Introducing a Problematic Chin to a good natured and sweet chin
 

I've had 2 Chins for about 2 months now. 1 het. ebony male and 1 std grey female. Both were paired in 3 days using the close quarter method. I've gotten a pink white female from a small pet shop who breed their own chins. I've tried introducing the male to the pink white female for about 2 weeks now. Below is a description of what I've done and the troubles I've encountered, hope to hear some advice from you guys.

Introduced the 2 chins (Het. ebony male and Pink white female) using the NZ method. Het. Ebony male approaches the Pink White female who bites and chases the Het. Ebony male. Bite marks on nose and toes and back.

After 3 days of no apparent improvement, used the close quarter method. I placed them both in a very tight dark box, no room to move. Pink White bit Het. Ebony male once on the first day of using the method. No biting observed on 3rd day of using this method.

Cleaned cage with Dettol Antiseptic solution (Strong smell to cover and remove all Chin smells) and placed both Chins inside. (By this time my std grey female had been relocated to my friend's house for temporary housing). Lots of fur biting and chasing by the pink white female. Het. Ebony male lost lots of fur on back and legs. I was told by a local Chin owner not to interfere unless blood was observed. No blood was observed so I did not stop the fight. Gave them dustbath together every day.

After a week of keeping both Chins in same cage and observing not much improvement, I've gave them both a wet bath together and used baby lotion on both of them. They now smell like babies. Cleaned their cage with dettol to remove smell and placed them in the cage. No fur-biting/chasing observed. However the Pink White female do get territorial during the following scenarios :

1) When I open the cage for them to come out during playtime. Only the Het. Ebony male will come out and run around the room while the Pink White will not budge but stay on the litter pan. When the Het. Ebony male returns into the cage, the Pink White female will chase the Het. Ebony male and bite his fur.

2) When the Het. Ebony male jumps down from the upper platform after spending some time in the upper decks to eat, the Pink White who is at the lowest platform on the Litter Pan or at the dark corner will chase and bite his fur. Most of the time they do get along.

Whenever the Pink White female shows signs of aggression, I've removed her from the cage and placed her in a small carrier. I carry the carrier up so that the Pink White female can observe me feeding the Het. Ebony male with treats or giving him toys.

Question 1 : What can I do to help them live together peacefully? Its been more than 2 weeks.
Question 2 : Will the fur grow back for my Het. Ebony Male? There are bald patches observed above the legs and on the back.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

No blood no interfer?? :eek: I think its absurd.. :confused: No breeders would give such advise for sure. :mad:

Will some experience hobbist please give advise, i think the het ebony is in deep shit!

The fur will grow back but it takes a very long time. :(

Just a small question first, are you aiming to put all 3 of your chinchillas in the same cage? Cos if you are, you should try pairing both females first before introducing the male.

If i were you, i would definitely seperate your chins from each other. Obviously, your pink white is one extremely territortial and stubborn chin. I feel that the best method that you should use is to place them in 2 cages next to each other. Leave them like that till they do not even show even the remotest sign of aggression through the cage bars. After that, slowly introduce them to each other in a neutral spot. I'm sure you have heard of this method before.

Take note that many chins have been killed by their partners so do watch out.

About the fur it can take about 3 months to grow back completely...btw, how old are your chins and had the pw been paired before?

Pairing 2 chins or more take more than just patience.
I dont understand why there is a need to rush for it. There is a presence of high risk of injuries and stress when not choosing the right pairing method.

Agree, it is not a matter to be taken lightly. I would rather take the longer but safer method of using the wire mesh divider.

The Het. Ebony is about 1.5 years. The Pink White is about 3 years. The other std grey female has been adopted by my friend. I have placed them in seperate cages for bout 3 days when i first got them. Forgot to mention. The thing is the pink white and Het. Ebony do get along most of the time. Its just occasionally under the following scenarios where the Pink White do get aggressive. And even then, the fighting is only for a few seconds. I believe it happens when the Het. Ebony makes sudden movement.

1) When I open the cage for them to come out during playtime. Only the Het. Ebony male will come out and run around the room while the Pink White will not budge but stay on the litter pan. When the Het. Ebony male returns into the cage, the Pink White female will chase the Het. Ebony male and bite his fur.

2) When the Het. Ebony male jumps down from the upper platform after spending some time in the upper decks to eat, the Pink White who is at the lowest platform on the Litter Pan or at the dark corner will chase and bite his fur.

Regardless, it shows they don't get along. Cos if she attacks him every time he moves, he is only suffering, and really risks death at a higher rate than usual.
My advise is to remove them from each other and use a pairing cage instead to pair them. Give them all the time they need. I usually leave them next to each other for at least 2 weeks to a month.