly doing research on many species to keep informed.
Question I have a 7 year old chinchilla and I have had him since he was born. He is not tame at all and I've tried working with him and nothing seems to work. He doesn't like to be help or petted or even touched. Do you have any advice on taming him?
Answer Dear Kolton,
thank you for your question.
Chinchillas very often don't like being touched at all because their fur gets greasy from our hands so fast. They are not pets for petting at all, so I don't think there is that much you can do.
Does he take treats from you? If not, keep offering treats on your hand and only on your hand - healthy, non-sugary ones, like dried carrot ot other vegetables, one small piece of dried fruit per day, dried rosehips. That will make him get used to your hand.
Try clicker training, that usually works very well even with shy animals. Basically, you reward behaviour you want to see again with a specific sound and a treat. Start with taking food from your hand, as soon as the chinchilla take the treat, make the sound (a click with a clicker or a pen). Repeat that a few times, then stop for the day and repeat again the next few days until the chinchilla has learn that click=treat. Then you can start you try and touch him, just out your hand as near as he will have it, then click and treat. Repeat a few times and on a few days until he's comfortable with that, then move your hand a bit nearer. There's more info on clicker training here: http://www.clickertraining.com/
Chinchillas are very social and should be kept in (same sex) pairs. Being with another chinchilla may make him more comfortable around you because he feels safer. Introducing two chinchillas take a bit of time, but I really recommend it. Right now, the chinchilla is bored and lonely, especially since you can't really interact with him.
You can find info on how to introduce chinchillas here: http://www.chinclub.net/qna/mojofaq.cgi?cat=pairs
